Noel Price, 44, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to facilitating the attempted murder of Christy Keane by making a vehicle available to the McCarthy-Dundon criminal organisation. The offence is alleged to have occurred between June 27 and June 29, 2015. Price admitted to assisting the organisation with the intention of facilitating the commission of the attempted murder. The matter was adjourned to July 25 for sentencing, with the court directing that Price be produced on that date. In a related development, John Costello, 41, was sentenced for providing transport to persons involved in an assault causing serious harm to Keane on June 29, 2015. Costello had previously pleaded guilty to this charge. Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed a sentence of four years and six months, backdated to when Costello entered prison. The judge suspended the remaining portion of the sentence for four years, conditional on Costello being of good behaviour and keeping the peace. The court noted a humanitarian situation in Costello's case, offering him an opportunity to turn away from crime. Keane, who survived the 2015 shooting at the University of Limerick, was not expected to furnish a Victim Impact Statement but could be invited to make one.
The High Court approved a Personal Insolvency Arrangement for Thomas Fahy, a 58‑year‑old self‑employed electrical contractor from Cortoon, Claregalway. Under the arrangement, Fahy's unsecured debts of about €2.5 million will be written off in exchange for a payment of €2,300 to creditors. He will keep his family home, with the mortgage restructured and partially written down by €230,000 over time. The scheme will be funded by a €7,900 lump‑sum payment, of which €5,600 covers the Personal Insolvency Practitioner's fees and the remainder goes to unsecured creditors. The arrangement is 24 months long, with monthly payments of approximately €1,094.29 to Pepper Finance and interest‑only payments of €190 for the first year. No objections were raised, and the court found the proposal met insolvency criteria.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 12 June 2023, a 25‑year‑old former male model, Utseoritselaju Uwatse, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for raping a fellow college student. The victim, who waived anonymity, testified that the offence occurred after a night out in Limerick following a student‑village celebration. CCTV showed Uwatse and the victim hugging before she was taken to a bedroom where he forced sex, claiming it was consensual. She reported that he asked if she was on the pill and that the condom broke. Uwatse was arrested in June 2018 and denied the allegations. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Burns, imposed a headline sentence of four years, noting Uwatse's lack of prior convictions and his "promising future." The court heard the victim's impact statement describing the lasting damage and her feelings of guilt. Uwatse's defence highlighted his background, cooperation with Gardaí, and lack of family in Ireland. The sentence was accepted by the court.
In a High Court hearing on 9 June 2023, Mr Justice Brian O'Moore granted BOC Aviation Limited a temporary freezing order, preventing the Dutch‑registered Volga‑Dnepr Logistics BV from reducing or moving assets below US$406 million. The order, an ex‑parte Mareva order, also appointed a receiver over the defendant's 68.7 % shareholding in its Irish subsidiary, Volga‑Dnepr (Ireland). The receiver, Declan Taite, was authorised to protect assets estimated at US$236 million, including three Antonov cargo aircraft in Leipzig, engines and bank accounts in Dublin, London and Frankfurt. BOC, represented by Bernard Dunleavy SC and Ross Aylward BL, sought the orders to secure assets after a New York court awarded BOC US$406 million in damages last April. The judge declined to order disclosure of the defendant's income or liabilities, noting it was impractical at this stage.
A 37‑year‑old Tipperary man pleaded guilty in the Central Criminal Court to oral rape and sexual assault of a four‑year‑old neighbour between 1999 and 2002. He was 13 when the abuse began and was 17 at its end. The victim, now 28, described how the abuse ruined his childhood, education and relationships, causing depression, anxiety, nightmares and paranoia. He said he had struggled to disclose the abuse and feared for future children. Justice Mary Ellen Ring praised his courage and noted the victim's emotional and physical suffering and the breach of family trust. The court adjourned the case to the following Friday, remanded the accused in custody, and noted that the offender had no prior convictions and was a minor at the time of the offences. The prosecution suggested a 10‑15‑year sentence, but the defence highlighted the guilty plea and the statutory discount for a minor offender. The case remains pending.
An electrician, Stephen Byrne, who worked at Cadburys in Coolock, attended the Stardust on the night of the fatal fire on 13 February 1981. He observed a neon roof sign that was dimming and flickering, which he believed was due to an electrical fault that could cause a fire. Byrne, with 20 years of experience, especially in high‑voltage neon signs, said the flickering could have been caused by degassing, a faulty transformer or a faulty connection, the latter being the most likely to arc and ignite a fire. He made a deposition on 16 February 1981, which was read to the inquest. The inquest also heard that the Stardust had been open for three years, had three venues, and that staff had noticed smoke and power outages months before the blaze.
A pre‑trial hearing has started in the case of Noel Long, a 74‑year‑old man accused of murdering 54‑year‑old Nora Sheehan in 1981. The hearing, expected to last three weeks, is before Mr Justice Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. Brendan Grehan, senior counsel, leads the prosecution, while Michael Delaney SC heads the defence. Sheehan's body was discovered by forestry workers at The Viewing Point, Shippool Woods, Cork, six days after she was reported missing. A jury will be sworn in after the pre‑trial hearing concludes.
A man's appeal against his four-year jail sentence for the sexual abuse of a child in County Cavan has been dismissed by the Court of Appeal. The appellant, now 23, pleaded guilty at Cavan Circuit Criminal Court in June 2021 to defilement of a person under 15 years of age following an incident in 2017 when he was 17. The trial judge imposed a sentence of five and a half years in January 2022, suspending the final 18 months. The appellant's counsel argued the sentence was excessive, contending that the age difference between the accused and the victim was not inherently aggravating and that the duration of the assault was brief. The Court of Appeal found the trial judge had properly identified aggravating factors including coercion, persistence, and a significant age disparity. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy noted the victim had repeatedly refused consent and dismissed the appeal, stating the headline sentence of seven years fell within the judge's discretion.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 9 June 2023, 69‑year‑old Josephine McMahon pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault against two brothers aged four to five and eight to twelve, committed between 1992 and 1996 at her house in Kenmare, Co Kerry. McMahon admitted using a wooden spoon to assault the younger boy in a bathroom, threatening him and later assaulting him again in a bath, and a third assault in a bedroom. She also exposed herself to the older brother and threatened him with the spoon. The younger brother's victim impact statement described ongoing depression, anxiety, addiction, suicidal thoughts and lasting shame, while the older brother cited deep emotional scars and family impact. McMahon, a wheelchair user with diabetes and kidney disease, has no prior convictions and will be placed on the Sex Offenders Register. The case was adjourned to 26 June for sentencing, with a request for a suspended sentence.
Tony Dean, 70, former owner of Dean Waste Management Ltd, was jailed for two years after a judge found him guilty of three breaches of a waste management licence and of holding or recovering waste in a manner likely to cause environmental pollution at a 25‑acre site at Kerdiffstown, Naas, Co. Kildare, between October 2003 and November 2008. The breaches were said to have had a significant environmental impact, with the landfill accepting more waste than it could manage, driven by financial motivation. Judge Melanie Greally noted that €61.5 million of public money was spent to remediate the site and that large profits had been generated and prioritized over compliance. The judge imposed a headline sentence of four years on each charge, reduced to three years with the final 12 months suspended, all to run concurrently. Tony Dean pleaded not guilty.
In a 2023 decision by the Workplace Relations Commission, Dorinda Walsh, a single mother who had lived in a Dublin City apartment for just over two years, accused her landlord Martin Murray of discrimination under the Equal Status Act 2000. Walsh had been told in August 2022 that she was no longer eligible for a rent supplement and would need to claim Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). She sent the HAP application to Murray, who replied that he was willing to honour the contract but did not complete the form. After no response, Walsh filed a complaint. Murray then served her with an eviction notice in October 2022, and later presented a new tenancy agreement with a rent increase that Walsh deemed invalid. The tribunal found that Murray had used "delay and diversionary tactics" to avoid completing the HAP form, and ordered him to pay Walsh €12,500, equivalent to ten months' rent, for discrimination.
The Court of Appeal upheld a 5‑½‑year jail sentence for a 55‑year‑old man who abused five sisters between 1980 and 1988. The abuse began when the man was 12 and ended when he was 20. The sisters were aged seven to 13 at the time of the abuse. He pleaded guilty to one count of rape and six counts of indecent assault. In February 2022 he received a total of six years and six months' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended. The judge ordered the three‑and‑a‑half‑year rape sentence and the three‑year indecent‑assault sentence to run consecutively. The appeal argued that consecutive sentences ignored mitigating factors such as the offender's age, cognitive difficulties, lack of insight and remorse, but the Court of Appeal rejected the appeal, finding the judge had carefully considered all mitigating factors and that the consecutive sentences were appropriate and not unduly lenient.
A 51-year-old man convicted of rape has been sentenced to eight years and four months imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following an aggravated burglary committed in April 2018. Mark McAnaw forced his way into a Dublin home armed with a large kitchen knife three months after completing a nine-year prison sentence imposed in 2012 for sexually assaulting a young foreign student in County Donegal in 2010. The victim, who knew McAnaw from prior social contact, reported feeling terrified during the attack and subsequently developed PTSD, moving from her home and leaving her employment. Judge Melanie Greally imposed the final 16 months of the sentence on a suspended basis for 16 years, conditional on McAnaw's supervision by the Probation Services. The judge cited the targeted nature of the offence, the weapon used, and McAnaw's previous convictions as aggravating factors, whilst noting his guilty plea and psychiatric engagement as mitigating elements. Strict conditions have been imposed, including compliance with the Sex Offenders Act and abstinence from illicit substances.
The High Court has set a date for the State's bid to halt a constitutional challenge brought by Independent Senator Gerard Craughwell. The applicant alleges an unlawful and unconstitutional 'secret arrangement' exists between Ireland and Great Britain, permitting the Royal Air Force to intercept aircraft in Irish airspace. Senator Craughwell claims this purported agreement, allegedly introduced following the 2001 attacks, was never approved by the Dáil or the Irish people via referendum, rendering it fundamentally incompatible with the Constitution. The Government and the State, which do not confirm or deny the existence of the alleged agreement, have filed a defence denying any improper or unconstitutional conduct. Before Mr Justice Brian O'Moore, the judge fixed two days in early October for a hearing on a preliminary issue raised by the State. The respondents argue the claims are not justiciable, submitting that courts cannot review matters of external security falling within executive power, as disclosure could endanger State security and international relations. Should the State succeed in this pre-trial application, Senator Craughwell's case will fall. His legal team is opposing the motion. The senator seeks declarations that the alleged agreement breaches the Constitution and that the Government's failure to control airspace violates Article 5. He also seeks an order restraining the government from legislating to give effect to the agreement without a referendum. The matter is currently at the hearing or decision stage regarding this preliminary application.
A Mattress Mick franchisee, Somnus GSM Limited, was ordered to pay former manager Shane Hearne €10,000 after a complaint under the Payment of Wages Act 1991. Hearne claimed he was owed €25,442 in wages and commission for work from September 2020 to April 2021, but received only €10,615.84, leaving a shortfall of €14,826.16. He alleged a verbal agreement for €550 a week net and 2% commission on all merchandise sales, but no documentation existed. The payroll manager denied the 2% commission, stating managers received 1% of their own sales and 1% of store sales, and cited issues with Revenue registration that led to a directors' loan instead of payment. The adjudicating officer noted the lack of documentary evidence and concluded it was reasonable for the respondent to pay €10,000 in compensation.
Gardai and Simeon Burke will receive audio recordings of court proceedings as part of an appeal against his conviction for a public order offence. Burke, aged 24 and with an address in Castlebar, Co Mayo, was arrested following a disruption at the Court of Appeal on 7 March during a hearing concerning his brother Enoch Burke's suspension from Wilson's Hospital School. He was subsequently convicted under the Public Order Act for threatening, insulting and abusive words and behaviour at the Four Courts. Mr Justice John Edwards at the Court of Appeal ruled that only recordings made while the court was sitting should be released, rejecting arguments that ambient recordings constituted covert State surveillance. The judge determined the key issue for the appeal at Circuit Court is whether the judge ordered the courtroom cleared before gardai removed Burke. He permitted parties to seek further recordings if necessary.
The High Court heard that the joint liquidators of GTLK Europe DAC and GTLK Europe Capital DAC, two Russian state‑owned leasing firms, seek orders recognising that they, not any Russian entities, have effective control over the companies during the €4.11 billion liquidation. The liquidators, Damien Murran and Julian Moroney of Teneo Restructuring Ireland, were appointed after the firms' examinership application was dismissed. The liquidation, the largest in Irish history, was triggered by sanctions imposed on Russian entities following the Ukraine invasion. The liquidators must obtain permission from the Central Bank of Ireland to carry out transactions involving the firms, and have requested a hearing to secure orders and declarations of control. The court noted that the firms' computer server crashed after the liquidators were appointed, complicating access to books and records. The judge set a timetable for document exchange and adjourned the matter for two weeks, hoping to fix a hearing date.
During the inquest into the Stardust nightclub fire, witnesses testified that sparks were seen falling from the ceiling during concerts up to a month before the February 14, 1981 blaze. Patrick O'Driscoll, a member of an Elvis tribute band, described a single "shower of sparks" that he saw in the backstage area the week before the fire, noting the sparks were whitish with a yellowish tint and arced three to four feet. Suzanne McCluskey, who attended a January 15 concert, reported seeing purple sparks flash from the ceiling at intervals of one to two minutes for about ten minutes. The jury also heard from other witnesses about potential safety issues, including chained emergency doors and overcrowding, but the focus of this testimony was the repeated observation of sparks from the ceiling in the weeks leading up to the disaster.
Daniel McDonnell, 28, serving a mandatory life sentence for the 2012 murder of 16‑year‑old Melanie McCarthy McNamara, pleaded guilty on 12 August 2021 to threatening a prison officer at Wheatfield Prison with a sharpened piece of metal. He said he would slit the officer's throat or get someone else to do it. The officer, who was conducting routine checks, reported the threat and was shocked and concerned. McDonnell had previously been arrested in January 2022 for sharpening a shiv and had a history of 36 convictions, including two threats to kill in 2020. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, hearing the case on 8 June 2023, set a headline sentence of three years, reduced to two years and back‑dated to 2 May 2023. The court noted McDonnell's good family support and his receipt of psychological help while in custody. The life sentence for the murder remains unchanged.
Terry Jackson, a 72‑year‑old from Leixlip, was sentenced to nine months in prison after pleading guilty to possessing 2,887 images and 669 videos of child pornography. The material, seized from a hard drive at his home on 17 April 2018, included images of children aged five to 15 and 13 hours of footage. Jackson claimed he collected the material to prevent others from distributing it, stating he was "appalled and enraged" by its online availability and was willing to go to prison to stop its spread. The judge, Orla Crowe, set a headline sentence of two and a half years, reduced to 18 months with nine months suspended, and ordered Jackson to comply with Probation Services for two years upon release. He had no prior relevant convictions and was noted to have health issues including arterial fibrillation and Crohn's disease.
The Court of Appeal has been asked to consider quashing the sentence of a teenager who raped his seven‑year‑old cousin. The boy, aged 17 when convicted in February, was sentenced to one year's detention in Oberstown. He is now over 18 and will be transferred to an adult prison by 17 October, where he must serve the remaining 31 days. Lorcan Staines SC argues that the trial judge could not have imposed a non‑custodial sentence on a child and that the appellate court should either quash the sentence or affirm it. The State, represented by John William Fennelly BL, notes that the 31 days are not excessive given the nature of the offences and that the appellant did not accept the jury verdict. The court will reserve judgment. The unnamed 17-year-old pleaded guilty.
Defrocked priest Denis Nolan, aged 71, had his prison term quadrupled by the Court of Appeal. He had previously been jailed for seven years in 2014 for sexually abusing a boy over five years, and for six years in 2017 for rape and abuse of another boy. In December 2023 he pleaded guilty to three counts of anal rape, one of oral rape and five of sexual assault of a third boy, with offences dated 2001‑2005. The trial judge imposed a nine‑year sentence, suspending seven‑and‑a‑half years, but the Court of Appeal quashed that and imposed a new six‑year term to run consecutively with his existing sentence, which expires in December. The appeal was based on the claim that the suspended portion was unduly excessive and that the original sentence did not reflect the overall gravity of the offences.
Stephen Keane, 33, of Coolfin Meadows, Portlaw, was convicted of murder for the death of John Lowe, 60, in December 2018. He had pleaded guilty to manslaughter but not to murder. Keane claimed intoxication and that he had only struck Lowe once, but the trial judge allowed admissions he made to Gardaí during pre‑detention interviews and notebook entries to be admitted as evidence. Keane's lawyers argue that these admissions were made while he was intoxicated, without legal advice, and should have been excluded. They contend the judge erred in admitting the Garda notebook entries and in not applying the same fairness test used for the first two interviews. The Court of Appeal will decide on June 15. The case remains at the appeal stage, with no verdict yet.
Nikki Hayes, a 44‑year‑old former RTÉ 2FM and Classic Hits DJ, pleaded guilty to possessing €10,000 as proceeds of crime in a Permanent TSB bank account held in her name at an unknown State location on 5 November 2020. The account was registered at The Way, Hunter's Run, Dublin 15. Hayes, who has a nine‑year‑old daughter and no prior convictions, was remanded on continuing bail at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Orla Crowe ordered a probation report and adjourned sentencing to 25 October 2023.
The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) ruled that it had jurisdiction to hear a complaint by former Kuwaiti Embassy staff member Fozia Rafiq under the Protection of Employees (Fixed‑Term Work) Act 2003. Rafiq, who worked as an administrator for Kuwaiti students in Ireland from 4 February 2020 to 3 February 2021, claimed she was treated less favourably because her contract was not renewed. The embassy sought to invoke sovereign immunity, arguing Rafiq was a consular officer and that the WRC lacked jurisdiction. The embassy's barrister cited a 1992 Supreme Court decision on a Canadian ambassador's chauffeur, while Rafiq's solicitor argued that she was a low‑paid, routine administrative employee with no managerial discretion. The WRC's adjudicating officer, Máire Mulcahy, noted that the case law cited by Kuwait had been overtaken by the 2004 UN Convention on Jurisdictional Immunities and that Ireland was bound by customary international law.
Tony Byrne, 66, of Carriglea Court, Firhouse, Dublin, was found guilty by a jury of sexually assaulting his step‑daughter Donna McCarthy, then 16, on 10 May 1992 at the family home. The assault involved Byrne entering the bedroom, putting his arm around McCarthy, touching her knee and moving his hand up her leg to touch her vagina and breasts outside her clothing. McCarthy fled to a neighbour's house, cried and told her mother that "Dad got into bed with me". Byrne, a retired RTE and Virgin Media cameraman, was arrested by appointment and gave a voluntary interview to Gardaí, denying the complaint and suggesting it was revenge. He apologised to McCarthy the day after the incident and has complied with bail conditions. The case was adjourned to 14 June for sentencing. The court heard McCarthy waived anonymity, that Byrne had a role in her life, and that a DNA test proved he was not her father.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 8 June 2023, Thomas McConnell, aged 37, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Gareth Hutch, aged 36, which occurred on 24 May 2016 outside Avondale House, North Cumberland Street, Dublin 1. Prosecutor Fiona Murphy SC presented evidence that McConnell, along with Jonathan Keogh, Regina Keogh, and Thomas Fox, were part of a pre‑planned ambush. The prosecution alleged that a black BMW and a Skoda Octavia were used as getaway vehicles, that McConnell was seen walking to the Skoda before the shooting, and that he and Keogh carried handguns to the scene. Witness Mary McDonell, who had provided a flat for the shooters, was granted immunity and is a key witness. The court heard that McConnell was involved in the careful planning and execution of the murder, which was described as pre‑meditated and brutal. The trial continues before Judges Alex Owens, Elma Sheahan and David McHugh.
A court heard that Lyndsey Byrne was threatened with murder if she did not withdraw her statement following a two-day false imprisonment ordeal in which she was beaten and had boiling water thrown over her. Eamon Savage (36) of Emmet Road, Inchicore, pleaded guilty to witness intimidation of Lyndsey Byrne at Merchants Quay, Dublin 8 on November 18, 2021. He was part of a group that threatened Ms Byrne in public, telling her that she was to drop the charges and say she had lied about the attack. Savage also told her that if she did not comply, she would be murdered. Paul Clarke (29) of Clonard Road, Dublin 12 was sentenced to four years and three months in prison for his role in the attack. Co-accused Craig Kelly (38) of Dowland Rd, Walkinstown, was sentenced to five months in prison for his role in one of the attacks; while a third man, Josh Conlon (19) of Meath Place, Thomas Street, received a suspended sentence. The matter was adjourned for sentence next week to June 14.
Valerie McGovern, 57, of Ballymun, pleaded guilty to two separate violent assaults. In October 2018 she head‑butted and bit Patricia Nolan, pulling her to the ground and causing cuts and a bite mark. Nolan declined hospital treatment and later moved away. In August 2020 McGovern attacked Aishling Groves, waving a kitchen knife, attempting to slice her face and stabbing her on the neck. Groves was hospitalized for 12 days, including intensive care, and received 20 stitches. McGovern had eight prior convictions. Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced her to four years and four months, suspending the final eight months on strict conditions. The sentence includes a two‑year term for the 2018 assault and a two‑year‑four‑month term for the 2020 assault, to run consecutively, with the suspended portion subject to probation supervision. The judge noted McGovern's guilty pleas, efforts to address alcohol addiction, and the serious escalation of her offences.
Anthony Byrne, 28, of Ringsend, Dublin 4, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for an unprovoked assault on a 16-year-old boy. Byrne pleaded guilty to charges of assault causing harm and production of an article in a communal area of his housing block on January 4, 2022. The court heard that Byrne attacked the teenager with a baseball bat, striking him in the head, legs, and arms, causing a broken finger and significant trauma. Judge Orla Crowe described the incident as an "absolutely unwarranted attack" with a long-lasting impact on the victim, noting aggravating factors including the victim's lack of resistance and Byrne's continued strikes as the boy left. Despite Byrne's three previous convictions, Judge Crowe sentenced him to two years' imprisonment but suspended the final six months due to his rehabilitation efforts. Consequently, Byrne faces 18 months of effective custody. The judge also ordered that a €2,000 sum brought by Byrne be paid to the victim's mother and that the baseball bat be destroyed.
During the 1980–81 inspection period, Henry Armstrong of Chubb Fire & Security Ireland Limited reported that several fire extinguishers at the Stardust nightclub were empty each time he inspected them. He noted that eight water‑based extinguishers were in service, with three empty, and six CO₂ units, with three empty, all of which he refilled. Armstrong confirmed that the extinguishers were fully filled when he left the premises in October 1980. He also explained that one extinguisher, located in the hall outside the kitchen, was consistently empty because the chef would use it for small fires and then leave it on the wall. The jury heard that the club's management had not been informed about the potential inaccessibility of four extinguishers when curtains were drawn down, and that the responsibility for staff training lay with the owners.
Luke Fitzpatrick, aged 20, pleaded guilty to affray at Barrow Street, Dublin 4, on 14 May 2021. He was one of eight men who chased a delivery driver, who was later found dead. The driver had been carrying a knife and was allegedly a victim of an attempted robbery. Fitzpatrick was arrested on 14 September 2021 and identified by CCTV. He had no prior convictions. Judge John Martin described the offence as serious, noting the group's pursuit on a bright summer evening and Fitzpatrick's attempt to conceal himself with a snood. The judge considered mitigating factors such as Fitzpatrick's guilty plea, youth, cooperation with Gardaí, lack of previous convictions, and his efforts to address addiction. Consequently, Fitzpatrick received an 18‑month prison sentence, fully suspended, with strict conditions including 12 months of attendance at the Spellman drug recovery centre. The court also accepted letters of apology and support from Fitzpatrick's mother and the Spellman Centre.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 31‑year‑old Christopher Coakley pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to a doctor on Seville Place, Dublin, on 28 January 2021. Coakley, who had 124 prior convictions, knocked the doctor from his e‑scooter, then stabbed him seven times with a pair of scissors. The victim, a Mountjoy Prison doctor, sustained penetrating wounds to the abdomen, chest, head and neck, and required ongoing physiotherapy. Coakley was charged with attempted murder, robbery and production of scissors, but a nolle prosequi was entered for the attempted murder charge. The court considered the robbery and production charges in sentencing. Coakley's lawyer highlighted his drug‑related background and a possible bipolar disorder, and requested a partially suspended custodial sentence with conditions. The judge will sentence on 19 June.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a man was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment for raping and sexually assaulting his niece over a five‑year period from 2008 to 2013. The victim, aged between seven and thirteen, was repeatedly abused in the accused's caravan, where he called her "ugly" and told her she "didn't have to be ugly any more" while raping her. The jury found him guilty of two counts of rape, one count of anal rape and two counts of sexual assault. He has 12 prior convictions, including a three‑year sentence for sexual assault. The judge, Justice Karen O'Connor, noted the victim's courage and the aggravating factor of the accused's dominance, and imposed a seven‑year post‑release supervision order. The sentence was back‑dated to the time he entered custody in April. The case was brought to light in 2017 when the victim disclosed the abuse to social care workers.
James Meagher, a 39‑year‑old Kilkenny hurling coach, was convicted of defrauding a childhood friend of €42,000, an amount that the victim had believed was an investment in a non‑existent sliotar business. The fraud was prosecuted under Section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001, with seven additional offences considered. Judge Elva Duffy sentenced Meagher to two years in prison, suspended the final 18 months, and postponed the start of the custodial term until 1 June to accommodate his college commitments. Meagher had appealed the severity of the sentence on 18 April but withdrew that appeal at a brief Court of Appeal hearing. He had previously coached the Kilkenny minor hurling team and was part of the Ballyhale Shamrocks backroom staff that won the All‑Ireland club championship this year. The victim's impact statement described a loss of self‑esteem and a sense of betrayal. James Meagher pleaded guilty.
Robert Redmond (35) and Jamie Gray (27) pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possessing a PAK PM-63 submachine gun at M11 Southbound, Shankill, Dublin, on May 7, 2020. The charge, under Section 27A(1) of the Firearms Act 1964, alleged they had the firearm in their possession or control without a lawful purpose. Prosecution confirmed that count one, alleging participation in criminal organisation activity, would not be proceeded with. Mr Justice Paul Burns remanded Redmond in custody and granted Gray bail until July 10, when their sentence hearing will take place. Redmond, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in December last year for the murder of Barry Wolverson in Swords, Co Dublin, is currently serving that mandatory term. Gray, who has no indictable previous convictions, was granted a governor's report for his sentencing. Bernard Fogarty (34), Redmond's co-accused in the Wolverson murder, was also sentenced to life imprisonment. The court noted that Redmond had previously denied the murder charge, while Fogarty was convicted. The current matter remains pending sentencing, with the hearing scheduled for July 10.
Ms. Edel Ambrose, former services director at Dublin drug‑treatment centre Sankalpa, received €83,000 in compensation after the Workplace Relations Commission found that the centre's former chairman behaved aggressively and intimidatorily to humiliate her for reporting governance concerns to HSE officials and a TD in 2020. The tribunal upheld her complaints under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 and the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, awarding €23,000 for unfair dismissal and €60,000 for penalisation. A third complaint of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation was dismissed. The decision noted that Ambrose was suspended in May 2020 following unfounded claims by a supervisor, and that she was later threatened with disciplinary action when she sought to address concerns about a colleague's return to work.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has convicted three men of participating in a violent attack on a farm property near Strokestown, County Roscommon, on 16 December 2018. Following a 50-day trial, PJ Sweeney, aged 44, from Ramelton, County Donegal; Martin O'Toole, aged 58, from Claremorris, County Mayo; and Paul Beirne, aged 56, from Boyle, County Roscommon were each found guilty of 15 of 17 charges. These included false imprisonment, assault causing harm to four security personnel, aggravated burglary, three counts of arson, criminal damage and violent disorder. They were also convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. A fourth defendant, David Lawlor from County Meath, was acquitted of all 17 charges. The three convicted men have been remanded in custody and will return to court for sentencing on 30 June. Martin O'Toole pleaded not guilty. Paul Beirne pleaded not guilty.
The Workplace Relations Commission ordered Clare county coroner Isobel O'Dea to pay over €8,000 in compensation to former legal secretary Mary McInerney for unfair dismissal, in addition to a statutory redundancy lump sum. McInerney had worked for O'Dea since 2008, receiving a day rate of €120 for seven hours, and was placed on layoff in April 2020 during the Covid‑19 pandemic. She claimed she was not asked to return to work and that she had only been offered a redundancy package in October 2021, which she accepted because she felt she had no other option. O'Dea denied that McInerney had requested redundancy, stating she had facilitated it. The tribunal found that O'Dea made no effort to consult McInerney about her role, presented redundancy as a fait accompli, and that McInerney was unfairly dismissed under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977.
Britvic has been ordered to reinstate Anthony O'Brien, a shop steward with 24 years of service, following a decision by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) that found 'no evidence whatsoever' he threw a punch during an altercation outside the firm's west Dublin plant on 12 May 2021. The WRC adjudicating officer, Breiffni O'Neill, found procedural unfairness in Britvic's investigation, noting that the precise allegations were not put to O'Brien and that additional allegations were made during the disciplinary process. O'Neill stated that the sacking was both procedurally and substantively unfair, emphasizing that no training had been provided to staff on the firm's dignity at work policy. The matter was heard under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, with the order becoming effective on 15 May 2023. Fergus Dwyer of Ibec, representing Britvic, argued that O'Brien's actions had destroyed the company's trust and confidence, while Dave Curran of Siptu, representing O'Brien, contended that the CCTV footage showed O'Brien was moving away and that he was the victim of an assault. The Trade Union also participated in the proceedings. The case was not adjourned and was concluded at the hearing_or_decision stage.
The founder of a Dublin restaurant group, Padraic Hanley, had his car seized outside the Labour Court by the new management while he was inside pursuing an appeal against his dismissal, according to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). A barrister representing one of Hanley's sons argued that the confiscation highlighted the "utterly bitter" nature of the dispute. The tribunal noted the failure of negotiations aimed at resolving the three-year legal dispute between the Hanley family and the new owners of PBR Restaurants Ltd, who acquired the firm during its examinership in 2019. The WRC found defects in the redundancy processes and ruled the dismissals of David and Philip Hanley as unfair, awarding them €50,000. Padraic Hanley's claim was dismissed as he was not an employee prior to the examinership. Stephen Hanley, the middle brother, claimed that the redundancy process used outdated trading figures and that a proposed role paying €14 an hour would not be viable after tax.
The Irish Athletic Boxing Association (IABA) is in negotiations with former high‑performance director Bernard Dunne over an employment rights claim he has lodged with the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). The WRC has informed the parties that the dispute may need to be resolved within six weeks, noting that a delay could be detrimental. Mr Dunne is currently in India and could not attend the hearing, so the parties agreed to adjourn the matter due to a diary clash. Adjudicating officer Pat Brady explained that only substantial circumstances, such as illness, supported by documentation, would allow a hearing to be postponed. The IABA's solicitor, Setanta Landers, said the parties are in discussions, while Daniel O'Connell, representing the complainant, noted that Mr Dunne will be abroad in October and would need eight months. The WRC has not released details of the statutory basis of Mr Dunne's claim, and the next hearing is scheduled for no earlier than July.
A man convicted of murder in Northern Ireland was arrested in the State on an extradition warrant following his disappearance from custody seven months earlier. James Meehan, aged 53, with addresses in Derry city and Kells, Co Meath, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2009 for the murder of a man in Derry in 2007. He had absconded while on home leave in October 2022 and was declared unlawfully at large by the Northern Ireland Prison Service. Gardaí arrested Meehan by arrangement at a garda station in Dublin this morning. At the High Court, his defence counsel submitted that he had moved to live with his brother in Kells to work and had notified the Department of Justice of his whereabouts in December. The judge noted Meehan was living openly and had engaged with authorities. Bail was granted on condition of a €2,000 deposit, daily signing-on, provision of a mobile phone number to gardaí, and surrender of any travel documents. He was remanded to appear again on 12 June.
A clinical nurse manager, whose identity is withheld pending investigations, was dismissed in summer 2021 after admitting to taking prescription tablets from her workplace and forging a doctor's signature on blank prescription forms, using patient data. She claimed her dismissal was unfair, citing her admission, ongoing addiction counselling, and willingness to work in roles without access to medication. She appealed to the Workplace Relations Commission under the Unfair Dismissal Act. The commission found her conduct amounted to gross misconduct and that dismissal was a reasonable response. The hospital cited breaches of internal policy, the Misuse of Drugs Act, and professional conduct codes. The manager had been employed full‑time, earning €1,105 per week, and had begun a two‑year alcohol treatment programme, but the commission upheld the dismissal, stating the breach of trust was irreparable and the dismissal fell within the band of reasonable responses.
A dental practice run by former Fine Gael election candidate Jagannadha Muttumula and his wife was ordered to pay Canadian dentist Dr Min Li over €15,000 for unfair dismissal and illegal pay deductions. The case arose after Dr Li, who had been hired under a Critical Skills work permit, was sacked for refusing to sign a new contract that would pay her €9,000 less than the salary required by the Department of Enterprise. Dr Li had previously agreed to a €55,000 salary, but the Department had demanded a €64,000 rate to issue the visa. She claimed the employer sent a revised contract to the Department without providing it to her, and that the signature on the €64,000 contract was forged.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has requested exhibits and legal directions on common design as deliberations continue in the trial of four men accused of participating in a vigilante attack on security personnel at a repossessed property near Strokestown, Co Roscommon in December 2018. Patrick J Sweeney, aged 44, of Ramelton, Co Donegal; Martin O'Toole, aged 58, of Claremorris, Co Mayo; Paul Beirne, aged 56, of Boyle, Co Roscommon; and David Lawlor, aged 43, have each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges including false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, violent disorder and animal cruelty. The prosecution alleges approximately 30 armed men attacked the property. The jury examined two exhibits and received clarification on the legal principle of common design before adjourning until Monday.
A former Roche drug safety manager, Dr Bruno Seigle‑Murandi, testified that Roche Products Ireland Ltd tried to protect itself before patients and that he was "the snitch to be managed out." He alleged that Roche issued marketing brochures that mimicked regulated risk documents but omitted adverse reaction details, and that he was threatened by the general manager, Pierre‑Alain Delley, during an alignment meeting. Seigle‑Murandi claimed colleagues altered documents and spreadsheets without his knowledge, and that he was penalised with bonus reductions and a performance improvement plan after making protected disclosures. Roche's barrister, Mark Connaughton, dismissed the allegations as "ridiculous," asserting the company was fully transparent with the HPRA and that the recall decision was ultimately a regulatory matter. The Workplace Relations Commission closed the hearing after six days of evidence, with a decision to be issued later.
David 'Dave' Macardle, presenter of the 'Dave Mac's Drive' programme on Cork radio station RedFM, obtained a temporary High Court injunction allowing him to continue broadcasting from Dublin three days a week. The dispute arose after the station's new management demanded that he host the show from the Cork studio on all five weekdays, contrary to his contract which had permitted two days from Cork and three days from Dublin for the past 21 months. Macardle argued that the station's refusal to honour the agreed arrangement breached his employment contract and threatened his reputation if another colleague were to take over. The injunction covers the broadcasts on May 25 and May 26, with the case scheduled for a further hearing next Monday. The judge noted that only Macardle's side had been heard in the proceedings.
Chang Teng Wang, 57, of Melville Rise, Finglas, Dublin 11, pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of his infant grandson Seán Wang, who died on 15 August 2019. Wang was arraigned in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and the case was adjourned for sentencing on 7 June. He remains on continuing bail until that date. The baby, who was in his grandfather's care while his parents were out, was taken to Temple Street Children's Hospital in cardiac arrest on 13 August, received CPR 40 times, and died two days later in intensive care.
A Dublin man was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment for the abuse of his daughter, who was between four and seven years old at the time of the offences. The man, whose identity is withheld to protect his daughter, was found guilty by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after previously denying two counts of indecent assault in 1987. The victim, now in her 40s, read a victim impact statement describing her father as a "monster" who used her serious illness to his advantage, leaving her feeling "dirty, worthless and inadequate." Judge Martin Nolan described the conduct as a "huge breach of trust" and noted the man's age, long work history and low likelihood of re‑offending as mitigating factors. The sentence was back‑dated to 8 May, and the judge also considered the man's prior minor convictions and letters of support from his siblings.