A 40‑year‑old man, whose name is withheld for legal reasons, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of defilement under the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2006. The allegations, presented to a jury in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, claim that between August and December 2010 he engaged in sexual acts with a 16‑year‑old girl at three separate occasions. The first alleged act took place in a stairwell of the man's workplace, while the second and third were said to have occurred at his residence. The girl, who was in her fourth year of school, initially told the man she was 18 but later admitted she was 16. The prosecution argues that the man was aware of her age and that consent is not a defence, though a defence of honest belief that the child was 17 or older is available.
Lucian Mihai Muscalu, a general operative at Gunn Lennon Fabrications Ltd, was dismissed after making racist jokes at a company barbecue on 25 June 2021. The Workplace Relations Commission upheld his complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, finding the dismissal was "unfair on procedural grounds" because he was not informed of the complaint and had no chance to respond. However, the Commission ruled it was "just and equitable" to award him nothing due to the "offensive" nature of his remarks. Muscalu had been intoxicated, having consumed four whiskeys and three beers, and told jokes such as "Why are black people's hands white? Because they had them against the wall when they were being painted." He also quipped that the panda bear was the most racist animal. The employer's barrister argued that Muscalu's comments were a significant factor in his dismissal. The complainant sought €375.40 in compensation, but the Commission decided no award would be made.
In a hearing before the Workplace Relations Commission, Kayam Noordally, father of a disabled boy, alleged that a Garda officer removed him from the grounds of Ireland's largest mosque during a dispute over disabled parking on Eid‑al‑Fitr. Noordally claimed he arrived by car with his son, who uses a wheelchair, and found the main entrance gate half‑closed, allowing only pedestrians. He said a security worker at the gate refused him access, citing a full car park, and that he was later "pulled" off the premises by a Garda. The mosque's administrator, Ahmed Hassain, explained that the car park was full due to an unusually large crowd, that parking was first‑come, first‑served, and that security staff had not called Gardaí until Noordally's car blocked the entrance. Hassain argued that Noordally had not requested wheelchair access and that the security team had no authority to remove him.
In October 2023, Dublin Garda Andrew Dunne filed a High Court challenge after being transferred from community policing to a core policing unit in August 2022. The transfer followed an incident in the Rathmines Garda Station canteen where Dunne, eating cereal, failed to log a 15‑minute break in the Garda Command and Control System. Chief Superintendent Peter Duff, who inspected the station, reported the omission and also noted another Garda's alleged inappropriate conduct. Dunne, who had won a competition to join the Garda Community Policing Service in 2017, was told his community role was "no longer tenable" and reassigned. He claims the decision was unfair, unlawful, and breached Garda Discipline Regulations and his constitutional rights. Represented by Antony Moore SC and James Lawless BL, Dunne seeks orders to quash the transfer and declarations of unlawful, disproportionate, irrational and unreasonable action. Ms Justice Niamh Hyland granted the case on an ex‑parte basis, with the matter adjourned to November.
Owain Plumb, 37, an IT worker who has lived in Ireland for ten years, was convicted at the Central Criminal Court of rape, attempted rape and sexual assault of a young woman who slept on his couch on 11 January 2020. The woman had earlier that night rebuked him for unwanted touching. Plumb, originally from Wales, had no prior convictions and maintains his innocence. The court described the offence as an opportunistic breach of trust and hospitality. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a headline sentence of eight years and eight months, then reduced it to seven years with the final twelve months suspended, citing Plumb's lack of prior convictions, good character evidence, rehabilitation steps, family support and favourable employment history. The case involved alcohol and cocaine consumption, a group hug that led to the assault, and the woman's subsequent distress and attempt to recover her iPad. The victim's impact statement was submitted but not read aloud.
Two men have been sentenced to seven years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following their arrest with cannabis worth €2.3 million concealed beneath frozen chicken. Daniel Bowker, aged 40, from Bolton in the United Kingdom, and Ibrar Sharif, aged 47, from Kilmainham, Dublin, were apprehended on 22 December 2022 at a property in Kilmainham after gardaí observed them unloading boxes from a van. Both men pleaded guilty to possession of approximately 119 kilos of cannabis for sale or supply. Judge Orla Crowe noted the accused had engaged productively since their arrest and suspended the final year of the sentence conditional upon two years probation supervision upon release. The court heard both men claimed they sought to raise funds for Christmas presents. Detective evidence established that both accused occupied lower positions within an organised crime operation and would not materially benefit from the offence.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 9 October 2023, a 17‑year‑old girl who had been repeatedly raped and sexually assaulted by a family friend over six years, starting when she was seven, read her victim impact statement. The defendant, a 40‑year‑old man whose name is withheld, was found guilty of 12 counts including rape, anal rape and oral rape, and not guilty of one count of sexual assault. He continues to deny wrongdoing. The victim described the man as a predator, said she lives in constant fear, suffers severe anxiety, depression and PTSD, and that the court process made her feel more on trial than he was. She said her schoolwork suffered, she isolated herself, and she fears future effects of the abuse. The judge thanked her for her report and hoped she would continue her studies. The case was adjourned to 23 October for finalisation. The unnamed 17-year-old was acquitted.
Aaron Brady, convicted of murdering Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, is appealing his conviction in a six-day hearing before the Court of Appeal. On the fourth day, senior counsel Fiona Murphy argued that the trial's integrity was "well and truly breached" when key witness Molly Staunton, testifying via video link from New York, was interrupted by an unseen man who told her to "stop it right now" before the connection was cut. Murphy submitted that the trial court erred in refusing to discharge the jury, claiming the disruption rendered the trial "fundamentally flawed" and that the State failed to implement adequate safeguards for the witness. She contended that the jury might perceive the interference as prejudicial to Brady, despite no evidence linking the man to the appellant. In reply, Lorcan Staines SC for the DPP stated that declaring Staunton a hostile witness was a discretionary matter for the trial judge. Brady, who was found guilty by an 11-to-1 majority jury at the Central Criminal Court in August 2020, is serving a life sentence with a 40-year minimum term for the murder, which occurred during a robbery in 2013. He was also sentenced to 14 years for the robbery, running concurrently. The appeal continues before Mr Justice John Edwards, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, and Ms Justice Tara Burns.
Witnesses at the Central Criminal Court described the June 5, 2018 shooting at Bray Boxing Club. Gerard Cervi pleaded not guilty to the murder of Robert 'Bobby' Messett and the attempted murders of Peter Taylor and Ian Britton. Witness Ian Britton recounted seeing a man in a yellow top and tracksuit, wearing a hard‑hat‑style headwear, who fired a gun that struck Messett in the head and later Taylor. He estimated about ten shots were fired over 30‑45 seconds. Alan Hunter testified that Taylor "made a charge" at the gunman before being shot, describing the gunman as calm and wearing a black visor and gloves. Stephen Kearns also saw Taylor running toward the gunman and falling, with the gunman eventually disappearing. The trial continues before Justice Karen O'Connor.
In a High Court judicial review, Mr Simon Cross, who runs a farm equipment manufacturing business adjacent to the proposed site, challenges An Bord Pleanala's decision to grant planning permission for 28 new houses in Newtown, Rathangan, Co Kildare. Cross argues the permission is flawed because it allows a residential development next to a noise‑generating facility, which he says is inconsistent with proper planning. He also contends that the board failed to consider the current County Kildare Development Plan 2023‑2029, relying instead on the previous plan from 2017‑2023, and ignored his submissions about traffic hazards and environmental impacts. Represented by Michael O'Donnell Bl, Cross seeks an order quashing the decision. The case was heard ex‑parte by Ms Justice Niamh Hyland, who granted permission for the challenge and adjourned the matter to November. The developer Moortrim Limited is a notice party.
Four convenience‑store workers in County Waterford – Bridget Browne, Bridget Harrington, Alexander Novakovsky and Joanna Yahyaoui – secured orders for redundancy and notice pay from the Workplace Relations Commission after being dismissed ten days before Christmas 2022. The workers had worked part‑time at a Your Stop store on O'Connell Street, Dungarvan, and a Gala‑branded shop on Main Street, Tallow, for a combined service of over 23 years. Their former employer, sole trader Philip Kane, had agreed to take over the stores but claimed he had not legally acquired the businesses and therefore was not liable for redundancy payments. The tribunal found that Kane was the employer from 11 April 2022 and that the ten‑day notice was too short. He was ordered to pay the workers €5,998.50 in pay‑in‑lieu of notice and redundancy sums ranging from €2,000 to €12,000, totalling about €43,000. The decision was published in July 2023.
The Central Criminal Court heard that the family of Michael Connolly (55), who was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility in the death of Mark Lawlor (37), had previously attempted to have him committed to a mental health institution due to concerns about his deteriorating mental health. Connolly had pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr Lawlor by reason of insanity. The jury was informed that Connolly believed Mr Lawlor had 'some kind of exalted identity like a king' and was 'a kingpin of Dublin'. The case hinged on the disagreement between two psychiatrists regarding whether Connolly was sufficiently mentally ill to be found not guilty by reason of insanity. The prosecution submitted that the offence committed by Connolly fell into the higher bracket for sentencing, which would result in a sentence between 10 and 15 years. Defence counsel highlighted that Connolly had received a fully-suspended sentence in 2013 for attacking what he believed to be 'blasphemous' artworks in a Louth church gallery with an axe and was then admitted to a mental health institution in Ardee, Co Louth. The matter was adjourned to October 27 for sentence.
A jury was sworn in for the trial of an unnamed Irish celebrity in his 40s, charged with defiling a minor. He pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual acts with a child under 17, alleged to have occurred in Dublin between August and December 2010. The trial will begin the following day and is expected to last four to five days. Judge Patricia Ryan instructed jurors to keep the case confidential outside the jury room and to rely solely on evidence presented during the trial.
In October 2023, Mr Paul McGrath of Mount Eagle Square, Sandyford, settled a High Court case that had sought to restrain the Tuath Housing Association from evicting him. McGrath had previously obtained an injunction after being accused of anti‑social behaviour, claiming instead that he was attacked while socialising at a neighbouring property and that he had sustained injuries. He argued that the landlord had no right to terminate his lease and that the eviction should be postponed until the Residential Tenancies Board could decide the dispute. The court had issued orders preventing the landlord and its agents from evicting or entering the premises pending that determination. On Friday, the parties reached a confidential settlement, and the court was instructed to strike out the case. No further details of the agreement were disclosed.
Daniel Webb, 33, of Greystones, pleaded guilty to two counts of active and passive corruption for receiving confidential Garda Pulse information from former civilian employee Holly Hayden in exchange for cocaine. The court heard that Hayden sent 17 lines of intelligence and screenshots to Webb on 6 and 9 September 2019, and that Webb received the information and was later searched. Judge Orla Crowe set a headline sentence of three years, but imposed two years in prison on each count to run concurrently, with the final 12 months suspended for two years. Webb had no prior convictions, pleaded guilty early, and was described as remorseful and at low risk of reoffending. The case was adjourned for Webb's co‑accused until 6 November.
Vasile Lazar, 52, a Romanian national, was sentenced to two years in prison for eight counts of theft and one attempted robbery. Between November 2022 and January 2023, he stole €9,745 from victims in Donaghmeade, Swords, Artane, Bettystown and Mullingar. He targeted shoppers in Dunnes Stores and other retail outlets, taking purses, debit cards and withdrawing cash from ATMs. He also used stolen debit cards to withdraw €1,600 and to pay €650 to a Cyprus company via Google Pay. Lazar admitted the thefts, expressed remorse, and claimed desperation after a personal breakdown. He has no prior convictions in Ireland but has convictions in the UK, Austria and Italy. The judge noted aggravating factors such as the amount stolen and victim impact, but also considered his guilty plea and remorse. The sentence is back‑dated to his arrest.
Four men are currently on trial at the Central Criminal Court, presided over by Mr Justice David Keane, accused of raping and sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman at her home in December 2018. Reporting restrictions apply to the identities of all participants. The first accused, aged 25, has pleaded not guilty to oral rape and sexual assault. The second accused, also 25, has pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault. The third accused, aged 23, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape, one oral rape, and a sexual assault. The fourth accused, aged 24, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape and a sexual assault. Prosecution counsel Anne Rowland SC outlined evidence alleging the men arrived at the victim's home after 11pm, where they allegedly subjected her to non-consensual acts, including forced oral sex and intercourse. DNA evidence was presented, linking the first accused to bedding, the second to the victim's swabs, and the fourth to the victim and a condom; no DNA from the third accused was located. The accused men provided varying accounts to gardai, initially denying presence or claiming consent. The trial is ongoing and will continue before the jury on Monday.
During a six‑day appeal hearing, Aaron Brady's counsel, Michael O'Higgins SC, argued that a secret tape recording of a US Special Agent, Matt Katske, coercing a suspect to implicate Brady in the murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe should have been admitted as evidence. The recording, described as "liquid gold," shows Katske offering assistance and threatening a suspect's brother in exchange for information that would place Brady in the frame. O'Higgins claimed the trial judge erred by refusing to allow the tape before the jury and by denying cross‑examination of Katske. The appeal also contends that the deportation of Brady to Ireland was effectively an extradition, undermining his trial rights. Brady, 32, is serving a life sentence with a 40‑year minimum for the 2013 murder and a concurrent 14‑year robbery sentence. The appeal will continue before the Court of Appeal on Monday. Aaron Brady was found guilty.
During the Stardust inquest, former manager Eamon Butterly testified that club management was not prepared for a fire and was "not fit for purpose." He admitted that the only plan for a blaze was to call the fire brigade and that management's response to minor issues involved locking doors while patrons were inside, an action he described as an "extreme reaction." Butterly denied knowing how to give fire instructions and said he was not qualified. He claimed that the fire brigade or an inspector would have provided guidance if it had been sought. Butterly also stated that the doors were reportedly open at 11:30 pm, and that the club's carpet tiles were chosen for their appearance rather than fire safety, although he acknowledged price influence. He maintained that he had no knowledge of the manufacturer's warnings about the tiles' fire rating.
A south Dublin car dealership, Soraghan Auto Retail Ltd trading as Sandyford Motor Centre, told the Workplace Relations Commission it dismissed teenage saleswoman Abbie Walsh on 8 May 2023 because she failed to meet a target of 20 cars a month. Walsh, who had worked there for only four months, claimed she was pregnant and that the company had no knowledge of her pregnancy when she was sacked. She said she had informed the sales manager the day after her first scan appointment on 4 April and a colleague on 6 or 7 April, but the manager left the next day and did not pass the information to senior management. The dealership argued the dismissal was purely for lack of performance, citing that Walsh had sold 24 cars by the time of dismissal, far below the 60‑car target set for all sales staff in the first quarter.
In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, victims of an 87‑year‑old former Christian Brother, who abused 19 boys in the 1970s, presented impact statements. They described lasting anxiety, trust issues, alcohol problems, and the fear of being disbelieved because the perpetrator was a religious teacher. The abuse, which involved inappropriate touching and intimidation, was carried out while the boys were in class or after school. The victims, now men in their late 50s and early 60s, said the perpetrator's habit and position protected him. They expressed relief that justice was finally being served after 47 years. The court heard the defendant, who is currently serving a three‑year, two‑month sentence for other counts, has serious health problems and no prior convictions. Sentencing is scheduled for October 16. The unnamed 87-year-old pleaded guilty and was found guilty.
Nicole Marques-Montano, an administrative worker at the Brazilian Embassy, was awarded €13,554 by Workplace Relations Commission adjudicator Maire Mulcahy following a hearing on complaints under the Payment of Wages Act 1991 and the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. The dispute originated from the embassy's refusal to provide a €1,279 monthly maternity leave top-up and its subsequent withdrawal of permission to carry forward 14 days of accrued annual leave. Ms. Marques-Montano alleged victimisation and discrimination, noting that a male colleague had previously received similar discretionary payments. The Federative Republic of Brazil, represented by solicitor Gerald Kean, denied the victimisation complaint and argued that the ministry had no provision for the top-up payment. Regarding the leave, the respondent contended that carry-over was only permitted for certified sick leave. Adjudicator Mulcahy upheld the working hours complaint, finding that the embassy retrospectively withdrew the promise to carry over leave without prior notification, which constituted a detriment. The adjudicator ordered the embassy to restore the 14 days' leave immediately and to pay €13,554 in compensation for the distress caused by the alleged victimisation. The matter was decided at the hearing stage, with the finalisation resulting in this specific financial award and leave restoration.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Tyreece O'Farrell, a 15‑year‑old at the time of the offences, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for stealing 24 bicycles from apartment blocks in the Ballsbridge area between December 2019 and June 2020. The bicycles, valued between €500 and €2,500, were locked in underground car parks or outdoor areas; only one was recovered. The sentence includes a 16‑month suspended portion, leaving an effective custodial term of 20 months. O'Farrell also pleaded guilty to violent disorder in East Wall, where a driver suffered a brain injury after nine days in hospital. He received an 18‑month sentence for that offence, to run concurrently with the bicycle‑theft term. The court ordered 16 months of good‑behaviour supervision under the Probation Service following release. The judge noted O'Farrell's 29 prior convictions, drug addiction, and homelessness, and urged him to consider rehabilitation.
John Paul Duncan, 39, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing €8,500 in cocaine contained in six condoms at Store Street Garda Station on January 31 last. He also admitted assaulting two gardaí who took him to the Mater Hospital on the same day after he reported feeling unwell. Duncan, who has 139 previous convictions in Ireland and 11 in other jurisdictions, was previously sentenced to eight years in prison for his role in a €1.8 million cocaine haul in 2007. He escaped from Loughan House open prison in 2016 and was later extradited from the UK. During the sentencing hearing, Duncan requested that his sentence be stayed to allow him to undertake a 14-week residential drug treatment course starting October 17. He testified that he has been drug-free for a couple of months and cited childhood domestic violence as the origin of his addiction. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the matter for sentence to next Wednesday, October 11, to obtain a urine analysis. The court did not conclude the case or impose a final penalty during this session.
In a six‑day appeal hearing, Aaron Brady's counsel argued that the Court of Appeal erred by not ordering an oral hearing on the disclosure of US Homeland Security documents that limited the evidence two US special agents could give. Brady, convicted in 2020 of murdering Garda Adrian Donohoe and sentenced to life with a 40‑year minimum, is seeking to overturn his conviction. The appeal also contends that the prosecution failed to disclose letters of scope in a timely manner, which restricted the testimony of Special Agents Mary Anne Wade and Matt Katske. The letters, said to have prevented the agents from revealing the immigration status of witnesses, were allegedly not disclosed until May 2020. The hearing continues with the defence expected to raise further complaints about a video‑link witness. The case remains an ongoing appeal before the Court of Appeal.
Patrick Stokes, 31, with 97 prior convictions, pleaded guilty to robbery in St Audoen's Park, Dublin 8, on 11 October 2021. The robbery involved a homeless man who had given Stokes €40 from his sock; Stokes then took about €400 from the sock after the victim and another man had smoked crack together in a park near Christchurch. The victim later identified Stokes in a shop on Westmoreland Street, leading to his arrest. Stokes also pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on the Liffey Boardwalk, Bachelor's Walk, Dublin 1, on 21 September 2021, where he punched a man to the ground and stamped on him, causing bruising and soft‑tissue damage. He was on bail for a 2019 assault causing serious harm. The court heard that Stokes has a long history of drug addiction, has been living in a tent near the Dáil, and has been attending workshops in custody. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned sentencing to 8 December.
In a High Court hearing on 5 October 2023, the legal action brought by the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) against the Garda Commissioner over proposed rostering arrangements was declared not proceeding. The judge, Mr Justice Mark Sanfey, noted that the matter had become moot because the Commissioner had invited the AGSI and other Garda representative bodies to discuss new rostering agreements. The AGSI agreed to participate in these talks, and counsel for both sides agreed that the November hearing was unnecessary. The issue of who would bear the legal costs remains unresolved and will be argued later in the month. The court also acknowledged that the AGSI's earlier request to prevent the Commissioner from unilaterally imposing a new roster and to exhaust internal dispute resolution procedures had been opposed by the Commissioner. The case was adjourned to allow for out‑of‑court discussions.
In the inquest into the 1981 Stardust fire, manager Eamon Butterly admitted that months before the blaze he was told "in no uncertain terms" that locks and chains on exit doors were unacceptable when patrons were present. He also confirmed that he had declined to quote for fire insurance because he considered the fire risk "pretty horrendous." Butterly stated he stands over the company's malicious damage claim regarding the fire, while denying involvement in alleged threats to witnesses at the original 1981 tribunal. He explained that he had instructed staff that locks and chains should never be on exit doors, though he could not recall telling them directly. Butterly also claimed he was unaware of any electrical overloading or sparks observed by witnesses before the fire, and that the company had a financial interest in proving the damage was malicious. His testimony continues tomorrow.
In a case brought under the Employment Equality Act 1998, multimedia journalist Kasia Czernik claimed that RTÉ discriminated against her after she was sexually harassed by veteran night‑shift anchor Noel Fogarty. The harassment, consisting of texts, emails and attempted phone calls from 18 May to 21 June 2021, led to Fogarty's dismissal in September 2021. Czernik alleged that RTÉ failed to assure her that the harassment would not continue and that it breached the Act by not disclosing the disciplinary sanction imposed on Fogarty. She sought €300,000 in compensation, half for the mental, emotional and physical impact of the harassment and half for five years' worth of her salary. The Workplace Relations Commission rejected her complaint, finding that while she was sexually harassed, RTÉ had not discriminated against her. The tribunal concluded that RTÉ had acted appropriately by investigating the complaint and taking reasonable steps to prevent further harassment. The case was decided by WRC adjudicator Maria Kelly.
A man who was sexually abused as a boy says the Irish justice system failed him after he first reported the abuse 18 years ago. The defendant, the husband of the victim's aunt, was previously convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury of sexually assaulting the victim between March 1996 and May 1997, and of two charges of anal rape of the victim's younger brother between February 2000 and June 2001. The brothers, aged eight and six‑seven at the time, reported abuse in 2005 and 2016, but an investigating Garda told the prosecutor that the cases could not proceed to trial due to insufficient evidence. The victim's impact statements describe the abuse, the failure of the system, and the emotional toll. The defendant will be sentenced later this month, with the court adjourned to consider the case until 16 October.
A County Meath man, Michael McGrane, 47, was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for running two dodgy box companies that sold illegal access to premium TV content, including Sky Sports. McGrane pleaded guilty to two counts of selling a protection‑defeating device and one count of possessing such a device between September 2017 and September 2018, and to unlawful use of a computer between March and September 2018. The scheme involved selling altered set‑top boxes through JarvisBox and streaming services via StreamSupreme, with customers paying into Irish PayPal accounts. Gardaí launched Operation Fleming after a UK brand protection company flagged copyright infringement. McGrane's home was searched in June 2018, seizing laptops, phones, illicit boxes and financial documents. He reportedly earned just over €29,000 from the scheme, a 40 per cent share of the €145,795 turnover, and the case was adjourned for sentencing to 13 October 2023.
The State presented fingerprint and DNA evidence linking Gerard Cervi to a van used by the gunman in the Bray Boxing Club shootings of 2018. Cervi, 36, was charged with the murder of Bobby Messett and the attempted murders of coach Pete Taylor and Ian Britton. The prosecution described the shooting at 6:50 am, where nine shots were fired, killing Messett and injuring Taylor and Britton. CCTV footage showed a grey Volkswagen Caddy van with a yellow plate leaving the club, traveling through Cabinteely and Poolbeg to Ringsend. Gardaí seized the van, finding white spirit bottles with Cervi's fingerprints and DNA from the passenger seat and handbrake. Additional footage depicted Cervi traveling to the van on a distinctive bike and returning later that day. The trial was adjourned overnight. Gerard Cervi pleaded not guilty.
The Court of Appeal has quashed the rape conviction of an unnamed 20-year-old Laois man, ordering a retrial. The appellant, who had pleaded not guilty to raping a friend on wasteland on Halloween night in 2019 when they were teenagers, was originally sentenced on July 25 to three years in prison, with the final six months suspended on strict conditions including Probation Service engagement and a consent course. His conviction was overturned on Monday after the court accepted new evidence: a post-trial affidavit from a 14-year-old friend of the complainant. This witness claimed the complainant had expressed sexual desire towards the defendant prior to the alleged incident, evidence counsel Ronan Munro SC argued was excluded during a defective Garda investigation. The three-judge panel, led by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, ruled the evidence was potentially relevant and admissible, stating it must be tested by a jury. The State's argument that the evidence was merely collateral was rejected. Mr Justice John Edwards remanded the appellant on bail, directing that the case return to the Central Criminal Court to set a date for the retrial. The appellant, who has no previous convictions, maintains the encounter was consensual.
In October 2023, the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) recommended that a senior clinical psychologist receive €20,000 in compensation after a dispute that began in May 2018 over complaints from parents of a child in his care. The psychologist, represented by the trade union Fórsa, argued that the employer, an unnamed healthcare provider, handled the complaints arbitrarily and capriciously, failing to give him a chance to respond to two separate allegations. An external review team produced a report that the union said was biased and one‑sided, supporting the parents' claims with inaccurate information and damaging the psychologist's reputation. The WRC found no adverse findings against the psychologist but noted shortcomings in the employer's process, including not notifying him of a second complaint and not allowing him to rebut. The adjudicator, Shay Henry, urged the psychologist to submit a rebuttal statement to be kept on file and accepted that the review report could not be nullified.
During a hearing in the Dublin District Coroner's Court on 4 October 2023, Stardust manager Eamon Butterly denied that the fire on 14 February 1981 killed half of the victims because three exit doors were locked. He said the nightclub was "one of the best wired premises around" and that no fire had started at the premises. Butterly also denied that any fire could have started at the club, describing it as safe. He was questioned by Des Fahy KC, who represented ten families of the 48 people who died. Fahy presented a body map showing 24 bodies found near exits three, four and five, and suggested those locked doors caused the deaths. Butterly replied that the doors were locked only on disco nights, that the lights went out, and that the smoke and panic prevented escape. He admitted the policy was unsafe but said the doorman Tom Kennan controlled the doors.
During a six‑day appeal hearing, Aaron Brady's counsel argued that the jury's deliberations were compromised by the Covid‑19 pandemic. Brady, convicted in 2020 of murdering Garda Adrian Donohoe and sentenced to life with a 40‑year minimum, claimed that jurors were worried about dying or about loved ones dying, which he said deteriorated the quality of their deliberations. The appeal focuses on defence complaints about two witnesses who testified via video link from New York during the pandemic. Brady's trial, the longest murder case in Irish legal history, lasted 122 court days and concluded with an 11‑to‑one jury verdict. The appellate court heard arguments that the trial judge should have discharged the jury, but the judge had exercised discretion to continue the case. The appeal will proceed the following day before a three‑judge panel.
A Workplace Relations Commission hearing involving Pauline Whelan, a creche worker alleging constructive dismissal by Helga Sweetman trading as Helga's Preschool in Balbriggan, was adjourned. Whelan, represented by Sinn Féin TD Louise O'Reilly, claims she suffered stress preventing her from seeking work. The respondent's barrister, Dominic Wilkinson BL, argued that without medical expert testimony, any compensation award would be limited to four weeks' earnings. Adjudicating officer Breiffní O'Neill noted the lack of a doctor or psychiatrist and cited the 2000 Employment Appeals Tribunal decision in Liz Allen v Independent Newspapers, where a psychiatrist's evidence was pivotal. O'Neill stated that Wilkinson could not cross-examine written sick notes and suggested Whelan seek a witness summons for her GP, though O'Reilly expressed reluctance to serve such a summons. Wilkinson proposed a medical assessment by an expert for the creche, which O'Neill said required Whelan's consent. The adjudicator declared the matter had reached an impasse regarding the doctor's attendance and adjourned the case to a later date yet to be confirmed by the WRC. No final determination was made.
Teacher Enoch Burke was ordered to remain in Mountjoy Prison on Tuesday after refusing to purge his contempt of court. The matter was before the High Court for a review of his ongoing imprisonment, which stems from his deliberate failure to comply with a permanent injunction granted by Mr Justice Alexander Owens earlier this year. The school's Board of Management sought his committal after alleging he attended Wilson's Hospital School daily, causing disruption. Mr Justice Mark Sanfey ruled that the court was solely concerned with the contempt issue, not the underlying dispute. Mr Burke refused to give undertakings to stay away from the school, describing the order as unjust and a violation of his religious beliefs. During the proceedings, his father Sean Burke and sister Ammi Burke were physically removed by gardai for shouting and interrupting the court, while his mother Martina Burke eventually left voluntarily. Mr Justice Sanfey directed that Mr Burke be returned to prison until he is prepared to provide undertakings securing his release. The judge noted that Mr Burke could appear at any time to purge his contempt. The matter was adjourned and will be next reviewed by the courts on December 12th.
On 3 October 2023, Irish barristers carried out their first strike, causing the Central Criminal Court and other higher courts to have no listings. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court operated in a reduced capacity, convening at 10:30 am but concluding all business by 10:45 am. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned all 22 cases listed for hearing, including six that were due for sentencing, to future dates in November. She instructed the solicitor for the Director of Public Prosecutions to inform defence counsel of the new dates. The courtroom was unusually quiet, with empty benches for barristers and solicitors, and the public gallery largely empty. An accused in custody requested and received an adjournment of his sentencing to Thursday. Four trial cases were also adjourned to the next day. Campaigning barrister Darren Lalor expressed delight in joining the Bar Council's protest, noting that 66 % of barristers leave their field within six years, leaving them "without a future.".
The Workplace Relations Commission heard statutory complaints brought by Kinsley Auguste against Dillingers Restaurant Ltd, with John Farrell appearing as respondent-in-person. Mr Auguste alleged racial discrimination, excessive working hours, failure to provide shift breaks, and lack of premium pay for Sunday work under various employment acts. Mr Farrell denied all allegations, asserting that Mr Auguste's aggressive behaviour on Christmas Eve 2021, which nearly prompted a call to gardaí, led to his suspension. The adjudicating officer noted the relationship had effectively ended. Regarding pay, Mr Auguste claimed he worked 55 to 60 hours weekly without additional compensation, while Mr Farrell stated the roster was managed by the chef and premiums were included in the weekly wage. The hearing concluded with the adjudicating officer ending the session on the statutory complaints to consider a further Industrial Relations Act complaint behind closed doors. A decision on the statutory complaints is expected in due course.
On 2 October 2023, Mr Justice Alexander Owens approved three Debt Settlement Arrangements in the High Court. The first allowed 51‑year‑old Brian Carrig, a self‑employed accountant from Ashfield, Drogheda, to write off more than €5 million of debt for a lump payment of about €15 000. The arrangement, lasting six months, aims to restore Carrig's solvency and gives creditors only 0.32 % of what they are owed; it is funded by a €20 000 payment that includes a fee for his Personal Insolvency Practitioner. The second arrangement, for 56‑year‑old David Hoban, a former building contractor, permits the write‑off of over €1.3 million for a €20 000 payment over 60 months, with 81 % of creditors accepting. The third arrangement concerns 47‑year‑old Daniel Desmond, an IT director, who will write off €2.2 million of debt for a €70 000 payment over 12 months; all creditors voted in favour.
A Laois man, now 20, had his rape conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal after new evidence was admitted. The evidence came from a post‑trial affidavit by a 14‑year‑old friend of the complainant, who claimed the defendant had previously had sexual encounters with the complainant and that the complainant had expressed sexual desire to the defendant before the alleged rape. The court found the evidence potentially relevant and admissible, ruling that it could be presented to a jury. The original trial had found the defendant, who was 16 at the time, guilty of raping a 15‑year‑old friend on Halloween 2019. He had been sentenced to three years' imprisonment with the final six months suspended, and was ordered to attend a consent course and register as a sex offender. The appeal court overturned the conviction, citing the new evidence as a matter of principle. The case remains at the appeal stage. The unnamed 14-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Derek Coady, a father of three from Tallaght, was sentenced to four years and six months in prison, with the final six months suspended for two years, for endangerment. He pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly engaging in conduct that created a substantial risk of death or serious harm to Alan Hall, 44, between 17 and 18 May 2020 on Bluebell Avenue, Dublin 12. Coady admitted assaulting Hall by punching him in the stomach, causing minor harm, and exposing him to serious harm. He denied involvement in setting fire to Hall's home and claimed he was unaware of the arson. Hall later died from smoke inhalation after a fire was attempted in his home. The judge noted Coady's 46 previous convictions, alcohol overindulgence, and the mitigating factor of his guilty plea and remorse. The case involved a co‑accused, Conor Curran, who has since died. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the endangerment, which led to Hall's death.
A 15‑year‑old boy pleaded guilty to assault, false imprisonment and theft of a phone after violently attacking his former girlfriend during a crisis period. The victim, who suffered 32 bruises and abrasions, was held in a shed outside the boy's home town, then forced to leave the town after the boy refused to return her phone. She fled to a shop where Gardaí were alerted and she was taken to hospital. The boy's mother explained that the boy had been referred to child mental health services, but the service never started due to Covid lockdowns, and that he had experienced self‑harm and bereavement. The court adjourned sentencing to 9 October, noting the boy's lack of prior convictions, his age, and the need for anger‑management support. The victim's impact statement described ongoing emotional, physical and mental strain and her desire to move on.
A 72‑year‑old man was sentenced to 18 years' imprisonment for raping and sexually abusing three of his nieces over a decade. He pleaded guilty to 16 counts of rape, attempted rape, sexual assault and indecent assault committed between 1985 and 1995 at various locations in Cork and Kerry. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, described the offender as a "voracious sexual predator" who masqueraded as a kindly uncle. He set a headline sentence of 25 years, reduced to 20 years because of the defendant's age, and suspended a further two years permanently. The sentence includes two years of post‑release supervision if released. The court heard victim impact statements describing the abuse as repeated, prolonged, humiliating and degrading, and noted the defendant's advanced age may affect his survival of the sentence.
The Central Criminal Court sentenced Sam Archbold, 37, to 12 years in prison with two years suspended for the attempted murder of Andrew O'Brien on 8 April 2022. Archbold, who had failed to repay a €2,000 debt, shot O'Brien twice in the head while he was in his car, leaving O'Brien with shattered teeth, a throat hole and lasting speech difficulties. Archbold was homeless at the time of arrest and had a history of crack cocaine addiction. He pleaded guilty in March 2023, a factor the judge cited as mitigating. The judge described the offence as "organised and deliberate" and placed it in the egregious category, imposing a headline sentence of 16 years before reducing it to the final 12‑year term. A one‑year supervision order was also imposed. The case highlighted the severe consequences of drug‑related criminality.
A 36‑year‑old man, Gerard Cervi, is accused of murdering Robert 'Bobby' Messett and of attempting to murder coach Pete Taylor and Ian Britton on 5 June 2018 at Bray Boxing Club. He pleaded not guilty to all charges. The Central Criminal Court will hear the case, with a jury of six men and six women sworn in. Judge Paul McDermott warned jurors about media influence and advised them to rely solely on court testimony. The trial is expected to last about six weeks and will begin on Wednesday.
WRC adjudicator Brian Dalton ruled against the liquidators of Debenhams in a second test case concerning the mass compulsory redundancy of nearly 1,000 staff in April 2020. In the decision regarding applicant Breda Cox, a Siptu member, the adjudicator found that the liquidators breached collective redundancy consultation rights under the Protection of Employment Act 1977. Specifically, the adjudicator determined that the consultation process commenced too late and failed to provide relevant information, such as stock value and store profitability, which frustrated the trade union's capacity to make constructive proposals. Consequently, the adjudicator awarded Cox €1,800 in compensation, calculated as two weeks' pay for each of the two identified breaches. This ruling follows an earlier decision in a Mandate trade union test case, where applicant Jane Crowe was awarded €2,280, representing four weeks' pay for each breach. The liquidators, Kieran Wallace and Andrew O'Leary, denied the alleged breaches. An appeal against the earlier Mandate ruling is scheduled for the Labour Court on 1 November, with millions of euro at stake for up to 800 members. The Siptu test case affects a smaller group of fewer than 50 staff.
Aaron Brady, 32, of New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, is serving a life sentence with a 40‑year minimum for the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, 41, on 25 January 2013 at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgen, Co Louth. Brady was found guilty in August 2020 by an 11‑to‑one jury at the Central Criminal Court. His appeal, originally scheduled to begin on Tuesday, was adjourned to Wednesday due to a strike by criminal barristers who are campaigning to reverse cuts to legal aid fees. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice John Edwards, granted the adjournment after the Director of Public Prosecutions explained that the entire criminal bar would be unavailable to commence the seven‑day hearing on Tuesday. The appeal will focus mainly on defence complaints regarding two witnesses who testified via video link from New York during the Covid‑19 crisis.
The Central Criminal Court will hear the murder trial of 32‑year‑old Jozef Puska, accused of killing 23‑year‑old schoolteacher Ashling Murphy on 12 January 2022 in Cappincur, Tullamore. Puska, who lives at Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly, is represented by Michael Bowman SC. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, will preside. Once the jury is empaneled, the trial is expected to last about four weeks. Murphy, a recent graduate of Mary Immaculate College, was jogging beside the Grand Canal when she was allegedly fatally assaulted.