In the Central Criminal Court, a grave digger, Martin Hayes, 34, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his partner, Amadea McDermott, 27, who was found dead at her home in Coolock on 20 July 2017. The jury heard that Hayes claimed Amadea had stabbed herself, but evidence from a woman who later dated Hayes suggested he had helped her insert a knife into her stomach. A social worker, Ciara Lumsden, testified that Hayes told her he had found evidence on Amadea's phone that she was in an incestuous relationship with a relative. Garda emails and screenshots from Amadea's phone were presented, showing text messages in which she accused Hayes of abuse and denied being abused. Witnesses described a history of physical conflict, alcohol use, and bruises on Amadea's body. The trial also covered Hayes' statement to Gardaí, his work as a grave digger, and his relationship with Amadea, including their children and use of drugs.
Jake Emmet, aged 21, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a fully suspended term of two and a half years, suspended for three years on strict conditions, after pleading guilty to making unwarranted demands with menace. The offence involved Emmet threatening to burn down a family home in Glen Hostel, Gardiner Street, Dublin 1, over an alleged €500 drug debt. He had visited the victim's house twice that day, telling her he would return to torch the house, and had recorded the incident on a doorbell camera. Emmet had no prior convictions, pleaded guilty, and expressed remorse. The judge, Martina Baxter, noted his young age, lack of previous convictions, and positive changes in his life, and warned that his anti‑social behaviour must stop. The sentence was imposed as a single, fully suspended term, with no custodial period.
A 27‑year‑old Cork man was jailed for eight years after being convicted of raping his nine‑year‑old cousin twice, once in 2010 and again in 2016, in their grandmother's home. He pleaded not guilty to both counts and continues to deny the offences. The victim, now 23, gave a victim impact statement describing lifelong trauma, loss of friends, and ongoing psychiatric issues. Judge Paul McDermott set a headline sentence of five years for the first rape and 11 years for the second, but imposed a four‑year sentence for the first and a concurrent eight‑year sentence for the second, with no suspended portion and three years of post‑release supervision. The court noted the defendant's age, lack of prior convictions, and multiple neurological diagnoses, including autism spectrum disorder, which may affect his custodial experience. The judge described the damage as "considerable and enduring.".
In the Stardust inquest, witnesses recounted the desperate attempts to escape the February 14, 1981 fire that killed 48 people. A 19‑year‑old survivor, Anthony Byrne, described trying to open exit four, feeling his skin burn off, and eventually being pulled out through exit five by a bouncer. Peter Burke, also 19, recounted smashing a window and steel frames to rescue two girls, noting the fire's rapid spread and the black tar‑like drips from the ceiling. Brian Baitson, 18, testified about failed attempts to open exit four, the chain and padlock that hindered the door, and the chaotic scene with melted plastic droplets falling from the ceiling. Siobhan McConalogue, 16, described seeing the chain and padlock on exit four and later helping a deceased person outside. Catherine Murphy, on the dance floor, recalled her friend's panic and her own fall before being pulled out through exit five. The inquest will resume on November 7.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Martin Nolan told arsonist Jason Hughes that a "significant chance of fatalities" could have occurred if the apartment's occupants had been asleep. Hughes, 20, pleaded guilty to one count of arson at Pairc Na Greine, Tallaght, on 9 December 2022, an offence punishable by life imprisonment. The court heard that the fire caused €80‑90 000 of damage and left the occupants, including Hughes' father, with nothing. Judge Nolan noted no physical injuries but described the event as traumatic. He considered Hughes' guilty plea, remorse, mental health and addiction issues, and imposed a sentence of eight and a half years, back‑dated to his custody entry. The case involved severe property damage, no established motive, and Hughes' history of arson and mental health problems. The judge emphasised the seriousness of arson and the unpredictable spread of fire.
The Court of Appeal upheld a High Court ruling that a woman who made "very serious false allegations" of rape and abuse against her ex‑husband should pay the majority of the legal costs. The High Court had found the woman's claims were "in all probability" fabricated to paint her former husband in the worst light and to coerce him into capitulating to her demands over property, children and finances. The allegations, denied by the husband, did not withstand scrutiny and there were no child‑welfare concerns. The Court of Appeal, comprising Justices Whelan, Faherty and Binchy, dismissed the woman's appeal, agreeing that the trial judge was correct to find her conduct "gross and obvious" and to impose a costs order. The Court also preliminarily ruled that she should pay the husband's costs in the appeal, giving her 14 days to submit objections.
Mark Keogh, 51, was jailed for two and a half years after a search of his Finglas home uncovered over €180,000 worth of cannabis and cocaine. He admitted selling cocaine, holding cannabis at his address and transporting drugs for others. The court heard that Keogh began dealing drugs following his wife's death from cancer in 2017, which led to a chaotic lifestyle. Keogh, who has no prior convictions, had previously pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale on 25 May 2019. Judge Melanie Greally, noting his remorse, lack of prior offences, drug‑free status, cooperation and poor health, imposed a four‑year sentence, suspending the final 18 months on conditions. Family members present at the hearing sobbed as he was taken into custody. The drugs found included cannabis, cocaine, heroin and ecstasy, with a total value of €185,385. Keogh had begun residential drug treatment immediately after the offence.
In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, 32‑year‑old Christopher Coakley pleaded guilty to an attempted knife robbery of a woman's €500 e‑scooter on O'Connell Street on 4 February 2021. Coakley held a knife to the victim's throat and demanded the scooter, but was shoved to the ground, lost the knife and fled. He was arrested and detained by gardai. Judge Patricia Ryan noted that Coakley committed the offence to obtain drugs and warned that without rehabilitation he would return to court repeatedly. She cited aggravating factors such as the robbery being part of a spree and the lasting psychological harm to the victim, and mitigating factors including his guilty plea. The judge imposed a five‑year sentence, back‑dated to his March 2023 custody, while he remains serving an eight‑year term for assault causing serious harm and a separate four‑year term for another robbery on the same day.
The Workplace Relations Commission ruled that a Health Service Executive (HSE) worker, Shane Ryan, who had been absent from work for over two years while still receiving full pay, was ultimately deemed absent without leave. Ryan had claimed a nervous breakdown and inability to attend occupational health appointments, but the tribunal found he had repudiated his contract by refusing to engage with management. The HSE had attempted to reassign him to pest control and other duties, but Ryan declined offers, citing the roles as not comparable. After repeated attempts to get him back to work, his pay was stopped in January 2022 and his employment terminated in June 2022. The tribunal rejected most of Ryan's employment law complaints, upheld a claim for unpaid public holiday entitlements, and awarded €1,200 in compensation. The decision highlighted a "seismic omission" by HSE management and the phenomenon of "quiet quitting.".
During the Central Criminal Court hearing, Dr Lorna Flanagan presented DNA evidence linking Jozef Puska to Ashling Murphy's murder. Swabs taken from under Murphy's fingernails yielded a Y‑chromosome profile that matched the Y‑STR profile from Puska's blood and swabs collected when he was in custody at Tullamore Garda Station on 18 January. The probability of an unrelated match was estimated at about one in 14,000. Puska, aged 33, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Murphy, who was killed on 12 January 2022 in Cappincur, Tullamore. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Tony Hunt with a jury of nine men and three women. The court has not yet reached a verdict.
A 41‑year‑old Dominican Republic national was sentenced to ten and a half years' imprisonment, with an 18‑month suspended portion, for violently sexually assaulting his former sister‑in‑law in her Dublin home on 16 July 2021. The court found that he entered her bedroom at about 2 a.m., subjected her to a five‑hour assault in which he repeatedly penetrated her, threatened to stab her 50 times with a metal turkey baster, and physically choked, pulled, and pushed her. He also took her phone when she tried to call for help. The victim, who was found with bruising and abrasions, later escaped at 7:30 a.m. and was taken to a sexual assault treatment unit. She described lasting panic attacks and a "perpetual state of fear and anxiety." The judge noted the prolonged nature of the offence, the multiplicity of sexual violations, and the threats to kill as aggravating factors. The unnamed 41-year-old pleaded guilty.
Michael Connolly (55), of no fixed abode, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for the manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility of Mark Lawlor (38), who was found dead in Cloverhill Prison on the night of Friday, November 22, 2019. Connolly was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility by a jury at the Central Criminal Court in August. The fatal attack occurred in a three-prisoner cell where both men had mental health issues and had been remanded to the prison on unconnected matters. Connolly had pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Lawlor by reason of insanity. During the sentencing hearing, Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford stated that a headline sentence of 15 years was appropriate but reduced that to 12 years' imprisonment when taking into account Connolly's mental health history, his admissions to gardaí that he killed Mr Lawlor and his expressions of remorse. She then suspended a further two years of the sentence for five years to grant Connolly an opportunity to reintegrate into society upon his release. Ms Justice Lankford also suspended the final two years of the sentence for five years during which Connolly is to attend psychiatric treatment, not use illicit drugs and be of good behaviour for that time. The matter was adjourned and never described as concluded or finalised.
In a trial held on 26 October 2023, retired National Irish Bank (NIB) business manager Noel McCole testified that the bank discovered other financial institutions had interests in four apartments that solicitor Michael Lynn (55) had purchased with a €1.38 million loan from NIB. McCole, who managed the Blanchardstown branch in the 1990s, explained that Lynn's solicitors had business accounts there, which were later closed. He described the loan application process, noting that Lynn initially proposed an 85 % loan‑to‑value ratio, which was rejected because NIB's guideline was 80 %. Lynn's assistant, Liz Doyle, emailed the bank in December 2006 seeking lending criteria, and an application was submitted in early 2007. NIB issued a facility letter on 13 February 2007, and Lynn signed it on 2 February. The bank drew down €1.38 million electronically on 16 March 2007, with a €5 000 charge deducted. Repayments were made between April and September 2007. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
On New Year's Day 2023, two homeless men, Jordan Maguire (24) and Shane McGrane (38), attacked a man at the corner of Aston Quay and Price's Lane in Dublin city centre. The victim was kicked in the head, left unconscious and bleeding, and later required a craniotomy to remove part of his skull. He lost three pints of blood, received 96 staples, and now suffers a significant skull depression, memory problems, slurred speech and difficulty sleeping. Gardaí found the victim at 12:30 pm and transported him to St James' Hospital and then Beaumont Hospital for emergency neurosurgery. CCTV footage showed the attackers changing clothes after the assault. Both men pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the judge adjourned the matter for finalisation on 9 November. The court heard that the victim's long‑term injuries have affected his employment and personal life.
During the Stardust nightclub inquest, Benny Murphy, who was 18 when the fire on 14 February 1981 killed 48 people, recounted that for 42 years he has been haunted by the image of a girl burning in exit four. He described seeing the roof ignite, lights go out, thick black smoke, and a crowd jammed at the exit door that suddenly opened. Murphy said he could see a girl burning and that no one could help her because the exit door was on fire. He added that the fire caused white tiles to melt and drip onto people and tables, and that he heard screams from inside the toilets as people sought cover. He concluded that the tragedy has left lasting trauma for survivors and families, and he called for counselling support.
Stephanie Hoey, 33, told the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that a violent attack by her former partner, Conor Murphy, left her with permanent vision loss and ongoing PTSD. Two years ago, Murphy struck her with a closed fist, causing a blow‑out fracture of her left eye socket. Hoey required surgery that used bone from her hip to repair the eye socket and cheekbone, yet she continues to suffer nerve and muscle damage, double vision, and constant flashbacks. She described her life as "torn apart," noting that her daughter has also endured trauma. Hoey said she had been unable to leave or stay in her home for a long time, and that her only sense of safety returned after Murphy's arrest. Murphy, 23, had previously pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm, burglary and possession of a knife. The case was adjourned to 20 December for mitigation and finalisation.
Annemarie Ruth, a 50‑year‑old woman from Summerhill Parade, Dublin, pleaded guilty on 24 February 2021 to possessing €50,928 worth of cannabis in her home. She has four prior convictions dating back to 2009. In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Sarah Berkeley noted Ruth's full admissions, cooperation with authorities, and her status as a vulnerable person. The judge highlighted that Gardaí had focused on Ruth's then partner at the time of the offence. Ruth entered an early guilty plea, showed remorse, and had previously attempted rehabilitation. Judge Berkeley sentenced her to five years' imprisonment, suspended in full for five years, and imposed 18 months of probation supervision with directions to follow all probation services' instructions. The court did not impose any custodial term, citing that it would serve no service to society to incarcerate a vulnerable woman. The case was prosecuted by John Quirke BL, with Garda Cillian Meyler reporting the search and arrest details.
In a preliminary application before Mr Justice Mark Sanfey at the High Court, an American woman, referred to as Jane Doe, sought permission to proceed under a pseudonym in a damages action against entities within the AYLO group, formerly MindGeek. The applicant alleges that she was drugged and raped as a minor, with recordings of the abuse subsequently uploaded to adult video sharing sites, including Pornhub, owned by the defendants. She claims these videos were distributed in violation of US laws and seeks parallel proceedings in Ireland, alleging that Irish entities hold substantial assets. The defendants, including AYLO Billing Limited and Mirmay Limited, deny all allegations of wrongdoing. The applicant seeks aggravated and exemplary damages for alleged breaches of duty, GDPR, conspiracy, and privacy rights, along with orders to remove the images, identify uploaders, and preserve Irish assets below US$630m pending the outcome of actions in Ireland and the US. Counsel Jarlath Ryan BL argued that the applicant's safety and life were at risk if her identity were publicized, and that she would face stigmatisation. Mr Justice Sanfey acknowledged the unusual circumstances and the court's inherent jurisdiction to grant anonymity, ruling that the defendants would not be prejudiced. The court granted the order, allowing the applicant to bring her proceedings under the pseudonym Jane Doe.
In a National Minimum Wage Act 2000 case, the trawler operator D&N Kirwan Ltd was ordered to pay €2,801.40 to migrant fisherman Alaa Shehata for failing to pay him the minimum wage. Shehata claimed he worked between 17 and 20 hours a day while at sea, barely having time to eat, and that the company's timesheets understated his hours. The company denied this, asserting the records were accurate and that the crew were not pressured to sign them. A skipper testified that crew members filled in their hours before he signed off, and that the crew never worked 17 hours a day. The adjudicator, Roger McGrath, found the complainant's evidence more credible than the company's, noted the company's failure to provide a statement of Shehata's hourly rate, and upheld the complaint, ordering the wage arrears.
In a Dublin inner‑city flat complex, 18‑year‑old Brandon Kelly fired a handgun during a dispute between two groups. Gardaí described the rapid access to the firearm as a "big shock." Kelly, who had received an 18‑month suspended sentence for a robbery just 13 days earlier, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition for an unlawful purpose on 15 November 2022. His co‑accused, 26‑year‑old Jamie Byrne, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the reckless discharge of a firearm. CCTV showed Kelly and Byrne present at 4.36 pm, with Byrne later taking a motorbike to escort Kelly away after the shots were fired at 4.58 pm. The incident was initially treated as attempted murder. The court, noting the guilty pleas, ages and mitigating factors, imposed a seven‑year sentence on Kelly and a 27‑month sentence on Byrne, both back‑dated to 22 November 2023.
During the Central Criminal Court trial of Jozef Puska, an interpreter, Miroslav Sedlacek, testified that Puska was emotional and spoke with a trembling voice after confessing to the murder of Ashling Murphy. Sedlacek described the conversation that took place on the evening of 14 January 2022, two days after Murphy was stabbed near the Grand Canal in Tullamore. Puska admitted to the killing, stating he did not intend it and expressed remorse. He also asked about the safety of his family and whether Murphy's relatives would seek revenge. The interpreter noted that Puska's voice changed during the interview, becoming more disjointed and low‑spirited. The testimony was cross‑examined by defence counsel, who confirmed that the interpreter had described the police interaction as an interview rather than interrogation. The trial continues before a jury. Jozef Puska pleaded not guilty.
Michael Lynn, a 55‑year‑old former solicitor, is accused of using his professional knowledge to deceive several banks and building societies between 2006 and 2007. He allegedly obtained multiple mortgages on the same properties, securing loans from Ulster Bank, Irish Nationwide, ACC Bank, Bank of Scotland Ireland and others, while presenting false documents and solicitor's undertakings. The prosecution claims he stole over €27 million, including €11 million for a single property, Glenlion in Howth, and €1.2 million for a €390,000 property, and received more than €500,000 for a property he did not purchase. He has pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of stealing property. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, is expected to last up to eight weeks.
Monday Augustine, 52, a devoted member of the Christ Life Church in Dublin, pleaded guilty to using false documents to obtain asylum and later Irish citizenship. He originally arrived in Ireland in 2002 as a Nigerian, claiming to be a Liberian named John Augustine Sawyeer, and used a falsified Liberian birth certificate to marry an Irish citizen in 2004, apply for citizenship in 2007, and obtain a passport in 2009. After a religious experience in 2018, he wrote to the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Services in October 2019 confessing the fraud and revealing his true name, Monday Augustine. The court, noting his long community involvement and low risk of reoffending, ordered him to complete 240 hours of community service within two years in lieu of an 18‑month prison term. He has no prior convictions and has worked steadily in Ireland for over 20 years, earning €482 per week after tax.
During the Stardust inquest, Christine Carr, a 16‑year‑old survivor, described the fire as "looking into hell," noting a "rainbow of colours" that mesmerised her as flames spread across the ceiling. She said she was traumatised, having lost her friend Marie Kennedy, one of 48 victims. Carr recounted seeing a wall of fire when a partition rose, then a backdraft that vanished, leaving her in darkness. She described the smoke as hot, like burning tyres, and her struggle to breathe, feeling she would die. She was taken to hospital with her father and Kennedy's father, and a nurse brought Kennedy's jewellery. Carr also recalled panic, voices shouting "Open the door," and being carried out by the crowd. The inquest also heard testimony from Raymond English about opening exit five and the lack of visible locks or chains, conflicting with other witnesses' accounts. The hearing continues tomorrow.
Former 2FM DJ Nikki Hayes, aged 44 and real name Eimear Black O'Keeffe, was found guilty of possessing €15,000 as proceeds of crime in a Permanent TSB account on 5 November 2020, with two further counts of €2,600 and €2,400 on 6 November 2020. The money was transferred to her account after a victim received a text from a fraudulent source and followed a link, leading to withdrawals of €15,000 that were later moved to Revolut and via ATMs in Liffey Valley. The remaining funds were blocked and returned to the victim, leaving the bank a loss of about €2,000. O'Keeffe was in debt of €53,000, had six prior minor traffic convictions, and had struggled with mental health, including bipolar and borderline personality disorder, which her defence cited as vulnerability.
Obasanjo Olajubu, who was dismissed from Wasdell Europe Ltd in July 2022, claimed unfair dismissal under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. He returned to the medicines‑packaging plant in September 2022, after the manager was on holiday, and worked for ten days before being told he had been fired. Olajubu argued that his dismissal was due to a traffic accident and a back injury that caused absences, and that the company had failed to send him a dismissal letter because of an administrative error. The Workplace Relations Commission found that Olajubu had been dismissed verbally in July, had insufficient service to bring an unfair dismissal claim, and that his re‑appearance in September was a deliberate attempt to "slip back under the radar." The tribunal rejected his unfair dismissal claim but ordered the company to pay €450 for notice pay under the Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Act 1973. The decision was issued on 25 October 2023.
A senior barrister, Diarmuid Phelan, aged 54, is seeking a variation of his bail conditions to return to his 170‑acre farm in Tallaght and to his 54‑acre farm in Wexford. He was charged with the murder of Keith Conlon, 36, who was shot at Hazelgrove Farm on 22 February 2022 and died two days later. Phelan was remanded after appearing at Tallaght District Court on 25 February 2022, and a High Court bail refusal was overturned by the Court of Appeal, allowing him to be released on two €50,000 bonds. His trial is set for 29 May next year before the Central Criminal Court. In the bail variation hearing, agricultural consultant Jeff Barry testified that Phelan's Tallaght farm, which had been accepted into an organic scheme in January, has suffered from halted fencing and maintenance work, leading to serious welfare concerns for the livestock.
During the Ashling Murphy murder trial, Garda Detective Sergeant Brian Jennings recorded that accused Jozef Puska admitted he committed the murder, saying "I did it, I murdered, I am the murderer" and expressed regret, stating "I feel guilty and I say I regret it." Puska, aged 33, was a person of interest and had been questioned at St James's Hospital after the victim's death on 12 January 2022. He claimed he had been attacked by two men in Blanchardstown, sustaining stomach injuries, and that he had no memory of the murder. Puska also said he had been planning to meet a woman in Dublin and that he had been told he was a suspect. The trial has not yet reached a verdict. Jozef Puska pleaded not guilty.
County Clean Recycling Unlimited Company has secured High Court permission to challenge An Bord Pleanála's 2021 refusal to grant planning permission for a waste transfer station at Courtstown Industrial Estate, Little Island, Co Cork. The applicant, represented by Oisin Collins SC, alleges a reasonable apprehension of bias due to the involvement of Deputy Chairperson Paul Hyde, who has a family connection to the area. The company claims Hyde failed to declare a conflict of interest, noting that many local objectors were likely known to him. This alleged bias is compounded by Hyde's recent conviction; he pleaded guilty in June to two offences under Section 147 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 and received a two-month jail sentence earlier this year for breaches of planning laws. The applicant seeks orders quashing the refusal, extending time limits, and compelling the board to disclose relevant documentation. Ms Justice Niamh Hyland granted the ex-parte application for leave to bring the judicial review. The matter was adjourned and will return before the court in December. Separately, Hyde's appeal against his two-month sentence is scheduled for November. He resigned from the board last year after serving as a member since 2014.
In a High Court hearing on 24 October 2023, Mr Simon Healy, a 25 % shareholder and former Executive Chairman of Navicorp Limited (trading as Navi Group), applied for a temporary injunction to prevent the company's directors and other shareholders from transferring his shares. He alleged that his dismissal in September 2023 was wrongful and that the defendants were acting oppressively to benefit Mr John Carroll, the 75 % shareholder and CEO of Navicorp. The company denied the claims, calling Healy a "bad leaver". After extensive negotiations, the parties reached an accommodation: the disputed meeting was postponed, a valuation of Healy's shares was to be undertaken, and the injunction application was to be rescheduled for 19 December. Mr Justice Mark Sanfey adjourned the case to that date, praising the parties' efforts to resolve the dispute.
A woman has brought a High Court challenge against her exclusion from the State compensation scheme for victims of crime. The applicant, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was raped and sexually abused by her father between 1995 and 2002. Her father pleaded guilty to 32 offences at the Central Criminal Court, including rape and sexual assault, and was jailed for eight years in 2018. The Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal denied her claim under a legacy provision that barred compensation where the offender and victim lived in the same household. Although this section was removed in 2021, the Tribunal applied it to her claim lodged under the older scheme. An appeal panel upheld the refusal earlier this year. The woman argues the decision breaches her rights and fails to transpose EU law regarding victim entitlements. She seeks orders quashing the determination and declarations that the scheme is incompatible with EU directives, unconstitutional, and contrary to the European Convention on Human Rights. The matter was heard by Ms Justice Niamh Hyland, who granted permission to bring the challenge on an ex-parte basis. The case is adjourned and will return before the courts in December.
Daniel O'Neill, 27, of Dublin 8, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of possession of cocaine for sale or supply on June 18, 2020, at Malachi Road, Dublin 7. Prosecution evidence indicated that Garda Deirdre McDonald observed O'Neill and another male behaving suspiciously near a car. After the men fled, gardai seized the vehicle, where they recovered 400g of cocaine valued at over €29,600, €300 in cash, O'Neill's passport, and a gym bag containing clothes with his name. O'Neill was arrested in October 2021. Defence counsel Garnet Orange SC acknowledged O'Neill's 31 previous convictions, including 16 drug-related offences and a five-year suspended sentence imposed in 2014 for possession of a controlled drug for sale or supply. While noting O'Neill's difficult background and addiction issues, the judge rejected the defence application for a probation report. Judge Martin Nolan stated that the aggravating features balanced out the mitigating factors, noting O'Neill's involvement in the lower levels of drug transport and dealing. The court imposed a sentence of three years and nine months, backdated to January 23, when O'Neill entered custody.
Sean Cole, aged 52, of Donnycarney, Dublin, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for indecent assault and sexual assault of a girl who was a child at the time. The offences occurred between January 1987 and December 1991 when Cole was aged 16 to 20 and the victim was seven years younger. The girl was described as being in a vulnerable situation, with siblings suffering serious illness and parents often in hospital. Cole's conduct involved digitally penetrating the girl and forcing her to masturbate him. The court noted the victim's difficult childhood and the impact of the abuse. Cole had previously been convicted of sexual assault and had left school without exams. Judge Orla Crowe set a headline sentence of ten years, reduced to five years, and suspended the final year on conditions. Sean Cole pleaded guilty.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, Martin Hayes, aged 34, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Amadea McDermott, aged 27, who died on or about 20 July 2017. Hayes testified that he had helped McDermott, who was holding a knife, to insert it into her stomach by placing his hands on hers. He claimed the knife was used by McDermott to defend herself after a heated argument. Hayes also alleged that he had confronted McDermott about messages on her daughter's phone and chased her to retrieve it. Niamh Higgins, a former partner of Hayes, testified that Hayes had admitted to holding the knife on Christmas Eve 2018 and that he had been abusive that night. The jury heard evidence from Garda Jason Flynn and the case continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott.
Ruth Lawrence, a 42-year-old Dublin woman extradited from South Africa, will stand trial at the Central Criminal Court on October 7, 2024, on charges of murdering Anthony Keegan and Eoin O'Connor. The bodies of both men were discovered wrapped in plastic on Inchicup Island on Lough Sheelin, which borders Meath and Cavan, in May 2014. Mr Justice David Keane scheduled the trial, which is expected to last three weeks, following a hearing at the Central Criminal Court. The case has been adjourned to January 12, 2024, for case management. Ms Lawrence was arrested at Dublin Airport in May 2023 following her extradition from Bloemfontein and charged with two counts of murder. A South African national also faces extradition proceedings in connection with the deaths, though he is currently serving a prison sentence in South Africa.
In October 2023 the Workplace Relations Commission dismissed a disability discrimination claim brought by truck driver Edward Riordan against All‑Star Logistics Ltd. Riordan alleged that he was sacked after relieving his bowels in a warehouse loading bay due to an urgent diarrhoea episode linked to a peptic ulcer. The tribunal found insufficient evidence that the cramping and diarrhoea were caused by a peptic ulcer and that the stool discovered by a colleague was consistent with diarrhoea. Riordan admitted responsibility on CCTV and was dismissed for gross misconduct. The company also rejected an age discrimination claim, noting that any reduction in his hours had been agreed upon and that the final decision to assign him no shifts was related to the incident. The adjudicator concluded that the evidence did not establish a disability at the time of the loading‑bay event.
A 77‑year‑old former school caretaker was sentenced to eight and a half years' imprisonment for raping and sexually abusing his daughter over a seven‑year period from 1991 to 1997. He pleaded guilty to one count of oral rape and three counts of sexual assault, with the victim aged between six and thirteen during the offences. The court described the abuse as the ultimate betrayal of trust and noted the daughter's decision to break her silence as a courageous act. The judge set a headline sentence of 14 years but reduced it to eight and a half years, citing the defendant's guilty plea, remorse, advanced age and medical issues. The defendant had no prior convictions and was married to the victim's mother, who supported him in court. The sentencing took into account the severe impact on the victim's life and her relationship with her mother.
Antoinette Keegan, 18 at the time of the Stardust fire, gave evidence at the Dublin District Coroner's Court. She recalled holding her sisters Martina (16) and Mary (19) as the blaze spread, saying, "We said we'll all hold onto each other and then we'll all get out together." Keegan described the fireball falling from the ceiling, the locked exits (Exit 5 and Exit 4), and the panic that ensued. She was pulled out by Thomas Larkin, who later told her family he had saved her. Keegan's testimony included her memory of the fire's intensity, her own burns, and the loss of at least seven close friends or relatives. She also spoke of the guilt she felt after surviving while her sisters perished, her subsequent hospitalisation, and her long‑term post‑traumatic stress. The inquest heard other survivors' accounts, but the focus remained on Keegan's detailed recollection of the night.
The trial of Jozef Puska, 33, who has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Ashling Murphy at Cappincur, Tullamore, Co Offaly, on January 12, 2022, continued before Mr Justice Tony Hunt. Prosecution evidence included Fitbit data from Ms Murphy's watch, which recorded erratic or violent movements at 3.21pm before her heart rate ceased. Witness Rostislav Pokuta testified that Puska visited his home around 9pm on the night of the alleged incident, appearing wet, frightened, and covered in scratches. Pokuta stated he initially withheld this information from gardai due to fear for his family's safety amid an "ugly atmosphere" in Tullamore, but later reported the meeting. Puska was driven to Mucklagh and identified on CCTV. Defence counsel suggested Puska had suffered stab wounds to his stomach. Det Gda Ciaran Byrne presented the Fitbit data, while Det Sgt Paul McDonnell described interviewing Puska at St James's Hospital, where Puska alleged he was stabbed in Blanchardstown by two men. The trial is ongoing.
Three founders of a Longford-based start-up have brought discrimination complaints against Enterprise Ireland at the Workplace Relations Commission, alleging they were told by a funding panel representative that their venture "didn't have enough diversity" when seeking backing under the Competitive Start Fund. Mark Keenan, Michael O'Reilly and Robert Yorke, owners of sharing economy platform LendRB Ltd, are pursuing claims under the Employment Equality Act 1998 and the Equal Status Act 2000. At a preliminary hearing, Enterprise Ireland contested jurisdiction, arguing the matter had been previously ruled upon and that no employment relationship existed between the parties. The company also contended that only one founder's name appeared on the funding application form. The complainants maintained they experienced discrimination as individuals and that their relationship with Enterprise Ireland extended beyond a simple funding application. The case has a history before the tribunal, with an earlier complaint concerning the rejection of the funding application in May 2022.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Chang Teng Wang, 58, admitted to the manslaughter of his 10‑month‑old grandson, Séan, who died on 15 August 2019. Wang told Gardaí he had shaken the baby vigorously in an attempt to calm him, an action that caused head and neck trauma leading to death. The child had been in Wang's care before being taken to Temple Street Children's Hospital, where he was found unresponsive and in cardiac arrest. Despite initial thoughts of choking, CT scans revealed severe injuries. The parents, who had been out with friends, rushed Séan to the hospital after finding him pale. Gardaí found no evidence of punishment or other causes for the injuries. Judge Martina Baxter adjourned sentencing to 6 November pending the Director of Public Prosecution's view, with a plea of mitigation to be heard then. Chang Teng Wang pleaded guilty.
TikTok secured High Court permission to challenge the Data Protection Commission's €345 million fine, which the platform claims is disproportionate and unlawful. The fine followed a 2021 investigation into TikTok's handling of personal data of users under 18, including age‑verification measures for those under 13. TikTok's Irish subsidiary, TikTok Technologies Limited, has launched judicial review proceedings seeking orders and declarations against the DPC, the state, and the Attorney General. The company argues that the DPC's findings are flawed, breach its rights to a fair hearing, and are unconstitutional. It also seeks declarations that sections of the 2018 Data Protection Act and the 2016 GDPR Regulation are incompatible with the Constitution, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, and the European Convention on Human Rights. The court granted TikTok leave to proceed and allowed a potential stay of the fine if necessary. The case is set for a December hearing.
The mother of a teenage boy with Autism Spectrum Disorder and a moderate intellectual disorder has filed a High Court judicial review to secure an appropriate school placement for her son. The boy, who has no sense of danger, has been aggressive and has tried to escape home, leading the HSE to place him in a residential setting because his parents could no longer manage his behaviour. While the residential care is effective, the mother argues it does not meet his educational needs. She has been unable to obtain a school place through the National Council for Special Education due to a lack of availability and the difficulty of finding staff trained to handle his challenging behaviours. She claims the Minister for Education and Skills, the NCSE, Ireland and the Attorney General have failed to uphold the boy's constitutional right to an adequate education.
In October 2023, Dublin City University (DCU) and developer Kinwest Ltd lodged judicial review actions in the High Court challenging the inclusion of their properties on the map of sites subject to the Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT). DCU, represented by Joe Jeffers SC, seeks to quash the board's decision to list two sites—Griffith Avenue, Glasnevin, and Albert College Park—arguing they are exempt because they are used for education, a provision in the Taxes Consolidation Act. Kinwest, represented by Martin Hayden SC, contests the board's upholding of Fingal County Council's rulings that it must pay the RZLT on three sites in Auburn, Streamstown, and Malahide. The developer also challenges the constitutionality of the Act's amendment and the ministerial guidelines, claiming they were made outside the minister's powers. Both parties' applications will return before the High Court in December, with DCU also seeking declarations that the board erred in law and made unreasonable decisions.
In a case heard in the Central Criminal Court, a 41‑year‑old man was convicted of raping his then‑partner in County Galway on 17 November 2019. The assault occurred while the woman's eight‑month‑old baby slept beside her in the bed. The victim, who suffered significant mental health issues, reported the crime to emergency services after the defendant, who had been drinking vodka, entered the bed and forced himself upon her. Three audio recordings of the incident were presented to the jury. The defendant denied the offence and continued to deny it after conviction. Justice Karen O'Connor sentenced him to six years' imprisonment, noting the victim's vulnerability and the presence of a child as aggravating factors. The case was prosecuted by Gerardine Small, SC, and the defendant's defence counsel highlighted his religious background and language difficulties. The victim's impact statement described the lasting emotional trauma of the night.
A 23‑year‑old man was jailed for four years after pleading guilty to raping a nine‑year‑old relative when he was 13. The Central Criminal Court also handed him a separate three‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for sexually assaulting a different female cousin between 2013 and 2018, when the victim was aged six to 11. Justice Ellen Ring noted that the rape occurred while the teenager was also abusing another relative, citing the victim's age, the age gap, the breach of trust and the predatory nature of the abuse as aggravating factors. She said the defendant was aware his actions were "very wrong" and would have imposed an 11‑year headline sentence if the offender had been an adult, but reduced it to six years because of his age at the time.
Thomas Neville, 59, of Railway Avenue, Inchicore, Dublin 8, was found guilty by a jury of one count of rape, one count of child exploitation and 20 counts of sexual assault against a girl aged 14 to 20 between 2010 and 2020. He was sentenced to eleven and a half years in prison, with a headline sentence of thirteen years reduced for minimal mitigation, and three years of post‑release supervision. Neville, who has 35 prior convictions, denied all allegations. The victim, who was 14 when the abuse began, described the sexual acts, including forced oral sex, forced touching, and the showing of pornography, and stated she still suffers from nightmares and mental health issues. The court heard that Neville had been arrested and interviewed in November 2020 and that the victim's impact statement highlighted her need for justice.
In the victim impact statements presented at the court, the family of Aidan Moffitt described the murder as a brutal and senseless act that shattered their lives. They highlighted Aidan's gentle nature and success as a businessman, noting that the violence inflicted upon him was "even harder to understand." The family expressed deep grief, feeling that the media's coverage was intrusive and overstepped boundaries, focusing more on the victim's image than on the perpetrator. They described their lives as a "living nightmare," with unanswered questions about why Aidan was targeted. The statements also included remarks from Aidan's brother, Christy Moffitt, who spoke of the shock of learning Aidan had been murdered in his own home, and from a friend, Blaine Gaffney, who lamented the loss of a man full of life. The family's overarching message was that the murder was an attack on the nation's freedoms and compassion, and they hoped the accused would never again harm another person.
In the trial of Jozef Puska, a 33‑year‑old accused of murdering 23‑year‑old schoolteacher Ashling Murphy, Annemarie Kelly testified that she felt uncomfortable when Puska cycled behind her very slowly and stared at her. She described the stare as intimidating and noted his physical appearance: about five feet seven or eight inches tall, slim build, shaved head, black stubble, dark eyebrows, sallow skin and dark eyes. Kelly said she tried to avoid him by walking fast, jogging past him, and eventually crossing a canal bridge to escape. She also reported contacting gardai after the incident. Puska denies the murder charge. The trial is before Mr Justice Tony Hunt with a jury of nine men and three women. The case remains at the trial stage.
Liviu Tenea, 40, pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated sexual assault after posing as a taxi driver and violently assaulting a woman who had entered his car. The court heard he had previously been sentenced to 20 years in Spain in 2006 for a similar assault, was repatriated to Romania in 2010 and released in 2015. He was arrested in March 2022 and has been in custody since. Justice Mary Ellen Ring imposed a 19‑year sentence, back‑dated to his March 29, 2022 arrest, and ordered 10 years of post‑release supervision. The victim, who wishes to remain anonymous, described being taken to a secluded location, forced onto the bonnet, and subjected to vaginal and anal penetration. The court noted Tenea's prior conviction, his guilty plea, and his willingness to engage in treatment programmes as mitigating factors. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the crime and the victim's impact statement.