A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has begun deliberations in the trial of a woman accused of defrauding two siblings of €10,200 through representations involving spiritual communications. Debbie Paget, of Knowth Court, Ballymun, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of dishonestly obtaining money by deception from James Byrne and Maria Byrne. The prosecution alleges that Ms Paget, who worked as a home carer, conducted purported readings during which she claimed their deceased father had instructed them to provide her with cash totals. Mr Byrne testified he withdrew €10,000 from his bank account and gave it to the accused following such a session. His sister stated she provided €200 after similar representations. Ms Paget denied conducting readings for the complainants or receiving any money from them, maintaining she has offered psychic services free of charge for four decades. Judge Pauline Codd completed her legal directions to the jury, which commenced deliberations on the afternoon of 15 May 2023 and will resume the following day.
Karl Humphries, 40, of Bishopstown, was convicted in July 2021 of three counts of possession of cannabis worth about €58,000 for sale or supply. He claimed he was out hunting rabbits in Watergrasshill on 25 July 2012 when a Garda sting operation found a 9.74‑kg bag of cannabis under a hedge. Humphries denied any involvement in the drug trade, stating he never touched the bag and that he was simply searching for it. He pleaded not guilty and was found guilty by a 10‑2 jury. Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin sentenced him to 10 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. Humphries appealed on grounds that the judge failed to properly explain inferences, the standard of proof and the elements of sale or supply. The three‑judge court dismissed all three grounds and upheld the conviction and sentence.
In a Waterford case, Dean Hurley, aged 53, was convicted in 2021 of sexually assaulting his 12‑year‑old stepdaughter between 1 and 30 October 2013. The jury sentenced him to three years and six months, with the final six months suspended. Hurley appealed, arguing that a post‑conviction victim impact statement contradicted earlier testimony. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, rejected all four grounds of appeal. The judges found the new statement did not materially affect the core allegation and that the trial judge's decisions on evidence admissibility and indictment amendments were correct. Consequently, the conviction was upheld and the appeal dismissed. The case remains at the conviction stage, with no change to the imposed sentence.
A trade union representing film workers has accused top producers Morgan O'Sullivan and the late James Flynn of systematically breaching employment law and attempting to 'fleece' workers of their wages. The Irish Film Workers' Association (IFWA) claims that its campaign against 'systematic blacklisting' in the Irish film industry led to 39 members losing jobs with Metropolitan Film Productions Ltd and World 2000 Entertainment Ltd, where O'Sullivan and Flynn were principal directors. The companies argue that designated activity companies and special-purpose vehicles set up for tax relief on film and TV productions in Ireland were not a circumvention of employment rights. IFWA representatives claim that a collective agreement was signed in 2015, which included a 12.5% pay cut and a waiver of travel allowances, but the companies unilaterally withdrew from the deal.
A Special Criminal Court has heard that an organised criminal gang comprising at least five members with local knowledge deliberately targeted Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, County Louth, in the robbery during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was fatally shot. The State's closing address, delivered by barrister Lorcan Staines SC on 15 May 2023, relied on circumstantial evidence including CCTV footage and mobile phone data to link the accused men to the attack and a series of related burglaries. Brendan Treanor and James Flynn deny charges of conspiracy to commit creeper burglaries between September 2012 and January 2013, and of robbing €7,000 from the credit union on 25 January 2013. The prosecution contends the gang possessed detailed local knowledge of the area and prior intelligence about the credit union's operations. Counsel noted coordination indicators such as synchronised phone deactivations before the robbery and evidence of reconnaissance visits. Aaron Brady, already serving a life sentence with a 40-year minimum for Detective Donohoe's murder, was named as a co-conspirator. The trial continues at the Special Criminal Court. Aaron Brady pleaded not guilty and was found guilty.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed sentence appeals by Dawid Michalik and Daniel Stepien, who were convicted of blackmailing a teenage girl by threatening to leak explicit photos from her OnlyFans account unless she paid €10,000. Both men pleaded guilty to making an unwarranted demand for money with menaces between March 6 and 9, 2021. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Michalik to two years' imprisonment and Stepien to three-and-a-half years. David Ostrowski, who also pleaded guilty to demanding money with menaces, received 150 hours of community service in lieu of 21 months' imprisonment due to his age at the time of the offence. Michalik and Stepien, who had cannabis possession charges taken into account, argued their sentences were excessive, with Michalik claiming a minimal role. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice Birmingham, rejected these arguments, describing the scheme as a sophisticated plan designed to maximize intimidating effect. The court noted that both appellants had previous convictions and that the sentences were not unduly severe. Consequently, the original custodial sentences were upheld, and the matter was concluded with the dismissal of the appeals.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on June 26, 2022, Liam Joyce, aged 25, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm after unprovoked attacks on a hostel resident at the Four Courts Hostel and Merchants Quay. The victim was approached outside the hostel around 10.30pm, where Joyce punched him twice, struck his face with a glass bottle, and later, inside the hostel, punched him again, pulled him to the ground and stamped on his head up to 16 times. The porter tried to intervene, but Joyce removed a six‑inch knife from his pocket, which fell to the ground. CCTV footage and medical reports of cuts, bruising and swelling were presented. Joyce, who had prior assault and traffic convictions, was remanded from September 5, 2022, until bail on March 29. Judge Nolan imposed a 28‑month sentence, backdated to September 4, 2022. The court noted Joyce's homelessness, substance issues and mental health concerns.
A court heard that Declan King, 39, of Courtney Place, Ballybough, pleaded guilty to trespassing at several homes in Clontarf and Marino in August and September 2022. On the night of 7 September 2022, a resident of Marino left a small sitting‑room window slightly ajar and locked all other doors and windows. The next day she discovered her car missing from the driveway, the keys gone, and five bottles of spirits—including a bottle of Jameson whiskey—absent from the larder. Other items taken were a laptop, weighing scales, an apron, yellow rubber gloves, brown sunglasses, a black bra, a Lidl shopping bag, and medication bearing the victim's name. Garda Sharon English reported that the car was later recovered in nearby Ballybough. Gardaí identified King and found the medication and other items at his home. King's 283 previous convictions include 175 under the Theft and Fraud Act.
A father of two, who was a teenager when he repeatedly sexually assaulted a young boy, was sentenced to 18 months in prison. The defendant, who cannot be named, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to six counts of sexual assault that occurred between September 2007 and July 2010 at various locations in County Wicklow. He was 17 when he first assaulted the 14‑year‑old victim, masturbating the child and forcing the child to masturbate him. The abuse escalated when the victim was 15, with the offender forcing the child to perform oral sex. The victim reported that the abuse lasted just under three years and involved about 200 incidents. In his victim impact statement, the survivor said the abuse left him feeling worthless and full of self‑doubt, and he urged the court to prevent the offender from harming others. The defendant expressed shame and remorse, acknowledging the harm he caused.
In a case heard by a three‑judge Court of Appeal, a 27‑year‑old man was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for aggravated sexual assault of his estranged wife in Co. Kildare on 19 November 2020. The final 20 months of the sentence were suspended. The judge, Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, noted the assault took place in the victim's home, where she had a right to feel safe, and that she had repeatedly pleaded for the man to leave. The man recorded on camera declared, "I'm your husband and I have every right to touch you." He pleaded guilty to the assault. The Director of Public Prosecutions argued the sentence was too lenient, citing violence, breach of trust and the man's refusal to leave despite pleas. The court considered mitigating factors, including a traumatic brain injury sustained in 2017, and a prior conviction for violence.
The High Court, by Mr Justice Brian O'Moore, formally wound up Tower Trade Finance Ireland Limited (TTFI) and Deal Partners Logistics Ltd (DPL) on Monday. Both companies, registered in Dublin, were insolvent and could not pay debts exceeding €13 million. Mr Declan McDonald of PWC, previously the examiner, was appointed as the official liquidator for the two firms. Earlier this year the companies had entered examinership, but the process ended after a proposed survival scheme for TTFI was rejected by creditors and a scheme for DPL could not proceed without approval for both firms. The companies had sought court protection following financial difficulties linked to the collapse of JACC Sports Distributors, which had supplied sports kit to the FAI. The court noted that creditors, represented by Gavin Smith of DLA Piper, were not opposed to Mr McDonald's appointment. The judge confirmed the liquidation orders and the appointment of Mr McDonald as liquidator.
Richard O'Brien, aged 61, was convicted by a jury of 63 counts of rape, sexual assault and indecent assault against five victims, including his sisters, niece and two daughters, with offences spanning 1975 to 2011. The Central Criminal Court heard that the abuse began in his family home on O'Moore Road, Ballyfermot, and continued until the three women fled as teenagers. He also strangled a puppy and a kitten during their childhood. O'Brien denied all allegations. The court imposed a life sentence for the rape of his daughters and concurrent sentences totalling 11 years for the other offences, with the sentences commencing from his March 2024 custody. The judge noted O'Brien's lack of remorse and the severe impact on the victims, who had waived anonymity to name him.
In a Tallaght murder trial, the prosecution presented evidence that 25‑year‑old Ademola Giwa was fatally stabbed in the neck on 10 August 2021 during a dispute over a debt and a stolen scooter. John Titiloye, 26, pleaded not guilty. The State alleged that Titiloye had bought a knife the same day and, after an initial walk away, returned to protect his father, Anthony, who was also injured. The trial heard that Titiloye, Giwa, and Samson Fayemi had a verbal row that escalated into a physical altercation on Mac Uilliam Road. CCTV and mobile footage were cited, and Giwa was pronounced dead at Tallaght Hospital after resuscitation attempts. Titiloye was arrested on 11 August and the case is set to continue before a jury.
In May 2023 the High Court was asked to liquidate Tower Trade Finance Ireland Limited (TTFI) and Deal Partners Logistics Ltd (DPL) after creditors rejected a proposed survival scheme for TTFI. The companies had sought examinership protection following financial difficulties linked to the liquidation of JACC Sports Distributors, which had supplied sports kit to the FAI. Both firms owed creditors over €13 million and had previously been placed under examinership by insolvency practitioner Declan McDonald of PWC. A scheme had been agreed for DPL, but the relationship between the firms required both schemes to be approved. With TTFI's creditors voting against the scheme, the examiner and counsel concluded that the only option was to end examinership and order liquidation. Mr McDonald was proposed to act as liquidator, while a short adjournment was granted to allow creditors to decide whether they preferred a different liquidator.
The inquest heard that Julie McDonnell survived the Stardust fire but committed suicide the day before she was to receive state compensation and start a new life abroad. Her niece Pamela McDonnell recounted that Julie had been planning a 21st‑birthday party, but after the blaze the family had to arrange a funeral. Julie and her sister Lorraine were close, sharing a bedroom and activities. Julie had returned to the fire to search for Lorraine, who was later taken to hospital. The family described the chaos and the lasting guilt felt by younger sister Paula. Lorraine, unable to find work in Ireland, applied for jobs abroad and was offered compensation, but she killed herself the night before receiving it. The account also mentioned other family members who suffered long‑term health issues after the fire.
Debbie Paget, a self-described psychic medium, is on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where she has pleaded not guilty to two counts of dishonestly by deception. The prosecution alleges she induced James Byrne and Maria Byrne to provide two sums of cash totalling €10,200 by claiming their deceased father instructed them to do so. Complainant James Byrne testified that during a reading, Paget told him his father said to give her €10,000, adding that failure to comply would be a sin. He stated he felt pressured and subsequently handed her the money in an envelope. His sister, Maria Byrne, testified that she gave Paget €200 after being told her deceased father communicated with the accused. Paget denied all allegations, telling gardai she had never charged for her services and did not conduct readings for the Byrnes. She claimed the siblings were attempting to destroy her life and noted that Mr Byrne had previously gifted her a television and a freezer. Under cross-examination, Mr Byrne acknowledged a 2000 conviction for sexual offences but argued his past was irrelevant. The matter is currently at the trial stage before Judge Pauline Codd and a jury, and the proceedings continue.
In a High Court decision on 12 May 2023, Mr Justice Garrett Simons dismissed Regina Fitzpatrick's appeal against a Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) ruling that a Galway landlord, Sinead Brett, could lawfully terminate her tenancy. Fitzpatrick argued that the RTB should not have upheld the termination notice because Brett had later refused to accept rent via Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). The judge noted that Brett's refusal was communicated months after the tenancy had already ended in September 2021, and that the RTB's tribunal had not considered this point of law. Fitzpatrick's appeal was rejected on the basis that it raised a new legal issue not before the RTB tribunal, and her request for a three‑month adjournment on medical grounds was also denied. The case remains at the RTB level, with no further action taken by the High Court.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 12 May 2023, a 27‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to threatening to kill his former partner, burn her house, and "dance" on her face over access to their baby daughter. The offences, committed between June and July 2022, included threatening to kill the woman, damaging her home, harassing her, and violating a Family Court order by repeatedly contacting her. The man had been in a relationship with the woman for about a year and they share a child. A care order gave the mother full custody and the right to decide the father's access. The man sent harassing emails and WhatsApp messages, calling the woman a "selfish c***" and threatening violence. He remains under supervised access to his daughter, is barred from contacting the woman except for child‑access matters, and is required to pay maintenance. He has two prior assault convictions from 2017.
During the Stardust fire, Teresa McDonnell, a 16‑year‑old, abandoned her own safety to warn her sister Lorraine that a blaze had started, telling her to get out. Lorraine escaped and later found Teresa's friends, but could not locate Teresa amid the chaos. The family searched hospitals and eventually discovered Teresa's body in the morgue. Lorraine's father died within two years, reportedly overwhelmed by the shock of the loss. Teresa was described by her brother Richard as a fun‑loving, brave young woman who loved animals and considered a career in beauty. The McDonnell family suffered profound grief, with both parents deeply affected, and the tragedy left a lasting void in their lives. The inquest highlighted the personal loss and the enduring impact on the family.
Lisa Lee, 41, was sentenced to four years in prison for discarding a knife that was used in the fatal stabbing of Isaac Horgan. The judge suspended two years of the sentence on the condition of good behaviour for three years after her release and required her to work with probation services. Lee, who has 17 prior convictions and has struggled with medical conditions and drug addiction, was warned to "put her life and house in order." She had no fixed abode and had previously lived at Depaul Homeless Hostel. The knife was discarded on 29 March 2021 at Spring Garden Lane, Dublin, after Noel Lennon had stabbed Horgan. Lennon, 48, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was also sentenced earlier that year. The court noted that Lee's attempt to hide the weapon was ineffective, as the knife was found in an area covered by CCTV.
At the Special Criminal Court, Paul Murphy (61) and Jason Bonney (52) were sentenced for participating in the 2016 murder of David Byrne by providing getaway vehicles. The three-judge panel found both men guilty of contributing to the killing by facilitating the removal of two gunmen from the scene. Ms Justice Tara Burns, sitting with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Grainne Malone, described their assistance as intentional and organised, noting they acted in concert with four other vehicles in a planned operation. The court rejected defence arguments that their role was minor, finding they knew a serious criminal event was planned. Murphy, who has 67 previous convictions, received a nine-year sentence backdated to March 17. Bonney, who has no prior record, was sentenced to eight and a half years, backdated to April 14. The judge set a headline sentence of ten years for both, reducing it based on personal circumstances. Separately, Gerard "The Monk" Hutch was acquitted of the murder charge in the same case. The court found it could not rely on the unsupported evidence of a witness to convict him. These sentences conclude the sentencing phase for the convicted defendants, while Hutch remains free following his acquittal.
A 66‑year‑old man and his three sons, aged 38, 40 and 41, are on trial at the Central Criminal Court for a total of 126 counts of sexual abuse against four members of their extended Traveller family. The complainant, now 36, says she was sexually assaulted by her father and brothers from about age seven or eight, with repeated rapes from age 11 until she left home at 18. She claims her father is the father of her oldest child, a claim supported by DNA. She alleges the abuse occurred in a caravan and in cars in Connacht and Leinster, involving oral and vaginal rape. All five defendants deny the charges. The trial is proceeding before Justice Mary Ellen Ring and a jury.
The High Court has postponed the hearing to wind up two Russian State‑owned leasing firms, GTLK Europe DAC and GTLK Europe Capital DAC, until the end of May. Four creditors, including Trinity Investments DAC and Ben Oldman Special Situations Fund LP, petitioned the court, arguing the firms are insolvent and cannot pay debts of about €162.5 million. They seek Damien Murran and Julian Moroney of Teneo Restructuring Ireland as joint liquidators. The companies, which claim they remain solvent despite sanctions, oppose the application. The court, after a pre‑trial application by Benedict O'Floinn SC, agreed to adjourn the matter to 29‑30 May, citing the need for more time to prepare legal submissions. The hearing was originally scheduled for next week and was expected to last two days. The case involves the largest winding‑up in Irish history, with the firms' assets valued at over €4.11 billion.
In a Workplace Relations Commission hearing, Michael Cowhey, 76, claimed he was unfairly dismissed from the Limerick Leader when the paper laid him off in March 2020. Cowhey says he was hired in 2008 as a freelancer to run the photo department for €40,000 a year, a figure the publisher, Formpress Publishing Ltd, argues was a retainer, not a salary. He asserts that he was given a desk, computer, and a fixed schedule, and that he managed other photographers and freelancers. Cowhey's legal team argues that the nature of his work and the fixed hours made him an employee under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. The publisher's solicitor counters that Cowhey declared himself self‑employed in tax returns and worked for other clients, and that the complaint may have missed the six‑month statutory window. The adjudicator, Kara Turner, will issue a decision in due course.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 58‑year‑old John Reeves pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine and heroin for sale or supply at his south Dublin home. Gardaí searched the property on 20 October 2022 and found a pink suitcase in the attic containing eight half‑kilogram blocks of heroin and seven one‑kilogram blocks of cocaine, valued at approximately €560,000 and €490,000 respectively. Reeves admitted he had taken possession of the suitcase in a shopping centre car park, claiming he thought it contained cannabis and only later learned it held hard drugs. He stated he had addiction issues, financial difficulties, and a drug debt of €3,000, and that he had no control over the quantity or type of drugs. Reeves had no prior convictions, had completed drug treatment, and had no family involvement. The court heard he was ashamed of his actions and had taken responsibility.
In a hearing before the Special Criminal Court, the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) was ordered to retain the original versions of documents seized from a woman accused of money‑laundering. The documents were intended for the legal defence of Jennifer Dunne, who is 38, and her partner Nathan Kinsella, 44, both from Richmond in Blackrock, Co. Dublin. Michael Bowman SC requested the originals, arguing that CAB had already provided copies and that the originals would better serve his client. CAB's Grainne O'Neill BL explained that the seized papers could be relevant to other cases and that returning them might raise evidential or forensic issues. Judge Tony Hunt ruled that the originals should remain in CAB's possession, citing their potential broader use beyond Ms. Dunne's case. Ms. Dunne and Mr. Kinsella face six money‑laundering charges under the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering & Terrorist Financing) Act 2010 and are scheduled to go on trial on 31 October 2023.
In the Special Criminal Court, the trial of Brendan Treanor and James Flynn, charged with conspiracy to commit burglaries and a robbery that killed Garda Adrian Donohoe, is set to conclude next week. After the prosecution's case, the defence argued that the common‑law offence of conspiracy no longer exists, citing the Criminal Justice Act 2006, and claimed the charges were vague and unsubstantiated. The court rejected these arguments, holding that the indictment provided sufficient "reasonable information" and that the common‑law offence still stands. The trial, which has lasted 39 days, involves the January 2013 robbery of €7,000 at Lordship Credit Union and a separate conspiracy with Aaron Brady to steal car keys from residential premises. Treanor (34) and Flynn (32) have pleaded not guilty to all charges. Brady, already serving a life sentence for Donohoe's murder and the robbery, denies any role in the latter and is appealing his conviction.
At the Dublin Coroner's Court inquest into the Stardust nightclub fire, the McDermott family spoke about the loss of three siblings—William, George and Marcella—who died on 14 February 1981. The sisters presented pen portraits of each victim, describing William as a 22‑year‑old "tall strong lad" with a bright smile, George as a 19‑year‑old with a cheeky grin and Marcella as a 16‑year‑old who was with friends that night. The family expressed frustration that the Irish State had not conducted a proper investigation into their deaths over the past four decades. June McDermott said, "The dead cannot cry out for justice. It is the duty of the living to do so for them," and the family highlighted the profound grief and lack of external support they endured after the tragedy. The inquest was held in the Pillar Room of the Rotunda Hospital.
Samantha Mangan, daughter of Helena Mangan who perished in the 1981 Stardust nightclub fire, told the Dublin District Coroner's Court that losing her mother at age four and a half left her feeling like a child trapped in an adult body. She recounted pretending Helena was alive and had lost her memory, searching streets for her mother's name, and feeling her absence at school and in everyday life. Samantha described Helena as kind, caring, brave, and strong, with a dry sense of humour and a love of baking. She said she married on what would have been Helena's 50th birthday, hoping her mother would walk her down the aisle. Samantha expressed that reading the coroner's report in 2019, which mentioned missing parts of Helena's body, plunged her into a dark place and intensified her sense of injustice for Helena and the other victims. The inquest focused on the impact of the loss on Samantha's life and her ongoing grief.
Graham Campion, aged 29, pleaded guilty to a single count of trespassing on 9 December 2013 at a property in Sutton Cross, Sutton. CCTV footage identified him as the person looking into the windows of the house at lunchtime that day. The following day the house was burgled and a safe containing €40,000 and a child's piggy bank containing €500 were stolen; the money was never recovered. Campion denied any involvement in the burglary. He has 84 prior convictions, mainly post‑2013 road‑traffic offences, and is currently serving a four‑year‑six‑month sentence for an earlier endangerment offence. The court, noting the case's antiquity and Campion's rehabilitation progress, sentenced him to four months' imprisonment, back‑dated to 4 May, and did not extend his custodial period. The sentence was imposed by Judge Orla Crowe. The case was delayed in part due to the Covid‑19 pandemic.
Four men are to be sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for their roles in a multi-million euro investment fraud involving Custom House Capital Ltd (CHC) between October 2008 and July 2011. Former CEO Harry Cassidy, former Head of Private Clients John Whyte, and former Head of Finance Paul Lavery pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud investors and clients by intentionally misleading them regarding asset placement. John Mulholland pleaded guilty to one count of neglecting his duty as a non-executive director of CHC. Judge Orla Crowe is scheduled to read 197 victim impact statements before passing sentence. The four defendants, who were remanded on continuing bail, face charges related to dishonest acts inducing clients to entrust funds. Separately, Ciara Kelleher, the firm's former senior portfolio relationship manager, pleaded not guilty to a charge of conspiring to defraud investors. Her case was not concluded; a jury failed to reach a verdict earlier this year, and she will face a re-trial in 2025. The court previously noted the need to review extensive material before finalising the proceedings for the four guilty parties.
A High Court jury awarded €505,000 in damages to Michael Sheehan, a 62-year-old former League of Ireland and GAA player, after finding he was assaulted by An Garda Síochána. The civil action, heard before Mr Justice Alexander Owens, alleged that Sheehan was pepper-sprayed and manhandled during an arrest in Athlone on June 3, 2012. The defendants, including the Garda Commissioner and the State, denied the claims of assault and false imprisonment, arguing the response was proportionate to a public order incident. The jury found that gardai used excessive and unreasonable force, assaulting Sheehan in a police vehicle and at Athlone Garda barracks. Sheehan was subsequently acquitted of Public Order Act offences in a separate criminal proceeding. The court awarded Sheehan his legal costs against the State. Mr Justice Owens placed a stay on the damages order pending a potential appeal to the Court of Appeal, conditional on the defendants immediately paying €75,000 to the applicant. The judge also exempted the jury from further duty for ten years.
The Workplace Relations Commission adjourned a preliminary hearing in a case where three senior directors of the Irish Prison Service accuse the agency of ageist discrimination. Operations director Don Culliton, corporate services head Donna Creaven, and acting HR director Trevor Jordon have lodged complaints under the Employment Equality Act 1998, alleging they are paid less than a fourth director, Fergal Black. The Prison Service and the Chief State Solicitor's Office, acting as applicants, sought an adjournment to prepare for Mr Jordon's testimony and to argue for a joint hearing of all three cases. Adjudicating officer Breiffni O'Neill granted the adjournment, rejecting the complainants' objection that the State had delayed its response. The matter was not concluded; instead, the three cases are expected to be heard in person on a single day later this year at Lansdowne House in Dublin 4. The hearing was closed after the adjournment was granted, with no findings or sentences issued at this pretrial stage.
During the Stardust inquest, John Lewis, brother of victim Paula, recounted the profound grief his family endured after her death in the 1981 nightclub fire. He described Paula as a kind, music‑loving young woman who would share her wages with her mother and enjoyed reading Mills and Boon. Lewis lamented the delay in identifying her body, the funeral, and the emotional toll on the family, noting that the loss continues to affect them at every gathering. He also criticized experts who assessed Paula's worth and advised the family on avoiding a legal system that seemed inaccessible to working‑class people. Lewis concluded that while closure may never be achieved, the family still seeks justice and remembrance for Paula.
In a Dublin Coroner's Court inquest into the 1981 Stardust fire, Tony Wade, brother of Paul Wade, spoke about the surreal experience of finally burying Paul in 2007 after he had remained unidentified for 25 years. Tony recalled being at the club with Paul when the fire broke out, noting that Paul's lack of tattoos and perfect teeth contributed to his being one of seven unidentified victims. He described the family's daily attendance at funerals and the frustration of not having a headstone for seven years. The identification in 2007 allowed the family to hold a proper funeral, which Tony described as surreal as the siblings were in their 40s while Paul was "forever 17." He reflected on the profound impact on their parents, especially their mother's loss of faith and their father's anguish. Tony concluded by expressing the family's enduring love and longing for Paul.
In a decision published on 10 May 2023, the Workplace Relations Commission rejected Ashley Moran's claim that a Bus Éireann driver had "swung a punch" at him during a face‑mask dispute. The tribunal found the driver's evidence that he was attempting to take Moran's camera more credible than Moran's allegation of a punch. It concluded that Moran was not discriminated against, but was refused entry because he had engaged in "abusive behaviour". Moran had previously tried to board a bus without a mask in February 2022, was asked to wear one, and later presented a medical note exempting him from masks. The driver denied throwing a punch, accepted that he had tried to take Moran's phone, and said he feared Moran might have a knife. The tribunal deemed Moran's claim of threat and the alleged punch to be unsubstantiated, noting that the CCTV footage made it implausible that Moran felt threatened on the second occasion.
Scheduling difficulties have delayed a bid by Gerard Hutch to recover his legal costs following his acquittal last month on a murder charge at the Special Criminal Court. Hutch was cleared of involvement in the fatal shooting of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in February 2016. The costs application, which the State opposes, was originally due for hearing this week but prosecutors indicated complications had emerged. Justice Tara Burns rescheduled the matter for June 7. Meanwhile, two men convicted of acting as getaway drivers during the attack—Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney—will be sentenced on Friday. Both were found guilty of participating in or contributing to Byrne's murder after a 52-day trial concluded last month.
In a family sexual‑abuse trial at the Central Criminal Court, a 30‑year‑old complainant denied that he had made rape allegations against his 38‑year‑old cousin to deflect attention after being accused of raping another family member. He testified that he was anally raped twice by his cousin when he was a child, between the ages of ten and twelve, in 1999‑2005. He described the first incident as occurring while he slept in a car, and the second while the car was parked opposite a graveyard. He said he screamed and shouted for the cousin to stop, who then told him he was "only messing." The court heard that the complainant had not reported the abuse to social workers and that he had approached the police in 2018 with allegations against his cousin, which he claimed were made partly to deflect attention from his own behaviour.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 20‑year‑old Jake Emmet pleaded guilty to making unwarranted demands with menace at a family home in Malahide on 16 May 2022. Emmet threatened to burn down the house, claiming the homeowner owed him a €500 drug debt. The incident was captured on a doorbell camera, showing Emmet telling the homeowner's mother that her son owed money for "green and a little bit of cocaine" and that he would "torch the house." Emmet's father, a career criminal serving a prison sentence, had left the family when Emmet was a child. Emmet admitted to having no understanding of the trauma he caused, and his counsel noted his cocaine use and homelessness. The judge adjourned sentencing to 25 July, ordering Emmet to cease his association with the people he was "playing the hard man" with.
The inquest into the Stardust Ballroom fire heard that Margaret Kiernan, who died in the blaze on 14 February 1981, asked for her daughter with her dying breath when she passed away aged 92 in summer 2022. Margaret was remembered as a kind, sensitive soul who loved family, sports and socialising. Her brothers Jimmy and John spoke of her sense of humour, love of music and desire for a happy life. They described the night of the fire as breaking their family, with their parents becoming inconsolable and suicidal. Jimmy recalled Margaret's wide circle of friends and her encouragement of John's future wife. John noted that after 41 years the family still seeks justice, believing the case would have been solved if it had occurred in a more affluent area.
A 28‑year‑old man, John Titiloye, will go on trial on Thursday for the murder of Ademola Giwa, 25, who was killed on 10 August 2021 in the Mac Uilliam Road area of Tallaght. Titiloye was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court and pleaded not guilty. He was employed as a blind fitter in the Dublin area in 2019. The judge, Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, warned the jury not to discuss the case or conduct independent research, and the trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, is expected to last two weeks.
In 2022, Workplace Relations Commission inspectors recovered €1,405,126 in unpaid wages, a 45% rise from €964,281 in 2021. Forty‑five percent of employers were found in breach, up from 27% in 2021. Retail and food service sectors accounted for about a third of inspections and 60% of recovered wages. The WRC prosecuted 89 employers, convicting 24, granting 38 probation benefits, and receiving 7 charitable donations. Twelve cases were withdrawn or dismissed, and eight were not pursued. The Commission also recovered €208,044 for workers where employers failed to pay adjudication awards in 30 cases before court orders. The employment and equality tribunal recorded a 30% increase in adjudication hearings to 4,253, with 17% of claims withdrawn before hearing. The report highlighted a 30% rise in parties opting for mediation before formal hearings, and noted that hearings are taking longer than anticipated due to oath and cross‑examination requirements.
Lisa Lawlor, orphaned when her parents died in the 1981 Stardust fire, testified at the Dublin Coroner's Court inquest that the earlier arson allegation added insult to injury. She described growing up in the shadow of the disaster, recounting how she was left alone in the house after her teenage babysitter fled when the fire was reported. Lisa recalled her parents' last night, their decision to stay longer at the disco, and their failure to escape the blaze. She spoke of the trauma endured by her family, including drug addiction and the deaths of her grandparents shortly after the fire. Lisa expressed that the arson claim further harmed the victims' memory and that she hopes justice will finally be served for her parents. The inquest focused on the personal impact of the tragedy rather than legal outcomes.
A 38-year-old Sligo man has pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to directing a 20-member criminal organisation that operated across the northwest between October 2019 and January 2022. Barry Young coordinated drug dealing, intimidation and money laundering across Sligo, Donegal, Leitrim and Galway through a hierarchical command structure. Garda investigations uncovered drug seizures totalling over €628,000 linked to the gang, alongside €40,000 in cash recovered from Young despite his stated income being social welfare payments. Evidence presented during the sentencing hearing showed Young dispatched debt collectors to private homes to commit criminal damage and extort money. The court heard Young had 81 previous convictions and had been twice sentenced for drug dealing, most recently in 2006. His defence counsel noted Young had expressed suicidal ideation over his significant drug debts and described his arrest at Dublin Airport in January as a relief. The non-jury court adjourned sentencing to 31 July. The offence carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
A prison officer who was dismissed after being accused of going AWOL to Australia for 18 months won her job back. The officer had requested a career break in 2018 because of personal stresses, including coming out as gay at work and the death of her father‑in‑law, and was refused. She was taken off payroll after exceeding her paid sick leave limit and remained absent into 2020. The employer sent letters demanding medical certificates and later sent a dismissal plan to the supervising department, which approved it. The Workplace Relations Commission found the dismissal unfair, citing the officer's blemish‑free disciplinary record and the employer's failure to follow fair procedures. The officer was re‑engaged as a prison officer on 24 April 2023, with her dismissal period treated as unpaid suspension.
In a 2023 equality hearing, the Workplace Relations Commission upheld a claim by Alison Walsh, a disabled mother of two, that Emerald Park discriminated against her under the Equal Status Act. Walsh, who suffers from spina bifida and neurosarcoidosis, was denied a queue‑skip pass for rides because the park required a doctor's letter proving an "inability to queue." She presented her disabled driver's badge, adapted car licence and Public Services Card but could not provide medical correspondence. The park's barrister argued that documentation was needed to prevent abuse of the system, while the managing director cited a 15‑20 minute queue for assistance passes and a policy allowing managers discretion after reopening. The WRC found the park's approach unreasonable and ordered Emerald Park to pay Walsh €3,000 in compensation. No appeal mechanism existed for those lacking the requested documentation. The decision highlighted the park's failure to accommodate a disabled visitor in line with the Act.
A family sexual abuse trial is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring and a jury. Five defendants, comprising a 66-year-old man, his 63-year-old wife, and their three sons aged 38, 40, and 41, face 126 counts of alleged offences against four family members who were children at the time. The alleged incidents occurred between 1999 and 2005. All five defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them. The first accused is charged with 25 counts, including anal and oral rape of his nephew and granddaughter. The second accused faces 31 charges, including rape and sexual assault of his sister. The third accused is charged with 36 counts, including anal rape of his niece and cousin. The fourth accused, the mother, is charged with concealing the effects of anal rape and assaulting her nephew and granddaughter. The fifth accused faces 31 charges of rape, sexual assault, and oral rape against his sister. During testimony, a 33-year-old male complainant alleged that his uncle anally raped him when he was approximately nine or ten years old. He stated that the abuse continued until he was 16 or 17. The trial continues.
A man accused of participating in a vigilante attack on security personnel at a repossessed farm in Co Roscommon told gardaí that he organised people to 'take back the house peacefully'. Paul Beirne (56) of Croghan, Boyle, Co Roscommon, stated in December 2018 that he drove a group of around 30 men to the property and broke the front door down with a sledgehammer. He claimed he did not know how the situation escalated. Co-accused Patrick Sweeney (44) of High Cairn, Ramelton, Co Donegal; Martin O'Toole (58) of Stripe, Irishtown, Claremorris, Co Mayo; and David Lawlor (43) of Bailis Downs, Navan, have each pleaded not guilty to 17 charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The charges include false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, criminal damage, violent disorder, robbery, and causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. The prosecution evidence concluded on Monday afternoon, and the trial continues before Judge Martina Baxter in the absence of the jury until Thursday morning, when the panel is due to return.
John Lindsay, 47, was sentenced to two and a half years in jail for his role in a €1.2 million drug seizure. He pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale on 15 March 2023, after having spent up to €1,000 a week on cocaine and trying to reduce a €20,000 drug debt. The court noted that Lindsay had not owned the drugs but acted in a warehousing and delivery capacity, assisting in their onward transmission. He had one prior assault conviction. The judge, citing Lindsay's charitable work, early guilty plea, drug‑free status, strong work history and rehabilitation, imposed a four‑and‑a‑half‑year term with the final two years suspended. The sentence was a departure from the mandatory minimum, reflecting the circumstances of the case and Lindsay's reformed character. The seizure involved heroin worth €831,000 recovered from a hold‑all bag and €420,000 found at Lindsay's home.
The High Court has ordered the winding-up of Nuremore Hotel Management Ltd, the company responsible for operating the Nuremore Hotel and country club in Carrickmacross, County Monaghan. Mr Justice Conor Dignam appointed insolvency practitioner Declan de Lacy as liquidator following a petition by the Revenue Commissioners. The company owes over €680,000 in unpaid PAYE, PRSI, and wage subsidy payments to the state. The hotel ceased operations in late 2022 and has since had its utilities disconnected. The court heard the company is insolvent and unable to satisfy the Revenue's demand. The winding-up petition was originally brought by a former employee but was subsequently taken over by Revenue after the worker was paid in full. Director Kai Dai was ordered to file statements of affairs. Related petitions against two further companies linked to the hotel are scheduled for hearing later in May.