A teacher at a County Donegal school has brought a discrimination complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission in Letterkenny, alleging she was passed over for a permanent contract on grounds related to her religion. The complainant claims colleagues repeatedly addressed her by her Protestant husband's surname despite her use of her maiden name, made remarks suggesting she would be better suited to working at a neighbouring Church of Ireland school, and questioned her about her children's First Holy Communion while knowing they attended a Protestant school. She further alleges that the school's board chairman, a local priest, shouted at her for seeking union advice on employment matters and subsequently banned her from discussing prospects with staff. The teacher states she should have been appointed without interview to a vacant post in line with Department of Education policy, but instead was required to compete in open competition, which she did not win. The school denies the claims.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 3 July 2023, the State argued that the fully suspended two‑year sentence imposed on James 'Jake' Boles for coercive control and five assault offences was too lenient. Boles, aged 24, had been convicted in January for repeatedly dragging his partner by the hair, slamming her head, punching her face and verbally abusing her over a period from 1 January to 5 April 2019. The victim, aged 22, had waived anonymity. The State, represented by Carl Hanahoe BL, contended that the physical violence was frequent and severe, constituting an aggravating factor, and that the judge had applied an excessive discount for mitigating circumstances. The Court of Appeal, hearing the case, noted the weekly nature of the assaults and the impact on the victim, and the judge had suspended the sentence until 2027 with onerous conditions. The Court reserved judgment until 21 July 2023.
A 29‑year‑old man awaiting trial on sexual assault charges threatened to kill his estranged wife's family members, including the alleged victim, and to throw acid at her sister in a series of WhatsApp voice notes. The court heard that the defendant also threatened to damage two properties and intimidate witnesses, including his wife's brother, whom he is accused of sexually abusing. He pleaded guilty to seven counts, all occurring on 19 January 2022, and has nine prior convictions including arson and robbery. The defendant is also before the Central Criminal Court on a separate sexual assault allegation involving his brother‑in‑law. Garda Patrick Browne presented the voice messages, which described violent threats and a desire to "go to the UK" after "ripping out one of their throats." The defendant was on bail at the time and has been in custody since the incident. Judge Martina Baxter ordered a Probation Services report and adjourned sentencing to 9 October.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Victoria Dalton, aged 26, pleaded guilty to one count of theft after a petrol station robbery at Circle K, Dundrum, on 24 March 2020. Dalton entered the station at about 9.15 pm, asked for children's medicine, and was approached by a man whose face was covered with a scarf. He held a knife to her throat and demanded €120 from the till, threatening to kill her if she refused. The staff, fearing for their safety, handed over the money. Dalton later told Gardaí she was fine, but when a second officer arrived she admitted the knife had been held to her neck. She denied any role in the robbery, claiming she had gone to buy medicine for a toothache. The man, who matched the description of the accomplice, fled to a nearby apartment complex. Dalton was arrested shortly after the theft.
A 33‑year‑old man, Conor Dolan, was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Neil Fitzgerald, 36, in Tallaght on 5 June 2016. Dolan pleaded not guilty. Justice Eileen Creedon swore in a jury of seven men and five women. The trial will start on Tuesday morning and is expected to last three weeks.
David Howard, a 54‑year‑old firefighter and paramedic, testified at the murder trial of Andrew Lacey that he and Lacey's cousin Derek Reddin went to Loughlinstown in 2019 for a "straightener." Howard said that when they met Lacey, the accused began waving a knife and a fight ensued. Reddin fell, and Lacey allegedly "straddled" the deceased and "dove the knife into him." Howard denied that Reddin had a steel baton at the scene, stating he only saw it in the car before the encounter. He claimed he was shocked at the time and could not recall describing the baton to Gardaí. Howard also denied deliberately leaving his phone at home or taking a route to avoid cameras. Lacey, 35, remains not guilty‑pleading in the murder of Reddin, 31, which occurred between 14 and 15 October 2019. The trial continues tomorrow before Justice Mary Ellen Ring and a jury of eight men and four women.
Ross Maher, 26, of Poolbeg Quay, Ringsend, Dublin 4, was given a suspended 12‑month sentence after pleading guilty to making threats to kill or cause serious harm to a man who owed him €2,200 for cocaine supplied on credit. Maher had initially sold the victim €200 worth of cocaine, later increasing the debt to €2,200 by providing drugs on a "tick" basis. The victim received repeated threatening messages, including a statement that he was "a dead man," and was also subjected to aggressive phone calls. Maher admitted to supplying the drugs and to the debt, claiming the messages were made in the heat of the moment. The victim's impact statement described the situation as extremely stressful. Judge Pauline Codd, noting the aggravating factor of drug‑related activity, imposed a 12‑month sentence suspended in full on strict conditions.
A Leaving Certificate student, aged 18, was jailed for one year after being convicted by a jury of five counts of sexual assault against his half‑sister, who was aged between eight and eleven at the time of the offences. The assaults occurred between July 2016 and August 2018 at the victim's home in Dublin and on 2 November 2019 at a restaurant. The jury found him not guilty of one count of rape and one count of sexual assault. He denied any wrongdoing. A sentencing hearing in February allowed him to sit his Leaving Certificate exams. Justice Mary Ellen Ring imposed a two‑year sentence, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions, including probation supervision for two years post‑release. The sentence was reduced because of his young age and cooperation with Gardaí. The victim's father was informed after she handed him a note in tears describing the abuse.
David 'Dave' Macardle, a long‑time presenter of the 'Dave Mac's Drive' programme on Cork's RedFm, has had his High Court action against the station resolved. The court heard that the proceedings had been settled and could be struck out, though no agreement details were disclosed. The dispute arose after RedFm demanded that Macardle stop presenting the show from Dublin three days a week and instead host it from its Cork studio all five weekdays. Macardle's lawyers had earlier secured a temporary injunction allowing him to continue the dual‑location arrangement. The station, represented by Brian Conroy BL, denied wrongdoing and had intended to oppose the action. The court noted that the parties had reached undertakings permitting Macardle to present two days a week from Cork and three days a week from Dublin, and that the station would not replace him or terminate his position pending the outcome of the case.
A 53‑year‑old Limerick man, Dermot McManus, pleaded guilty to three money‑laundering offences. He admitted handling €28,550 and £11,795 in cash on 17 June 2020, knowing or recklessly ignoring whether the money was criminal proceeds. Between 1 January 2018 and 17 June 2020 he used money credited to an account in his own name at the Limerick and District Credit Union, again recklessly ignoring its source. He also admitted handling a white Mercedes Sprinter van from 2 June 2020 to 23 May 2021. The case is adjourned to 16 October for sentencing, and his curfew bail condition has been lifted. His partner, Terese Halpin, 50, was charged with possession of the same cash and allowing a Permanent TSB account to be used for the proceeds of crime; those charges were dropped after a nolle prosequi was entered.
Three men have been convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of offences arising from an armed attack on a repossessed farmhouse at Falsk, Strokestown, County Roscommon on 16 December 2018. Martin O'Toole, a 58-year-old farmer of Stripe, Irishtown, Claremorris, County Mayo; PJ Sweeney, a 44-year-old builder of High Cairn, Ramelton, County Donegal; and Paul Beirne, a 56-year-old cattle farmer of Croghan, Boyle, were found guilty of 15 charges including aggravated burglary, violent disorder, criminal damage, false imprisonment and assault causing harm. All three were also convicted of three counts of arson relating to vehicles and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. A fourth defendant, David Lawlor, was acquitted. The court heard approximately 30 armed men breached the property following its repossession by KBC Bank. Four security personnel sustained injuries during the incident. Judge Martina Baxter adjourned sentencing to 28 July.
During the 2023 inquest into the Stardust nightclub fire, former barman Colm O'Toole, aged 20 at the time, recounted his attempts to extinguish a growing blaze and evacuate patrons. He described using a fire extinguisher that only seemed to spread the flames, noting the heat rose from a moderate level to a high intensity as a shutter was raised. O'Toole said he tried to direct people toward an exit in the dispense bar, but many did not hear him. He also reported that the smoke became very dense and he was unable to breathe. O'Toole had no fire training and said the club had no fire‑control plan. He claimed that after about three minutes he shifted focus from fighting the fire to helping people leave the building. The testimony was presented to the tribunal by lawyers representing the families of the deceased. The record contains no further legal conclusions or outcomes.
An 87‑year‑old former Christian Brother from County Waterford was found guilty by a jury of 30 counts of indecent assault on five boys at a County Kilkenny school between August 1975 and June 1976. He was acquitted of one count involving a sixth boy. The maximum sentence for the offences is two years, but Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to three years and two months, with no suspended portion, citing his lack of remorse and continued denial. The judge ordered that he receive appropriate medical treatment while in custody, noting his age and health issues. The five complainants, now men in their 50s, gave victim impact statements describing how the abuse ruined their education, caused depression, anxiety and, for some, alcohol problems. They also said they were let down by the school and the Christian Brothers. The judge praised their bravery for coming to court and urged them not to feel shame.
Damien Graham, a 53-year-old firearms dealer from Co Carlow, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to four firearm offences. The court heard that Graham arrived at Dublin Airport on November 28, 2021, with 15 firearm components in his suitcase following a trip to a Florida gun show. He admitted to possessing and importing a prohibited machine gun bolt, as well as possessing and importing an assault rifle conversion kit without the required certificate. Prosecution evidence indicated Graham concealed the items in bubble wrap and duct tape, initially claiming they were tools before acknowledging they were firearm parts. Judge Martin Nolan accepted there was no sinister motive, describing Graham as an enthusiast whose enthusiasm got the better of him. However, the judge noted that machine gun parts have been illegal in Ireland for generations and criticized the reckless nature of surreptitiously bringing such components into the country. Graham has one previous conviction for a road traffic offence. The judge determined that Graham did not deserve a custodial sentence and handed down a six-month term, which was suspended on a number of conditions.
In a 2023 decision, the Workplace Relations Commission awarded €133,000 to Mario Kirstner, former chief executive of Suirsafe Technologies Ltd. The award comprised €108,000 for constructive dismissal and €25,800 for unlawful wage deductions. Kirstner claimed that in April 2022 the owners, citing a "political/legal situation in China," demanded he either work without pay or leave immediately. He was demoted to chief operating officer, had control of bank accounts transferred to investor Ms Ye, and was told to work for free until the company became profitable. He resigned on 14 June 2022, after refusing to comply with the ultimatum. The tribunal found the company breached the contract by not paying him during the six‑month notice period and ruled the dismissal unfair, awarding the full six‑month lost earnings and the wage‑deduction sum. The case was heard without the respondent company present.
During a trial in the Central Criminal Court, a security guard testified that on 5 April 2018 he saw a 30‑year‑old Dublin man forcibly lift a toddler by her arm after she fell on a shopping centre travelator. The guard described the incident as "deeply concerning" and stayed in the area, radioing a colleague to keep an eye on the man and children for health and safety reasons. He also requested the shopping centre's CCTV control room to monitor them and arranged for Gardaí to be called. The guard's testimony was corroborated by a second security guard who noted the man's interaction with the children and the man's return to the shopping centre after a brief exit. The case involves ten charges of sexual abuse, reckless endangerment and child cruelty against the toddler and her brother, all of which the accused has pleaded not guilty to. The trial continues before Mr Justice David Keane and a jury.
A 26‑year‑old convicted sex offender was sentenced to eight years and three months in prison, with nine months suspended, for raping a 17‑year‑old girl at a house party. The Central Criminal Court heard that the victim was intoxicated and vulnerable, and that the defendant had taken advantage of her in a predatory manner. The judge noted the defendant's prior convictions, including a 2019 District Court sexual assault conviction, and that he had never served time before. The sentence was back‑dated to 29 May 2023. The defendant does not accept the jury's verdict. The victim's impact statement described her feelings of guilt, loss of self‑esteem and the effect on her studies and family. The judge encouraged her to resume her studies and praised her resilience. The defendant will be a registered sex offender and subject to three years of post‑release supervision. The unnamed 17-year-old pleaded guilty.
An 18‑year‑old filmed himself raping a ten‑year‑old boy and later sought to trade child‑abuse material. Gardaí seized an Apple laptop, iPad and iPhone from a rural Munster address, where a video of the anal rape was found. The accused, with no prior convictions, was arrested in September 2019 and pleaded guilty to one count of anal rape, five counts of sexual assault and one count of producing child pornography between January 2014 and February 2015. Additional explicit material involving boys aged 5‑14 and 18,000 instant‑message conversations were discovered. A victim impact statement described the boy's trauma and the accused's grooming. The defendant admitted guilt, apologized and acknowledged the harm caused. Sentencing is adjourned to 28 July for consideration of all facts.
During a murder trial, 54‑year‑old firefighter David Howard, a cousin of the victim Derek Reddin, testified that a fight erupted on Loughlinstown Drive before midnight. He said Andrew Lacey, 35, had a knife and shouted "get it on" while waving it. Howard described seeing Lacey straddle Reddin, who fell flat on his face, and Lacey digging the knife into him. Howard tried to intervene, punching Lacey, but Lacey grabbed him with the knife. Howard then ran to Reddin, found him bleeding with no pulse, and called for an ambulance. Howard denied any role in the escape and stated that the only weapon present was Lacey's knife. Lacey has pleaded not guilty to Reddin's murder, which occurred between 14 and 15 October 2019. The cross‑examination continues before Justice Mary Ellen Ring and a jury.
Sean Johnston, 21, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to assault causing serious harm to a teenager in Tymon Lane, Tallaght, on 2 January 2021. He also pleaded guilty to making six threats to kill a male between 1 January and 14 April 2021 at five unknown locations and once at the Red Cow Luas stop. The DPP will withdraw the attempted murder charge and enter a nolle prosequi when Johnston appears for sentencing on 17 July. Johnston has no prior convictions and a psychiatric assessment report is being prepared.
A High Court judge has refused to extradite a man to Scotland on humanitarian grounds, citing severe prison overcrowding and inadequate mental health provision. Mr Justice Paul McDermott found that surrendering Richard Sharples, aged 24, from Dromore West, County Sligo, would expose him to a real and substantial risk of inhuman or degrading treatment. Mr Sharples is wanted by Glasgow Sheriff Court under a European arrest warrant for offences allegedly committed in September 2021, including a firearms offence and serious assault causing injury and endangerment of life. The judge noted that Barlinnie prison operates at 132 per cent capacity, with prisoners confined to cells for 22 hours daily in less than three square metres of space. He found that Scottish prison authorities failed to provide specific assurances regarding care for Mr Sharples' diagnosed conditions, including ADHD, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and Asperger's syndrome. The court heard evidence from a psychiatrist identifying specific support measures necessary in a prison setting.
A 41‑year‑old Dublin man was jailed for six years after pleading guilty to three counts of defiling a 14‑year‑old girl between September and October 2016. The girl, who had been friends with the man's teenage nephews and was once a girlfriend of one of them, was given alcohol and offered cocaine by the defendant. On the first occasion he met her in a park, gave her alcohol, attempted to kiss her, then forced her into the bushes, pulled down her clothes and had sex with her. Two further incidents occurred at an apartment building where he engaged in sexual activity and sent pornographic material. The girl's mother noticed a message from an older man and the girl confided in a guidance counsellor. The girl had ADHD, depression, self‑harm and hospital treatment at the time of the offences.
In a High Court settlement, a mother used Google to diagnose her six‑year‑old son, Padraic O'Callaghan, with Kawasaki disease before doctors did, leading to a claim of medical negligence against the HSE. Padraic, from Kilmeedy, Co. Limerick, was first admitted to University Hospital Limerick in November 2016 at six weeks old with cough, vomiting and fever. He was discharged twice with a diagnosis of viral respiratory infection, then readmitted when a rash appeared. After further tests, doctors suspected viral meningitis but did not diagnose Kawasaki disease until weeks later, when the mother's online research prompted a discussion. The delayed diagnosis allegedly caused life‑changing complications, including severe cardiac issues, a high risk of brain bleed, and lifelong blood‑thinning medication. The court approved an interim payment of €570,000 as part of the settlement, with no admission of liability, and the case will return in five years.
In June 2023 the Workplace Relations Commission dismissed a claim of unfair dismissal brought by Dublin Bus driver Okan Karpuz. Karpuz had been dismissed in December 2019 after two incidents in which inspectors observed him using his mobile phone while driving. He argued that he was checking on his family and that a sick son was at home during the second incident. The Commission found no procedural breach that would render the dismissal unfair. Dublin Bus maintains a zero‑tolerance policy on mobile phone use while driving, and the company's HR head had previously described such breaches as gross misconduct. Karpuz's union representative criticised the company for inconsistent treatment of the two incidents, but the Commission upheld the dismissal. The decision was published on 29 June 2023.
The Parnells GAA club was ordered by the Workplace Relations Commission to pay statutory redundancy lump sums to two former clubhouse workers, Michelle O'Carroll and Graham Coventry, who had been laid off in March 2020 and remained unemployed for two years. The club had claimed financial difficulties when it closed during the Covid‑19 pandemic and had not reopened by August 2020. O'Carroll and Coventry sought redundancy on the basis of their long layoff, citing the club's failure to provide a reopening date and the lack of funds. The WRC awarded redundancy payments calculated on five years of service for Coventry and ten years for O'Carroll. Separate complaints about holiday entitlements and pay were dismissed because the forms were submitted after the statutory deadline. No club representative attended the hearings, and the adjudicators ruled that the club was on notice and would be pursued for payment if it failed to comply.
During the 1981 Stardust nightclub fire, doorman Patrick J. Murphy testified that at 1:45 am he was alerted to a fire in a corner near the main bar. He attempted to extinguish it but the blaze spread, causing the ceiling to collapse and fill the area with smoke and fumes. He and two others crawled into the burning section, pulled a young girl who was "completely on fire" out of the club, and found her apparently dead. Murphy also described helping others escape through windows and assisting in removing grating. The inquest heard statements from other staff, noting blocked exits, a mobile ramp obstructing an exit, and a missing horizontal bar on an exit door. The testimony highlighted the chaotic conditions and obstacles that hindered evacuation during the blaze. The inquest continued the following day.
Monday Augustine, aged 52, admitted to using false documents to secure asylum and later Irish citizenship. He first arrived in Ireland in 2002 as a Nigerian, claiming to be Liberian and using the name John Augustine Sawyeer. He married an Irish citizen in 2004, obtained citizenship in 2008, and received a passport in 2009, all under the false name. In 2019 he applied for a new passport using the same falsified birth certificate. After a religious experience in 2018, Augustine wrote to the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Services in October 2019, confessing the fraud and revealing his true identity. He was arrested, showed full cooperation, and pleaded guilty. He has no prior convictions, works for a cleaning company, and is described as a respected, pro‑social individual. The case is pending finalisation on 18 July.
A 30‑year‑old Dublin man was charged with 10 offences against his partner's toddler and her brother, including sexual abuse, reckless endangerment and child cruelty, for incidents between February and April 2018. The toddler, aged 23 months, suffered a severe genital injury, extensive bruising and an old fractured wrist when admitted to hospital on 5 April 2018. The man pleaded not guilty to all charges. He claimed he was a "good father" and that the bruising was accidental, citing a fall from a buggy and a wooden toy box. Gardaí and Tusla investigated after the injuries were reported; the mother was arrested in July 2018. The trial is before Mr Justice David Keane and a jury. The man also denied three child‑cruelty charges relating to the boy, aged three. The case remains at the pleading stage.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 17‑year‑old girl testified that her father had stopped visiting him after she was raped by his housemate, a 53‑year‑old Slovakian man convicted of one rape and 12 sexual assaults between September 2012 and September 2013. The girl, who was seven when the abuse began, had reported the abuse to her mother in 2019 and later to a guidance counsellor. She was interviewed by specialist Gardaí in December 2020, when she was 15, and described repeated inappropriate touching, the giving of chocolate Kinder Eggs, and a single rape after the man lured her into his room. She said the abuse ruined her childhood, caused anxiety, depression and self‑harm, and left her fearful of men. The court heard that the defendant denies wrongdoing, has a prior murder conviction from 2001, and has been in custody since July 2021.
The High Court ordered the removal of a mortgage charge held by Promontoria Oyster DAC over the home of Marie Gibson at Castletymon Green, Coolock, Dublin 5. Mr Justice Brian Cregan ruled that Pauline Gibson, Marie's daughter, must pay €75,000 in exemplary damages for engaging in an unscrupulous fraud involving the 2003 transfer of the property. The court found that Pauline Gibson forged signatures to defraud her parents and Dublin City Council. Additionally, solicitor Kevin O'Gorman was ordered to pay €5,000 in compensatory damages and €30,000 in aggravated damages for gross negligence, including failing to provide written advice and destroying original documents. The judge stated he is considering referring findings regarding Pauline Gibson to the Director of Public Prosecutions and findings against O'Gorman to the Law Society and Revenue Commissioners. However, the judge indicated he would consider further submissions before making a final decision on those referrals when the matter returns before the court in two weeks time. The court declared the 2003 transfer and the subsequent mortgage charge void, noting that the receiver was not validly appointed. Promontoria Oyster DAC opposed the removal of the charge, arguing undue influence, but the judge rejected this argument. Pauline Gibson did not participate in the proceedings.
The Workplace Relations Commission upheld a complaint of ageist discrimination under the Equal Status Act 2000 against Avantcard DAC, trading as Avant Money, in a decision published this morning. Adjudicating officer Úna Glazier-Farmer ruled that Michael Lane was treated less favourably on the grounds of his age when the lender refused to allow him to apply for a mortgage switching service because he was over 70. The tribunal rejected Avant Money's motion for an anonymous decision and its argument that the complainant failed to use the official ES1 form, noting that an ordinary letter suffices. The adjudicator found that Lane was denied the opportunity to prove his repayment capacity, which the lender's policy allowed as an exception. Consequently, Avant Money was ordered to pay €8,420 in compensation, representing half the interest Lane would have saved. Additionally, the firm was directed to carry out equality training in its complaints department within six months and to write to its brokers to clarify its age policy. David Caslin, the firm's interim head of compliance, testified that the company did not comply with the complaint process as the official form was not used, though the adjudicator rejected this defence. The hearing concluded with these final orders and findings.
During the murder trial of Andrew Lacey, a jury heard a 999 call recorded on 15 October 2019 in which Lacey claimed he and a friend were attacked by two men, one with a baseball bat and the other with a knife, and that one attacker was Derek Reddin. The call, played to the jury, included Lacey's statements that the attackers were trying to kill them and that he was "worried sick." The prosecution alleges that Reddin was in Loughlinstown to fight Lacey and that Lacey used more force than was reasonably necessary. Lacey, aged 35, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 31‑year‑old Derek Reddin. The jury also viewed a 19‑minute CCTV montage showing the movements of Lacey, his friend, Reddin and Reddin's friend before the fatal incident. The trial is proceeding before Justice Mary Ellen Ring and a jury of eight men and four women.
In a June 2023 decision, the Workplace Relations Commission awarded €2,000 to Sophia Brennan after she was denied entry to KOA Asian Restaurant in Malahide with her guide dog Tim. Brennan, who had a letter from Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind and a guide‑dog card, described the staff's refusal as humiliating and said the dog was called "not hygienic" and could be left "out back." The proprietor had claimed staff allergies and that children might be scared of dogs, but Brennan said none of this was communicated to her that evening. The tribunal found the restaurant had discriminated against her under the Equal Status Act, ordered the proprietor to pay compensation, and required the management to become acquainted with equality legislation. The hearing was conducted without the restaurant's presence, and the decision was made by adjudicating officer Penelope McGrath.
Cabhrú Housing Association, which provides housing for older people, will renew a High Court application to obtain orders for the attachment and committal of those unlawfully occupying its property at James McSweeney House, Berkeley Street, Dublin 7. The charity says the building was taken over last month by unknown persons it believes belong to the Revolutionary Housing League, an organisation that has previously occupied other Dublin properties. Cabhrú had earlier secured a High Court order directing the occupants to vacate, but the judge refused to order Gardaí to arrest the occupants due to insufficient evidence of their identities and a lack of proof that all occupants had been notified of the vacate order. The charity has since attempted to identify the occupants, distributing the court order in six languages and monitoring entries and exits.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 23‑month‑old girl was found with a severe genital injury and multiple bruises, likely from non‑accidental trauma. A consultant paediatrician reported the injury was caused by significant trauma, but could not identify the implement or body part used. The child also had a wrist fracture about four weeks old. The accused, a 30‑year‑old man, pleaded not guilty to ten charges, including sexual abuse and reckless endangerment of the girl, and child cruelty against both the girl and her three‑year‑old brother. The brother was examined and found essentially normal, with a few bruises that may have been bite marks. The trial continues before Mr Justice David Keane and a jury.
Damien Clarke, 40, of North Strand, Drogheda, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for threatening to kill or seriously harm prison officers at Cloverhill Prison on 3 January 2022. He pleaded guilty to two counts of making such threats. Judge Orla Crowe noted that prison officers perform an important function and that threatening one during work is a serious offence. The judge accepted Clarke's early guilty plea and his mental health and poly‑substance abuse issues at the time. Clarke received a three‑year sentence with the final six months suspended, subject to strict conditions including engagement with the Probation Service for two years after release. He had 44 prior convictions, including theft, public order offences and assault, and was on remand at the time of the incident.
Lesley Dyer, 40, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two thefts totalling €1,050 from an elderly woman she cared for in Bray, Co Wicklow, on 18 June 2022 and 13 August 2022. The victim, suffering from dementia, had left €1,000 in a handbag and later discovered the money missing; CCTV later showed Dyer taking €50 from a card. Dyer admitted the thefts, citing financial pressure and a recent split with her partner. Judge Orla Crowe described the offences as a "really serious breach of trust" and adjourned the case to allow a Probation Service assessment for suitability for community service. If deemed suitable, Dyer may be ordered to complete 240 hours of community service in lieu of an 18‑month prison term. The case is set for a hearing on 3 November 2023.
An Irish man aged 46 was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment for repeated rape and sexual assault of a girl aged 8‑11 between August 2014 and August 2017. The offences, committed at his Wexford home, included eight counts of rape, nine of anal rape, eight of oral rape and nine of sexual assault. The court noted a particularly violent incident in which he tied the victim to a bed and held a knife to her throat, threatening her. He was found not guilty of three other rape counts. The judge imposed concurrent sentences of nine years and seven months for the anal and oral rape counts and four years and ten months for the sexual assault counts, with a two‑year post‑release supervision order. The sentence was back‑dated to the date he entered custody after the trial.
Michelle Murray, a student working part‑time in the Lantern Rooms on the night of the Stardust fire, testified that she and three friends had gone behind the shutters of the dispense bar for a break, watched a disco competition, and then left through the Lantern Rooms exit after a small fire was reported. She recalled a man in a white shirt who claimed to have seen someone slitting a shutter and pouring paraffin, but she did not know him. Murray agreed with Bernard Condon SC that many tall tales were circulating about the fire. Caroline Maher, an 18‑year‑old lounge girl, described the fire as initially small but rapidly spreading from the seat to the ceiling, with smoke rushing up the wall. She heard people shout "fire fire" and saw smoke follow her as she exited.
In 2023 the Workplace Relations Commission heard that 5,000 people applied to rent rooms in a single house‑share in north County Dublin when it was listed last year. An estate agent, Stephen McKinnney of 1st Class Lettings and Property Management Ltd, was told to pay €1,800 compensation to Karen Duffy after he withdrew an offer to let her a studio flat in Swords because she was receiving the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). McKinnney said he was looking for "professional men" and that HAP tenants were not always unemployed, claiming the landlord could not sign the necessary forms. Duffy said she had repeatedly stated she was a HAP claimant in all her applications and that she had been denied viewings. The adjudicator, Penelope McGrath, found McKinnney had discriminated against Duffy on the basis of HAP, awarded her €1,800 and upheld her complaint. The case remains at the WRC hearing stage.
Dean Synnott, aged 28, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended on strict conditions, after pleading guilty to two counts of assault causing harm for a serious, determined attack on his partner on 14 October 2017. The court heard that Synnott repeatedly punched and choked the victim, shouted threats such as "Silly little bitch, I'm going to kill you," and attempted to strangle her while she tried to leave the house. He also followed her onto a road, punched her again, and told her that no one would help her when she screamed for assistance. The victim sustained a head injury, bruises, and a cut on her lip; she reported panic attacks and difficulty sleeping as a result of the incident. Synnott had nine prior convictions, all at the District Court, and was described as intoxicated during the attack.
Michael Dunne, aged 50 and a long‑time drug addict, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 12 July 2020 to criminal damage after he threw blue paint on a Luke Kelly statue. He had 51 prior convictions, including five for criminal damage, dating back to 1986. Garda David Kelly discovered the damage and used nearby CCTV footage to identify Dunne, who was arrested but no further action followed the initial garda interviews. The defence, led by Katherine McGillicuddy, argued that Dunne was vulnerable, had no intention to damage the statue, and received drugs as a reward for the act. The court heard that the paint caused €240 in damage. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the case to 12 October for sentencing, allowing time for the preparation of various reports.
The High Court has quashed a condition imposed on Fiona O'Leary, a campaigner against pseudoscience, following the resolution of her judicial review proceedings against the Director of Public Prosecutions. In January, at Bandon District Court, Judge James McNulty sentenced Mrs O'Leary to 60 days imprisonment, suspended for two years, after she pleaded guilty to an offence contrary to Section 13 of the 1994 Criminal Justice Act (Public Order) Act. She was charged with trespassing on a property at the Priory, Maulatanvally, Reenscreena Rosscarbery, Cork, in a manner likely to cause fear. The prosecution case relied on a statement from Fr Giacomo Ballini and alleged that Mrs O'Leary uploaded video footage of the premises to social media. As part of the sentence, the judge imposed conditions requiring her to keep the peace and refrain from engaging in abusive or offensive behaviour in any public place or forum, including social media, for the two-year suspension period. Mrs O'Leary, represented by Bernard Condon SC and Conor McKenna BL, challenged this condition in the High Court, arguing it breached her right to freedom of expression. On Tuesday, Mr Justice Charles Meenan was informed that the action had resolved and the DPP consented to an order quashing the specific condition. Mrs O'Leary stated that she requires social media access for her activism against misinformation, while maintaining she does not intend to be abusive.
Three family members and a teenager accused of murdering Thomas 'Tom' Dooley, 43, will be tried at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin on 29 May 2024. The defendants are Patrick Dooley (35), Thomas Dooley Senior (41), Thomas Dooley Junior (20) and a 17‑year‑old boy who cannot be named. They are charged with the murder of Mr Dooley at Rath Cemetery, Rathass, Tralee, on 5 October 2022, after he was attacked by a group of men while attending a funeral. Thomas Dooley Junior is also charged with assault causing serious harm to Mr Dooley's wife, Siobhán, and the teenager is charged with producing an article likely to intimidate or cause serious injury to Ms Dooley. Mr Dooley died after the attack; Siobhán suffered serious injuries. The court set the trial for the four defendants, with a mention scheduled for 10 July 2024 to allow the defence to receive case materials.
In a Dublin suburb, 35‑year‑old Andrew Lacey was accused of stabbing 31‑year‑old Derek Reddin to death on 14 or 15 October 2019. Lacey claimed he was there for a "straightener" and a fight, not by coincidence, and that a history of animosity existed between their associates. He said he was attacked by two men, one of whom he identified as Reddin, and that he used a work knife to defend himself. The prosecution argued that Lacey used more force than reasonably necessary. Evidence to be presented includes a 45‑second call to emergency services, CCTV footage, forensic blood and DNA on a knife, and a short video taken by a friend's phone. The trial is before Justice Mary Ellen Ring and a jury of eight men and four women. The case remains at the opening stage, with no verdict yet. Andrew Lacey pleaded not guilty.
A scenery painter, David Brady, claims he was injured on the set of Disney's 'Disenchanted' and that his former employer, Metropolitan Films International Ltd, transferred him to another production to avoid liability before sacking him. Brady says he worked only an hour for Moonhaven S1 Productions DAC before being dismissed on 23 August 2021, after a knee injury on the 'Disenchanted' set. He alleges the construction manager moved him to the prop department, then sent him off the site without explanation. Brady also contends he was offered a resignation text in September 2021, which he denied, and that he never verbally agreed to resign. The Irish Film Workers' Association accuses IBEC of "chicanery" and claims breaches of employment rights, including unpaid wages and holiday entitlements. The case is being heard by the Workplace Relations Commission, with a decision expected in the autumn.
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear Unite the Union's appeal against a High Court decision that granted H.A O'Neill Limited an injunction restraining the union and three of its members from carrying or erecting placards or representing a trade dispute. The injunction, issued last March, remains in force pending the full hearing. Unite argues the injunction has wide implications for industrial relations and that the High Court may have overstepped the 1990 Industrial Relations Act. The company claims the proposed industrial action, including picketing, is unlawful and that a valid trade dispute does not exist. The dispute centres on a travel allowance that the company says was incorporated into hourly pay a decade ago, while Unite seeks its restoration. The Supreme Court panel will focus on the nature of the ballot required of union members and whether the lower court correctly applied the law.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 23‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to raping his 16‑year‑old girlfriend in April 2019 while she was napping at her Dublin home. The victim was taking Prozac, which caused her to go in and out of consciousness, and she later reported that her boyfriend knew about the medication. She had told friends and a counsellor about the assault and eventually reported it to gardaí in April 2020. The accused admitted the rape on Instagram after the victim posted her name and called him a rapist. He was 18 at the time of the offence and had no prior convictions. Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced him to four years and six months, suspending the final two years on conditions including cooperation with probation and therapeutic assessment. The court noted the defendant's remorse, mental health difficulties, and the victim's forgiving attitude.
In a trial in Dublin, a 29‑year‑old man accused of child cruelty and sexual abuse of a toddler sister is facing 10 charges. An eight‑year‑old boy gave evidence via video‑link, saying he cannot remember the accused man doing anything. The boy, who was just under three at the time of the alleged offences, had earlier been interviewed by Gardaí in 2019 and 2020. In the final interview he described the man as a "bold daddy" who "hurted us" every day and laughed about it, but he now says he does not remember any of those incidents. The boy also denies remembering his mother's alleged involvement. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice David Keane, continues with a jury hearing the boy's testimony and the man's not‑guilty pleas. The case involves separate charges for the boy and the girl, each with distinct allegations. The man has pleaded not guilty to all 10 charges.
A 27-year-old man from Donegal has been sentenced to 18 months in prison by the Central Criminal Court for sexually assaulting his partner's teenage sister in June 2017. The assault occurred while the victim slept in the accused's bed alongside her older sister. He initially claimed the encounter was consensual, a position he has since abandoned. The victim outlined the profound impact of the offence and the subsequent five-year delay in the case, describing how she lost family support and endured significant psychological harm. Mr Justice Paul McDermott noted that the initial false account compounded the damage to family relationships. The judge acknowledged the accused's guilty plea, his lack of relevant convictions, and expressions of remorse as mitigating factors. He imposed a three-year sentence with the final 18 months suspended on condition that the defendant engage in assessment for relevant programmes. A contact ban was also imposed.