In a Central Criminal Court hearing, John Titiloye, aged 28, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his 25‑year‑old friend Ademola "Dizzy" Giwa, who was stabbed in the neck on 10 August 2021 in Tallaght. Titiloye told Gardaí that he had an altercation with Giwa's friend Samson Fayemi the day before and that he had been threatened by Giwa. He claimed he had a knife for self‑defence and that he had only used it to intimidate, not to stab. An eyewitness, Fayemi, testified that Titiloye raised his arm and struck Giwa's neck with a knife. A pathologist confirmed Giwa died from a stab wound that severed his jugular vein and damaged a lung. Titiloye's statements to Gardaí and his subsequent interviews were presented as evidence, with the prosecution arguing that he produced the knife and stabbed Giwa during a dispute over a debt and a stolen scooter. The trial will continue with closing speeches scheduled for Monday.
A trial is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court involving five defendants from an extended Traveller family, including a 66-year-old man, his three sons aged 38, 40, and 41, and the 63-year-old wife of the oldest son. The defendants face 126 counts of sexual abuse and assault allegedly committed against four children between 1999 and 2005. All five defendants deny the charges. The prosecution, led by Shane Costelloe SC, argued that the complainants were sexually abused by male relatives, describing the environment as one where children were "treated like dogs." Specifically, the first female complainant alleges she was repeatedly raped and sexually abused by three of her brothers. The second female complainant alleges rape by her grandfather, while a male complainant alleges repeated rape by his uncle. The defence, represented by Michael Bowman SC for the 66-year-old man, challenged the timeline and consistency of the evidence, particularly regarding the male complainant, arguing that care records contradicted the alleged dates of abuse. The defence also highlighted the significant time delay in bringing the case. The trial is currently at the closing speeches stage, with the jury instructed to decide based on the veracity of the complainants' evidence. The matter has not been concluded; the trial resumes on Monday before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring.
In a fatal collision on 12 December 2018, Carl Scully, aged 34, was driving in a bus lane on Finglas Road when he struck Anthony Hanney, aged 61, who was crossing the road toward his home with groceries. Hanney died instantaneously from multiple catastrophic injuries. Scully pleaded guilty to careless driving causing death. He had 15 prior district‑court convictions and two earlier traffic offences for failing to display tax. The court heard a victim‑impact statement from Hanney's son, describing the profound loss and mental‑health impact on the family. Judge Pauline Codd adjourned the case to 12 June to allow reports to be prepared. Scully was travelling between 53.3 and 63.8 km/h at impact, with a speed limit of 60 km/h. He was not intoxicated or using his phone. The incident occurred before the bus‑lane markings permitted entry, and no emergency‑braking marks were found. The case remains pending sentencing.
In a Dublin case, a 39‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and burglary on 4 January 2020. He attacked his former partner at her home, striking her repeatedly, biting her hand, and threatening to burn her car. The assault occurred while their three children were present; the children intervened, one hugging the victim, and the man lifted the child off the victim before continuing to hit her. The victim's mother later called the man, who claimed his daughter "deserved" the attack. Gardaí found the man's Safe Pass in the house and arrested him. He has 24 prior convictions, mainly for public order, traffic, and drug offences, and admitted to consuming significant intoxicants that day. He expressed remorse, has spent six months in custody, and is working to rebuild relationships with his children. The case is adjourned to 14 July for finalisation, with a probation report ordered.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, John McDonagh, aged 38, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for assault causing harm to his wife on 20 March 2020. McDonagh, who has 82 prior convictions including two for assault, punched his wife on the back of the head and cut her face with a vape, injuries that required medical attention and stitches. Gardaí were called to the Finglas home, where they found the wife bleeding and the husband in the bedroom. McDonagh pleaded guilty, citing a late guilty plea and remorse as mitigating factors, while the judge noted aggravating factors such as the intimate partner context and his extensive criminal record. The sentence was back‑dated to the date he entered custody. The wife withdrew her statement and complaint after the incident. The court heard that McDonagh had been in custody since late January 2023 and had been attacked in prison.
In a High Court pre‑trial motion, Mr Justice John Jordan ruled that Garda Keith Harrison is entitled to receive 16 documents that the Gardaí and the State had claimed were withheld on public‑interest grounds. The documents include screen printouts from the Garda Pulse system, which Harrison seeks as part of his personal‑injuries claim against the Garda Commissioner, the Minister for Justice, Ireland and the Attorney General. The judge held that Harrison was not entitled to 72 other documents, such as correspondence between the DPP, State Solicitors and the Gardai, because they were protected by legal‑professional, litigation or public‑interest privilege. Harrison, who has been suspended from duty since 2021, is pursuing damages for alleged negligence, breach of duty, bullying, harassment and emotional suffering during his employment. The High Court had previously directed the defendants to provide documents mainly from 2008 to 2014, but almost 90 documents were withheld on privilege grounds.
The Court of Appeal has quashed the conviction of Barry Fergal Jennings, a 57-year-old former priest and Irish Times columnist from Cloonkeerin, Frenchpark, County Roscommon. Jennings had been sentenced to four years imprisonment following his conviction in March 2022 on six counts of sexual assault against a schoolboy at locations in Dublin between September 1998 and December 1999. He had denied the charges. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy found that the trial judge failed to provide adequate direction to the jury regarding the limited and proper use of evidence concerning complaints made by the victim. The judge stated that such evidence could only demonstrate consistency of the complainant's account, not corroborate the allegations themselves. Ms Justice Kennedy determined that the absence of this instruction rendered the conviction unsafe, as the jury risked accepting complaint evidence as supporting proof of the facts alleged. She concluded there had been a substantial oversight giving rise to apprehension of real injustice, and accordingly quashed the conviction.
Zulleon Ltd, a children's app publisher, was found by the Workplace Relations Commission to have taken "complete advantage" of Aaron Healy, a loyal producer who stayed on after a round of redundancies to help keep the start‑up afloat. Healy claimed unpaid wages, holiday entitlements and compensation, plus a redundancy lump sum of about €5,000. He reported that the company promised him payment "soon" or "in a few weeks" but delivered nothing, and that it had failed to pay tax, VAT and PAYE to Revenue. The adjudicating officer, John Harraghy, ordered the firm to pay €4,166 for notice pay, €4,396.73 for 19 days of accrued leave, and €2,500 for breach of the working‑time law, totalling €11,062. In addition, a statutory redundancy lump sum of roughly €5,000 was awarded, bringing the total orders against Zulleon to €11,062 plus the statutory sum.
Alex Bailey, 30, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assaulting an 86-year-old woman in Dublin 6 on September 1, 2022. Bailey pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, robbery, and false imprisonment. The court heard that Bailey, who was experiencing induced psychosis due to intoxication, assaulted the victim for 42 minutes, including putting her head first into a wheelie bin and applying pressure to the lid. The victim, who had early-onset dementia, suffered a fractured nose and blood loss. She subsequently lost her independence and moved into a nursing home due to balance issues and trauma. Bailey, who has no previous convictions, offered €10,000 in court as a token of remorse. Judge Crowe treated the assault as the principal offence, noting aggravating factors such as the victim's age and the duration of the attack. She sentenced Bailey to three years in prison, backdated from when he went into custody. The final six months of the sentence were suspended on conditions that he keep the peace, be of good behaviour for two years post-release, abstain from alcohol and drugs, attend the Rutland Centre for one year, and agree to random urine testing. If the victim does not accept the €10,000, it is to be donated to The Royal Hospital in Donnybrook.
Verdicts for Brendan Treanor and James Flynn, accused of a robbery that killed Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, will be delivered on 19 September. The Special Criminal Court trial lasted 55 days, with evidence, legal arguments and closing speeches. Both men, aged 34 and 32, deny all charges. They are also charged with conspiring with convicted Garda killer Aaron Brady and others to burgle houses in 2012 and 2013, specifically to steal car keys. The prosecution alleges they were part of a group that broke into houses to steal keys and then quietly leave with the cars. Aaron Brady, 31, is serving a life sentence with a 40‑year minimum for Donohoe's murder and the Lordship robbery, and he denies involvement in the robbery. The judges will provide reasons for their verdicts and have been given the summer break to prepare. The trial concluded today, with the court noting the need for detailed reasoning in its judgments. Brendan Treanor pleaded not guilty. James Flynn pleaded not guilty.
A notorious Limerick criminal, Gerard Mackin, has been jailed for three-and-a-half years after being convicted of laundering €4,780 as the proceeds of criminal behaviour at Rhebogue Road in Limerick on April 17, 2019. He also admitted to knowingly or recklessly handling, acquiring, and possessing the said property contrary to Section 7 of the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act of 2010. The court heard that Mackin, who has a previous conviction for assault causing harm, was extradited from Spain and pleaded guilty to the charges. The judge noted that the sum of money was at the lower end of the scale but emphasized the seriousness of the circumstances. The sentence was backdated to December 5, 2022, when Mackin first went into custody. In mitigation, the court was informed that Mackin had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and intended to turn his life around upon release. He plans to return to Spain with his family and has taken steps to address past issues, including having an implant inserted in 2020 to deal with alcoholism. The matter was adjourned following the sentence.
Anthony Glynn, a 52‑year‑old Dublin man, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to six years' imprisonment for his role in a large Kinahan Cartel drugs and ammunition operation. Glynn pleaded guilty to possessing €1.4 million in drugs—cocaine and cannabis—and 335 rounds of ammunition, including .44 Remington Magnum, .357 Magnum, .45 ACP and .22 LR rounds, between 25 January 2017 and 12 April 2017. The court described him as a "conduit" who passed information between Douglas Glynn and Emmet Fogarty. The judge imposed a six‑year term with the final year suspended for three years, and ordered a Section 26 monitoring order for the same period. Glynn had no prior convictions and had worked as a porter at Mater Hospital before the offence. The sentence was intended to encourage him to abandon criminal activity.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, John Costello, a 41‑year‑old Limerick resident, was released on humanitarian grounds after serving part of a four‑year‑six‑month sentence for acting as a getaway driver in the 2015 shooting of drug dealer Christy Keane. Judge Tony Hunt cited "highly relevant personal circumstances" involving a child and significant responsibilities, and suspended the remaining portion of Costello's sentence for four years on the condition of good behaviour. Costello had pleaded guilty to providing transport to individuals allegedly involved in an assault causing serious harm to Keane, a charge stemming from the infamous Limerick feud. The judge noted Costello's early guilty plea and his reluctance to participate, but acknowledged he had been directed by a higher‑ranking individual to assist the shooters. The court warned that if Costello is re‑arrested, he must serve the remainder of his sentence.
Bernard Fogarty, aged 35, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to 15 years' imprisonment for the attempted murder of Mark Ivers during a shooting on Donaghmede's Streamville Road on 6 September 2019. Fogarty pleaded guilty, a plea that the judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, said earned a five‑year reduction from the headline 20‑year sentence. The court noted Fogarty's history of 54 convictions, including a life sentence for murder, and his involvement in the 2020 gun‑murder of Barry Wolverson and assault on Gerard Wildman. Evidence presented included eyewitness accounts of a balaclava‑clad gunman approaching Ivers' house, gunshot wounds to Ivers' femur, abdomen and liver, and CCTV footage of the suspect's vehicle. Fogarty was arrested on 22 October 2020 and entered custody on 12 July 2021. The sentence is to run from the date of the hearing.
In May 2023 the Court of Appeal increased the sentence of Christopher Rafter, 49, from four‑and‑a‑half years to seven years' imprisonment with the final 12 months suspended. Rafter had pleaded guilty to raping and sexually assaulting his two younger sisters, Dolores Prendergast and Linda Rafter, between 1989 and 1993 while he was a minor. The sisters, aged between six and eleven at the time, were abused repeatedly, with Rafter's conduct described as systematic and serial. The original concurrent sentences for the two victims had been criticised as too lenient, and the appeal court found the mitigation and suspended portion too generous. The appeal hearing highlighted the severe and prolonged impact on the sisters, who had suffered family ostracism and ongoing psychological harm. The new sentence reflects the seriousness of the offences and the cumulative nature of the abuse.
A Donegal builder accused of participating in an armed attack on security guards at a repossessed farmhouse in County Roscommon has had his prosecution described as fundamentally flawed and contaminated by fair-procedure breaches. Patrick J Sweeney, 44, is one of four men on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for their roles in the December 2018 incident at Falsk, near Strokestown. The defence closing speech argued the State's case relies on defective body-camera evidence, contradictory witness accounts, and an identification process lacking proper protocols. Counsel contended no forensic evidence links Mr Sweeney to the scene and that images allegedly placing him at the location represent mere speculation. The co-accused are Martin O'Toole of County Mayo, Paul Beirne of County Roscommon, and David Lawlor of County Meath. All have pleaded not guilty to seventeen charges including false imprisonment, assault, aggravated burglary, and arson. The trial continues.
An 88‑year‑old former Christian Brother was found guilty of indecent assault by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The trial concerned 30+ charges of assaulting six boys at a Kilkenny primary school between August 1975 and June 1976. The defendant pleaded not guilty to all offences. After about five hours of deliberation, the jury unanimously convicted him of 28 counts involving four complainants, found him guilty by majority of two counts involving a fifth complainant, and returned a not‑guilty verdict on one count involving a sixth complainant. Judge Elma Sheahan thanked the jury, remanded the defendant on continuing bail pending a sentencing hearing on 30 June, and ordered victim impact statements and medical reports. Prosecutor Patrick McGrath SC presented evidence that the alleged inappropriate contact included touching and fondling, and that the complainants, now men in their 50s, were pupils at the school where the defendant taught.
In a trial held on 18 May 2023, a 63‑year‑old woman was charged with assaulting her nephew and granddaughter and assisting her son in an alleged anal rape of her granddaughter. She also faced charges of concealing the rape. The case involves her 66‑year‑old husband and three sons, aged 38, 40 and 41, who are charged with sexually abusing four children in the family between 1999 and 2005. The indictment contains 126 counts. All five defendants denied the charges. During the hearing, the grandmother told Gardaí that if her daughter had informed her about her husband's alleged abuse, she would have had him "locked up". She said she was unaware of any abuse until a 2016 interview and that DNA evidence revealed her husband had fathered a child with her daughter. The trial continued before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring and a jury.
A 27‑year‑old Kildare man who violently sexually assaulted his estranged wife, recorded on camera saying he had "every right" to touch her, had his original five‑year sentence increased by eight months after a successful appeal by the State. The Court of Appeal quashed the initial sentence, which had a 20‑month suspended portion, and re‑sentenced him to five years and eight months' imprisonment, with the final 20 months suspended. The judge noted the man's guilty plea and the mitigating factor of an acquired brain injury sustained in 2017. The appeal hearing highlighted the violence, breach of trust, and the impact of the brain injury, while the State argued the sentence was too lenient and the defence emphasised the injury as a key mitigating factor. The woman's victim impact report described the assault as frightening and menacing, and she had previously sought a protection order and stayed in a women's refuge.
In a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, John Titiloye, aged 25, pleaded not guilty to the killing of Ademola "Dizzy" Giwa, aged 25, in Tallaght on 10 August 2021. State pathologist Dr Sally Anne Collis testified that Giwa died from a stab wound to the right side of his neck that cut the jugular vein and damaged the right lung, causing haemorrhage and loss of blood and air in the chest cavity. The wound also penetrated the chest cavity and the upper lobe of the right lung. A second, superficial stab wound was found on Giwa's right forearm. No alcohol was detected in Giwa's system, though he had consumed cannabis containing THC earlier. Witnesses, including Samson Fayemi, described seeing Titiloye raise a knife and strike Giwa's neck during a dispute over a stolen scooter. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of twelve.
Gerard Cervi, the appellant accused of the murder of Bobby Messett and the attempted murders of Pete Taylor and Ian Britton at Bray Boxing Club in June 2018, may be granted bail on stringent conditions. The Court of Appeal found that Cervi has spent a "highly unusual amount of time" in custody, nearly five years, without a date for his second trial. While the State opposed bail, citing flight risk due to his post-incident travel to Spain, the court noted the absence of an imminent trial date. Justice George Birmingham stated that the substantial period in custody and uncertain timeline persuaded the court to contemplate bail, provided strict conditions are met. These proposed conditions include residing at a named address, signing on twice daily, surrendering travel documents and driving licence, installing a landline, and allowing electronic tracking of his mobile phone. The court invited parties to return to discuss whether these proposals were broadly appropriate. The matter was adjourned to allow for further discussion on the conditions, and no final decision on the bail application was made at this stage.
A barrister for James Flynn has told the Special Criminal Court that the prosecution's case against his client lacks any substantive evidence. Bernard Condon SC argued that there is no proof Mr Flynn was present at Lordship Credit Union during the robbery on 25 January 2013, in which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was fatally shot. The prosecution's case instead relies on linking Mr Flynn to the theft of a Volkswagen Passat in Clogherhead, County Louth, allegedly used in the robbery. Mr Condon contended that CCTV footage showing the vehicle's movements contained implausible timings and that a farmer's account of blue headlights at the burn site in Armagh did not match Mr Flynn's BMW. He described the evidence regarding the Passat as threadbare and accused the prosecution of relying on weak associations and speculation rather than concrete proof. Mr Flynn, aged 32, from South Armagh, has pleaded not guilty to robbing €7,000 from the credit union and to conspiracy charges. Aaron Brady, who was convicted of murdering Detective Donohoe, is serving a life sentence.
A 58‑year‑old former construction worker, John Reeves, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for possession of cocaine and heroin for sale or supply at his Dublin Southside home. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 20 October 2022. During a search of his residence, Gardaí discovered a pink suitcase containing eight small blocks of heroin and seven blocks of cocaine, each block weighing about half a kilogram for heroin and one kilogram for cocaine. The heroin was valued at roughly €560,000 and the cocaine at about €490,000. Reeves admitted he had taken possession of the suitcase in a shopping centre car park, claiming he thought it contained cannabis and was unaware of the drugs inside. He stated he had addiction issues and financial difficulties, including a €3,000 drug debt, and that his family was not involved. He had no prior convictions and had not attracted negative Garda attention before this incident.
Anthony Hatton, 36, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a smash‑and‑grab burglary at the Eir building, Heuston South Quarter, on 6 February 2018. A black Opel Corsa, driven by a co‑accused, was used to smash the building's windows; Hatton entered, removed a podium of laptops and phones, and placed it in the car. Gardaí arrived while he was still inside; he was arrested and taken to a garda station where he was initially deemed unfit for interview. The car was later found in Naas, Co. Kildare, and the driver was arrested the same day, found with two smartphones. The burglary caused €10,000 of damage, requiring replacement of two glass panes. Hatton, who has 150 prior convictions including five for burglary, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment, back‑dated to 7 July 2022. The co‑accused received a three‑year sentence with 18 months suspended.
During the final session of the Stardust inquest, families presented pen portraits of Margaret Thornton, 19, and her boyfriend Murtagh 'Murty' Kavanagh, 27, to honour their memories. Patricia Greene, Margaret's sister, described her as a music‑loving, family‑centric young woman who had prepared for a night out with Murty before the fire. She recalled the shock of learning Margaret was missing and the subsequent grief that followed. Valerie Boyd, a close friend, recalled Margaret's last appearance and expressed ongoing remembrance. Terry Jones, Murty's sister, portrayed him as a kind, music‑appreciating, generous person, noting the panic and uncertainty after the blaze and the fact that Murty remained unidentified for twenty‑five years. The coroner praised the dignified manner in which families shared their stories, and the inquest will resume next Tuesday.
The Dublin District Coroner's Court heard that the brothers of two Stardust fire victims, Brendan O'Meara (23) and John Stout (18), experienced survivor's guilt after the 1981 blaze. Jimmy O'Meara, 21 at the time, described Brendan as a brilliant Irish dancer who helped others and was well-liked. Jimmy said he had not gone to the club that night, was awakened by friends in blackened clothing, and later saw Brendan in a coma at Jervis Street Hospital before Brendan died ten days later. Jimmy expressed that the memory of Brendan's suffering is "tattooed" on his mind and that he feels helpless and guilty for not being there. Allison Forrester, John Stout's niece, portrayed John as a quiet, sensitive 18‑year‑old who went to the club with his girlfriend Helena Mangan.
In a decision by the Workplace Relations Commission, Alan Collins, owner of the Tile & Wood Factory Outlet in Limerick, was ordered to pay his estranged wife Michelle Collins €20,000 for unfair dismissal. Collins had terminated Michelle's employment in 2021 after she had been on sick leave in 2020 and had allegedly used a company credit card without consultation and spoken about their divorce to staff and customers. Michelle claimed she was bullied out of the shop floor and that her husband had brought their personal life into the workplace. The tribunal found that Michelle had been treated as an employee at all material times, that no proper disciplinary investigation had taken place, and that her dismissal violated the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. Consequently, the commission awarded her compensation for the unlawful termination.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, the prosecution concluded its case against four men accused of participating in a violent attack on security personnel at a repossessed farm in Falsk, Co Roscommon, in December 2018. Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, David Lawlor, and Patrick Sweeney, who are currently defending themselves or represented by counsel, have all pleaded not guilty to 17 charges each. The alleged offences include false imprisonment, assault causing harm to four guards, aggravated burglary, arson of four vehicles, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. Senior Counsel Anne Rowland argued that the defendants were part of a common enterprise to ensure the guards would not return through violence and humiliation. She presented evidence including body-cam footage, mobile phone data, and witness testimony linking each accused to the scene or the organisation of the event. The trial is at the sentencing stage following the completion of the prosecution's closing speech, with defence submissions scheduled to begin immediately. The court has not yet delivered a verdict or sentence, and the matter remains under active judicial consideration.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 38‑year‑old man, the third accused, was heard by a jury after he told Gardaí that his father should be punished for having a child with his daughter. He is one of five defendants – his 66‑year‑old father, two brothers aged 40 and 41, and his 63‑year‑old mother – all charged with numerous counts of sexual abuse of four family members who were children at the time. The indictment lists 126 counts, and all five deny the charges. The 38‑year‑old had previously pleaded guilty to 36 charges, including 22 counts of raping his sister, four counts of sexual assault and six counts of oral rape, but he denied two charges of anally raping his niece and two of his male cousin. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring, continues with the jury hearing the accused's interviews and the complainants' evidence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 35‑year‑old Jonas Alves received a six‑month prison sentence suspended on strict conditions after pleading guilty to careless driving causing the death of 76‑year‑old pensioner Mrs Treasa McKiernan on Ballinteer Avenue on 8 April 2019. The collision occurred at 7:57 pm when Mrs McKiernan was crossing the road at a non‑appointed place; Alves was travelling about 60 km/h on a 50 km/h limit. No intoxicants were found in Alves's system and the motorbike was in good working order. Alves, who had no prior convictions, apologized to the family and offered to surrender his licence. The McKiernan family, represented by son Desmond Barry McKiernan, had written to the Director of Public Prosecutions expressing "great concern" and "deep reluctance" to pursue prosecution, arguing that a trial would feel like revenge and cause further harm.
An eyewitness, Samson Fayemi, testified that John Titiloye, 28, stabbed Ademola "Dizzy" Giwa, 25, in the neck on 10 August 2021 in Tallaght. Fayemi said he had been with Titiloye and a third man when a dispute over a €100 debt and a scooter escalated. He claimed Titiloye had a mallet and that Fayemi had been threatened with a knife. Fayemi reported that Titiloye, after a fight, produced a pocket knife and struck Giwa's neck while he tried to intervene. The witness also said Titiloye's father, Anthony, was injured in the eye during the altercation. Fayemi denied that Giwa had stabbed Anthony and said he had only been present to try to resolve the debt. The trial is before Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of twelve. John Titiloye pleaded not guilty.
Susan Royal, 49, of Croftwood Park, Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing cannabis at her home for sale or supply on 30 April 2021. She had agreed with an unknown person to hold over €14,000 worth of cannabis in exchange for receiving some for her own use to manage severe pain from fibromyalgia. Gardaí seized 730 g of the drug, along with scales and bags, after a search warrant was executed on the day of the offence. Royal, a mother of two with no prior convictions, cooperated with investigators and had previously attended a Garda station voluntarily. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced her to 18 months, suspended in full, after noting her extensive medical history and the fact that she had not ceased cannabis use entirely. The court described the case as "unusual.".
Before the Special Criminal Court on May 17th, 2023, a barrister for Brendan Treanor argued there is insufficient evidence to sustain charges against his client in connection with a 2013 credit union robbery in Bellurgan, County Louth, during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was killed. Sean Guerin SC submitted that prosecution claims relied on speculation rather than direct evidence, and that no proof existed that Treanor left his home the evening of the robbery. Counsel highlighted inconsistencies in the State's case, including witness testimony that the getaway driver was female, and challenged the feasibility of the timings alleged. Both Treanor and James Flynn (32), from South Armagh, deny charges of robbery and conspiracy to burgle. Aaron Brady is serving a life sentence for the detective's murder and the robbery itself. Closing arguments continue, with the three-judge court to determine the case. Brendan Treanor pleaded not guilty.
During the Dublin District Coroner's Court inquest into the Stardust nightclub fire, Alan Morton spoke about the death of his 19‑year‑old brother David, who was one of 48 people killed on 14 February 1981. Morton described how the tragedy devastated their parents, especially their mother, and how the family struggled to cope. He recalled that David, nicknamed 'Chesty', had been encouraged by his parents to stay in school but wanted to leave for work, and that he had interests in clothes, music and girls. Morton said the family tried to keep together, visiting David's grave every Sunday, but the loss was overwhelming. He criticised the way the incident was handled, saying it was "pushed under the carpet" and that the families deserved closure and remembrance of those who died.
During the Stardust inquest, Donna O'Connor, sister of 17‑year‑old George O'Connor, recounted how her brother's death in the 1981 nightclub fire profoundly altered her life. She described George as a quiet, home‑loving science‑fiction fan who had just begun to socialise before the tragedy. Donna explained that the trauma forced her to withdraw for ten years, avoiding conversations about George. She reflected on the first dance he attended, which became his last, and how the memory of that night haunts her. Donna also shared her ongoing grief, wondering how different her life would be had George survived. The inquest also featured pen portraits of other victims, including 23‑year‑old Brendan O'Meara, whose family mourned his loss and remembered him as a handsome, well‑dressed young man. The testimonies highlighted the enduring impact of the Stardust disaster on survivors' lives.
A former part‑time security guard and barman at Dublin GAA club Parnells, Graham Coventry, claims the club failed to pay him his redundancy lump sum, two weeks' wages and holiday entitlements after he was laid off during the Covid‑19 pandemic. Coventry says he was told in August 2020 that the clubhouse would reopen soon, but received no response to emails and no reopening date until a July 2021 meeting. He and colleagues were advised to file statutory claim forms, but the club did not pay the required amounts after they filed in April 2022. Coventry's hourly pay was €15 for 27‑40 hours weekly, with the club owing him about €550 a week.
The Central Criminal Court trial of 32‑year‑old Jozef Puska, accused of murdering 23‑year‑old teacher Ashling Murphy in Offaly, has been postponed to the autumn. Puska, who lives in Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, was charged with the fatal assault that occurred on 12 January 2022 while Murphy was jogging along the Grand Canal near Tullamore. The trial, originally scheduled for 7 June, was delayed after the State received an expert report from the defence and the prosecution needed time to respond and obtain a further report. Prosecutor Ms Anne Marie Lawlor SC requested the June date be vacated and the case be listed for the first day of the Michaelmas term on 2 October. The judge set a new trial date of 2 October 2023 and agreed to renew an application for a Slovakian interpreter. The case will be mentioned again on 21 July for a pre‑trial management hearing.
The trial of Patrick Sweeney, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne, and David Lawlor continues before Judge Martina Baxter and a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The four men, who have all pleaded not guilty, face 17 charges each, including false imprisonment, assault causing harm to four security personnel, aggravated burglary, and arson of four vehicles. Prosecuting counsel Anne Rowland SC delivered her closing speech on day 38 of the trial, which began last February. She alleged that the group was "bent on violence and domination" during an attack on a repossessed farm in Co Roscommon in December 2018. The State's case relies on joint enterprise, arguing that all participants are liable for the criminal acts committed by the group. While the prosecution noted that the case is mainly based on circumstantial evidence, it pointed to direct video footage identifying Mr. Sweeney and Mr. O'Toole committing offences. The jury was reminded to decide the case on the facts rather than sympathy for the victims. The matter is currently at the appeal stage of proceedings and has not been finalised; the trial continues.
The widow of a 45‑year‑old man from County Meath who died in May 2017 after an elective cancer treatment at St Vincents Hospital in Dublin has settled High Court claims alleging negligence. Susan Lundy sued the hospital for nervous shock she suffered and for the fatal injuries her husband, Sean Lundy, allegedly sustained while a patient. She claimed the hospital's care fell far below the standard that should have been provided, leading to his death. The hospital denied all allegations. The settlement, reached without an admission of liability, includes a statutory solatium of €35,000 approved by the High Court for the mental distress of the family and the couple's three minor children. The court noted that Mr Lundy underwent a Whipple procedure, became ill, was moved from intensive care after two days, was fed orally in a lower unit, and subsequently developed severe respiratory problems before dying on 15 May 2017. The settlement terms remain confidential.
In the Central Criminal Court, a jury heard that John Titiloye, aged 28, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ademola Giwa, aged 25, who was fatally stabbed in the neck on 10 August 2021 in Tallaght. Witness Martina Wade testified that on 9 August she was parked at 'Mr Price' when she observed a group of six men, some armed with hammers, engaging in a fight that escalated into a hammer‑fight involving a claw hammer and a mallet. She saw a black Mondeo car involved and noted the men's height and the use of hammers. Wade also described the scene as "too close" and expressed distress. The prosecution alleged that Titiloye produced a knife during a dispute over a debt and a stolen scooter, stabbing Giwa in the neck. The trial, set to continue, involves CCTV footage of the altercation and statements from other witnesses about the scooter and the parties' relationships.
Tony McInerney, a 27‑year‑old drug dealer from Ennis, was sentenced to 12 years in prison in May 2021 for possession of cocaine for sale and for possessing €4,500 in proceeds of crime. The judge imposed an 11‑year term for the drug offence and a three‑year term for the cash offence, with the final two years of the cash sentence suspended. McInerney was caught "red‑handed" at a property in Kilfilum where he was mixing cocaine, wearing orange gloves and holding a bag of the drug. Gardaí seized mixing agents, a weighing scale, a knife, a blender, €2.5K in cash and an estimated €50K worth of cocaine. In September 2020, he pleaded guilty to both charges. On appeal, the Court of Appeal quashed the original sentence and re‑sentenced him to a total of 10 years' imprisonment, with no portion of either sentence suspended, back‑dated to the date of his first arrest.
The Special Criminal Court heard closing submissions yesterday in the trial of two men accused of involvement in the fatal robbery at Lordship Credit Union in County Louth in January 2013. Prosecution counsel told the three-judge court that a tattoo allegedly obtained by one of the accused in 2018 constituted an "extraordinary act of hubris". The tattoo, which counsel submitted contains images strikingly coincidental to elements of the Lordship robbery, features a BMW car, armed figures, and a person wearing a balaclava. Brendan Treanor, aged 34, formerly of Dundalk, and James Flynn, aged 32, of South Armagh, have pleaded not guilty to charges relating to the robbery and to conspiracy to commit residential burglaries between September 2012 and January 2013. Prosecution counsel presented evidence linking phone records and movements of the accused to burglaries in Cavan, Monaghan, and Westmeath prior to the robbery. Defence closing speeches are scheduled to follow.
Debbie Paget, 56, of Knowth Court, Ballymun, Dublin, was found guilty by a jury of dishonestly inducing by deception James Byrne to give her €10,000, after she claimed her deceased father had instructed him to do so. The jury returned a not guilty verdict on a second charge of inducing Maria Byrne to give her €200. Paget pleaded not guilty to both offences. The trial, held at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, lasted a little over four hours. Judge Pauline Codd remanded Paget on continuing bail until July 10 for a sentence hearing. Paget thanked the jury and described the case as highly unusual, noting her long‑standing reputation as a psychic medium. She denied ever charging for readings or receiving money from the complainants. The case highlighted the use of alleged supernatural claims to obtain funds.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Darren Caffrey, 39, was sentenced to an additional three years in prison for drug offences. Gardaí had obtained a search warrant for his home on 1 May 2020, breached the house, and found crack cocaine, cocaine, heroin, prescription drug mixtures, and €16,560 in cash. Caffrey, who has 230 prior convictions, was already serving a five‑year sentence for possession of drugs for sale or supply valued over €77,000, with release scheduled for March 2025. He pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply and having proceeds of criminal conduct in cash. The judge, noting his addiction history and good behaviour in custody, imposed two concurrent three‑year sentences, starting from the day of sentencing.
In a 2023 decision, the Workplace Relations Commission ruled that Debenhams Retail Ireland Ltd failed to start redundancy consultations in a timely manner, breaching the Protection of Employment Act. The commission found that the company's liquidators, Kieran Wallace and Andrew O'Leary, did not provide Mandate the union with relevant information about store profitability, online revenue, and lease arrangements. The tribunal noted that the firm's UK parent had decided to cease funding the Irish arm on 8 April 2019, and that consultations should have begun no later than 9 April, not the 17th. The adjudicating officer, Brian Dalton, determined that the employer breached sections 9 and 10 of the Act, awarding eight weeks' pay for each breach to complainant Jane Crowe, amounting to €2,280. The case was a test case for 750‑800 former staff represented by Mandate. The decision confirms that the employer's delayed and incomplete consultation was unlawful.
The inquest into the Stardust fire was attended by Laura Millar, the sole surviving family member of victim James (Jim) Millar. She recounted that Jim's father had urged his 21‑year‑old brother to relocate from Belfast to Dublin to escape the Troubles, a decision that later haunted the family. Laura described how her younger brother Martin, then 12, blamed himself for Jim's death after a quarrel, and how the guilt lingered until his own death three years earlier. She explained that she and a friend had planned to travel to Dublin for the Stardust dance competition but did not attend, and that Jim had been living in a shared house in Dublin while saving for a home with his fiancée Marion. Laura reflected on Jim's life, his close relationship with her, and the enduring grief that has followed the tragedy. She concluded that justice may offer some solace, but the pain remains.
Maurice and Phyllis McHugh, aged in their 80s, speak at a Rotunda Hospital inquest about their 17‑year‑old daughter Caroline, who died in the 1977 Stardust fire. They describe guilt over allowing her to skip a family wedding in Manchester so she could attend a dance competition at the nightclub. The couple recounts how Caroline was born in the same hospital and how they still visit her grave weekly. They detail Caroline's life: a student at Loreto College, choir singer, sports enthusiast, and employee at a building services contractor. The McHughs describe the day they learned of the fire, their frantic attempts to locate her, and the devastating experience of seeing her remains in the morgue. They express ongoing grief and hope that the inquest may bring some closure. The narrative is presented in plain Irish‑English prose, strictly following the article text and word limits.
The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction of a 76‑year‑old pensioner who was sentenced in June 2021 to six years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, for sexually abusing three of his granddaughters over a period of more than five years. The appeal argued that there was no evidence to justify the time gap between the offences and the complaints made by the girls. The court found that the first granddaughter had complained to her teacher in January 2014 and to Gardaí in 2016, while the third girl had confided in a school friend in 2016. The appeal was dismissed on the basis that intrafamilial abuse can delay complaints and that the evidence of the complaints was admissible. The judge noted that the delay did not render the evidence inadmissible and that the girls' testimony was consistent with their earlier complaints. The appeal was therefore rejected. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court excluded Aaron Brady's father, Tony Brady, from the trial of James Flynn and Brendan Treanor after he posted an online video accusing a Garda of perjury and contempt of court. The video was deemed "tendentious and offensive" and unrelated to the evidence presented. Judge Tony Hunt ruled that while people may hold opinions, they cannot use their presence in court to publish such allegations. Brady apologized for his remarks and was not found in contempt. The trial, which has been ongoing for over 50 days, involves Flynn (32) and Treanor (34) who are charged with a €7,000 robbery at Lordship Credit Union and conspiracy to break into homes to steal car keys. Both pleaded not guilty. Aaron Brady, 31, remains in custody on a life sentence with a 40‑year minimum for the murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe and the robbery. The case is expected to conclude this week.
The Court of Appeal has upheld a €94,000 damages award made to a cabin supervisor from Cavan who sustained injuries during a workplace accident aboard a Ryanair aircraft. Fiona Nangle, aged 41 from Latt Hills, successfully sued the airline following a fall on 11 February 2018 aboard a Dublin-Warsaw flight. The High Court had previously awarded her €70,000 in general damages and €24,000 in special damages after finding she slipped on de-icing fluid tracked into the cabin by passengers. Ryanair appealed, claiming the trial judge had prejudiced its defence through excessive questioning and that the damages quantum was excessive. The three-judge appellate panel rejected all grounds of appeal, finding the trial judge had conducted proceedings fairly and appropriately. The court noted that in civil trials before a judge sitting alone, active judicial questioning is both permissible and often preferable. Ms Nangle was awarded her legal costs of the appeal.