A 24‑year‑old man was sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment for sexually assaulting a six‑year‑old neighbour when he was 15. The offence occurred on 14 October 2014 at the victim's home in the east of Ireland. The girl, who was a frequent visitor, reported bleeding and cuts on her private area after falling from a bed. She identified the boy as the one who touched her. The boy was asked to leave the house and an exchange took place on the doorstep. The court heard that the boy had no prior convictions, had cooperated with Gardaí, and had not been involved with the police since. The judge noted the victim's psychological impact and the boy's continued denial of guilt, and imposed the sentence without suspension. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The unnamed 24-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A 58‑year‑old man was sentenced to 14 years in prison after a Central Criminal Court trial in November convicted him of 11 offences, including rape, oral rape, sexual assault, false imprisonment, threat to kill and forcing a child to watch sexual activity. The crimes were committed against his nine‑year‑old daughter in the family home in the Midlands between December 2019 and April 2020. He used religious arguments, telling the child that the bible required obedience to a father, and threatened to kill her and other family members if she disclosed the abuse, showing her a knife. The daughter, now 11, described lasting trauma, nightmares, vomiting and fear of being ostracised by peers. Her mother also gave a victim impact statement. The judge imposed concurrent 15‑year terms for the rape offences, suspended the final year on condition of good behaviour, and ordered probation supervision for one year.
A 38‑year‑old man, Brian McHugh, has been charged with the murder of 52‑year‑old youth worker Lisa Thompson, who was found dead with multiple stab wounds in her Dublin home on 10 May 2022. A co‑accused, Deirdre Arnold, 40, faces a charge of impeding the prosecution or apprehension of the alleged murderer between 9 May and 11 July 2022. Mr Justice Paul McDermott set a trial date for 26 February 2024, with case management to finish by 21 July 2023, and the trial is expected to last four weeks.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Nathan O'Neill, aged 24, was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for the manslaughter of Jamie Higgins, who was stabbed five times in a nightclub fight in Shannon on 18 March 2018. O'Neill had previously pleaded guilty to manslaughter and to causing serious harm to Michael Shannon, for which he received a seven‑year sentence. Both sentences run concurrently and are back‑dated to 1 April 2022. The judge noted O'Neill's prior convictions for threatening to kill, possession of a knife and criminal damage, and his earlier guilty plea and cooperation with Gardaí, which led to a reduction from the headline 14‑year sentence. O'Neill admitted the knife was taken from a car after an earlier altercation and that he feared further violence. The court heard victim impact statements from Higgins's family, describing the profound loss and the family's grief. O'Neill expressed remorse and apologised to the family.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the sentencing of four men until May 12, remanding them on the same terms. The defendants, former CHC CEO Harry Cassidy, John Whyte, Paul Lavery, and John Mulholland, pleaded guilty to charges including conspiring to defraud investors and clients of Custom House Capital Ltd (CHC) by misleading them regarding asset placement between October 2008 and July 2011. Mulholland also admitted to neglecting his duties as a non-executive director. The court reviewed 197 victim impact statements detailing severe financial and emotional losses. While the judge indicated a need to review extensive material before finalising the case, the matter was adjourned rather than concluded. Cassidy is disqualified as a director for 15 years, while Whyte faces a 10-year disqualification. A fifth defendant, Ciara Kelleher, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy charges, with her case status remaining contested. The liquidation process has recovered €41 million of the €61 million in misappropriated funds.
The Workplace Relations Commission has ordered landlords Lisa and Michael Furlong to pay €12,000 in compensation to tenants Joselyn King and Piotr Pedzisz for discrimination on the housing assistance ground. The adjudicator found that the landlords' refusal to accept a Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) was the initiating factor in a campaign of harassment described as "egregious." The tribunal heard evidence that after the tenants requested HAP in November 2020, they faced intimidation, including an agricultural trailer parked against their front door, sand placed in the driveway, and electricity cuts. On 27 October 2021, gardaí were called to remove masked men carrying large tools from the property in Kilmuckridge, Co Wexford. The adjudicator, Michael McEntee, noted that the Residential Tenancies Board had previously found that family members significantly interfered with the tenants' peaceful occupation. Although the landlords argued that HAP was irrelevant and that their actions were acceptable on their own property, the tribunal upheld the discrimination complaint. The €12,000 award, equivalent to approximately one year's rent, was deemed a sizeable sum reflecting the severity of the respondents' behavior. This decision follows a separate RTB determination that ordered Lisa Fanning to pay €1,741 for breaching the Residential Tenancies Act.
Patrick Rogers, 36, was previously jailed for 10 months in 2019 for possessing 41 images and one video of child abuse material. In 2023, the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that five further illegal videos were found on a phone in 2017, but the prosecution was delayed due to a "mislabelling" oversight. Rogers pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography at his home on 16 October 2017. He has 10 prior convictions, including possession of child pornography and threats to kill. The court considered his psychiatric history, learning difficulties, and family responsibilities. Judge Martin Nolan, noting the delay and Rogers' personal challenges, imposed a 16‑month custodial sentence that was fully suspended and ordered the destruction of the images. No further prison term was imposed.
Chelsea Dooley, a 23-year-old childcare worker from Blanchardstown, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to two counts of possessing the proceeds of crime. The court heard that Dooley allowed her bank account to be used to receive €23,899 of funds stolen from a victim's AIB account following a 'smishing' fraud. Gardai were contacted in January 2021 regarding the theft, which involved nine transactions totaling €24,900 between December 2020 and January 2021. Prosecutors stated that Dooley's account, opened when she was a child, received the majority of the illicit funds, while a separate account received one euro. During her interview, Dooley claimed she had lost her bank card but could not explain CCTV footage showing an unknown male using it to withdraw cash. Defense counsel argued that Dooley did not profit from the scheme and had no previous convictions. Judge Martina Baxter noted Dooley's remorse, lack of financial gain, good employment history, and further education. The judge handed down a 12-month sentence but suspended it in lieu of Dooley carrying out 200 hours of community service.
In a 2023 decision by the Workplace Relations Commission, a security guard's claim of racial abuse against a shopping centre manager was dismissed. The guard, Younis Sarwari, alleged that the manager told him, "you look like a monkey," while asking him to remove his hands from his pockets. The manager, who has a 39‑year career, maintained that his words were simply a reminder of security policy and that he had never been accused of misconduct. Evidence from a fellow worker, who also heard the remark, was deemed unreliable, and CCTV footage was cited as lacking audio and clarity. The tribunal found the guard's evidence unpersuasive and concluded that no direct discrimination had been established, thereby rejecting the complaint. The decision was upheld on appeal.
Darren Murphy, of George's Place, Dublin 1, appealed his conviction for the 2012 murder of Eamon Kelly at the Court of Appeal. In November 2021, the Special Criminal Court found Murphy guilty of murder, acting as a "spotter" in a common design, while acquitting him of possessing a Glock pistol due to insufficient evidence. In January 2022, a three-judge court imposed a life sentence on Murphy. His legal team argued that the identification process from CCTV footage was flawed, citing credibility issues with Garda witnesses who had previously accessed Pulse records regarding Murphy. They contended that the Special Criminal Court erred in admitting the footage and assessing its weight. The State responded that the identification procedure was transparent and that witness credibility was properly assessed by the trial court. The appeal also referenced Sean Connolly, who was jailed for life in 2015 for the same murder. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham with Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh, reserved its judgment in the matter.
In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, 51‑year‑old Julie Flood was found not guilty of murdering her 94‑year‑old father, Patrick Flood, by reason of insanity. The trial, which lasted 48 minutes of deliberation, focused on Flood's paranoid schizophrenia and psychotic state at the time of the stabbing. She claimed a voice of God told her her father was an imposter, and she had a history of persecutory delusions, including a belief that U2's voices accused her of rape. The jury accepted psychiatric evidence that she met the criteria for a not‑guilty‑by‑reason‑of‑insanity verdict. Judge Paul McDermott remanded Flood to the Central Mental Hospital in Portrane, with a new court appearance scheduled for 4 May. The court thanked counsel and nursing staff for their assistance during the proceedings. Julie Flood was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
Diarmuid Phelan, a 53-year-old senior barrister and law professor from Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght, County Dublin, is charged with the alleged murder of Keith Conlon at Hazelgrove Farm, Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght, on February 22, 2022. The matter was adjourned at the Central Criminal Court to allow the Director of Public Prosecution time to respond to detailed disclosure requests from the defence. Defence counsel Karl Monahan BL applied for Arthur McClean Solicitors to come on record, noting substantial prior correspondence regarding disclosure. He stated that the accused's previous solicitors had sought detailed records on March 21, while new solicitors recently requested "further and better" disclosure. Prosecution lawyers indicated they required considerable time to respond to these requests and asked for the matter to be put back for six weeks. Mr Justice Paul McDermott acknowledged that the defence letter set out significant detail regarding the information sought, noting that providing a comprehensive reply would require time. He suggested that readily available materials could potentially be addressed within four weeks. The judge adjourned the case to May 25 to review the matter again. Phelan is due to go on trial at the Central Criminal Court on May 29, 2024. Keith Conlon, a father-of-four from Kiltalown Park, was seriously injured in a shooting incident and died at Tallaght University Hospital two days later.
A 34‑year‑old Limerick man, Richard Treacy, was charged at the Special Criminal Court with an alleged money‑laundering offence linked to renovation work at his home. The charge alleges that between 1 January 2014 and 12 January 2021, Treacy either knew or was reckless about whether the renovation work was funded by proceeds of criminal conduct, and that he concealed the true source of the property. The offence contravenes Section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010. Treacy was arrested on a warrant issued by the Special Criminal Court and presented to the court in the Criminal Courts of Justice building on Parkgate Street, Dublin. He was charged before a three‑judge, non‑jury court, and Mr Justice Tony Hunt ordered that he be tried before the court.
Jack & Jones, a well‑known menswear retailer, was ordered by a tribunal to pay a former employee, Jake Quinn, €10,725, which represents six months' wages, after Quinn claimed he had not received a Sunday premium for 14 Sundays between April and July 2022. Quinn, who earned €11 per hour for a 37.5‑hour week, also alleged that he was not paid for bank holiday entitlements on four dates in March, April and May 2022. He was dismissed on 28 July 2022, five weeks after filing his complaint. The retailer, represented by William O'Reilly, admitted it does not pay Sunday premia and that the contract was silent on the issue. The adjudicating officer, Conor Stokes, found Quinn's complaint well founded and ordered the retailer to comply with Sunday premium payments for all staff.
Businessman Frank Gleeson secured a temporary High Court injunction preventing a receiver appointed by the UK financial fund Onate UK LLP from selling lands he owns in Mulhuddart, West County Dublin. Gleeson, represented by Keith Rooney BL of MacCarthy Johnston solicitors, argues that the receiver, Mr Colin Gaynor, has no right to sell or market the property, which was listed on the BidX1 online auction platform for a sale next month. Gleeson claims the receiver was appointed only to enforce a floating charge over Taleta Capital Limited's assets, not over the lands, and that he has a purchaser ready to pay Onate in full. The court granted the injunction, restraining Onate and Mr Gaynor from offering the property for sale via any platform or medium and preventing them from representing the sale to third parties without Gleeson's consent. The order remains until the case returns to court, with the matter adjourned for a week.
Sean Nolan, aged 38, appealed his 2020 murder conviction for strangling Amanda Carroll, a mother of two, in her own apartment after a two‑day binge of alcohol and drugs. Nolan had been found by Gardaí on a North Dublin street the day after Carroll's body was discovered, and the prosecution relied on field notes taken by officers who were off‑duty. In the appeal, his counsel argued that these notes, which recorded Nolan saying he had "choked her until she passed out," were not properly read to him during his formal interview and should not have been admissible. The appeal also questioned the jury's deliberation on Nolan's intoxication level and intent, noting that the jury had received no judicial guidance on these matters. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on the appeal.
A 58-year-old man from County Mayo has told gardaí he was not present at a December 2018 incident at a repossessed farm near Strokestown, County Roscommon, and denied seeing a firearm at the scene. Martin O'Toole of Claremorris faces charges of false imprisonment and assault causing harm to four security personnel, along with aggravated burglary, arson, violent disorder, robbery and animal cruelty. The trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard evidence today of three garda interviews conducted over two days in January 2019. In the recorded interviews, which O'Toole has pleaded not guilty to all charges relating, he stated he never witnessed a gun at the property, though he later acknowledged travelling to Elfin before the incident. Security personnel had previously testified that armed men, numbering approximately 30, attacked the farmhouse five days after its repossession. Three co-accused men face identical charges. The trial continues.
Jordan Lee, 25, of Darndale, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of robbery at Wellington Quay on 29 September 2022. Lee and a co‑accused approached two teenagers, aged 18 and 19, who declined to buy drugs. The men caught up with the teens, struck them on the side of the head and stamped on their heads repeatedly while they lay unconscious. Lee took an iPhone, an ATM card and €10 from the victims' pockets. After the robbery, the men were seen acting suspiciously in a drug‑dealing area and were stopped and searched by Gardaí. The victims suffered concussion, bruising, lacerations and headaches. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced Lee to two years' imprisonment, noting his early guilty plea, remorse and homelessness at the time of the offence. Lee is currently serving a sentence and will be released in June 2023.
In the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a 72‑year‑old former sports coach is on trial for 266 counts of indecent and sexual assault against five boys, with alleged incidents spanning 1978 to 1993 in Waterford, Cork and Kilkenny. One complainant, now 56, described how the coach first approached him around age 12, rubbing his leg and later tying him with twine and handcuffs, touching his genitals and taking naked photographs in the coach's car and home. He also recounted being taken to a wooded area where he was tied to a tree, had his genitals squeezed, and was threatened with a cigarette. The complainant said these weekly abuses continued until he was 15 and that he received money from the coach. The witness denied that the allegations were fabricated and insisted he was not lying. The trial is set to continue before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. The unnamed 72-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Adrian Heller, a worker at Floortech Industries Ltd, claimed he was unfairly dismissed for gross misconduct after throwing a helmet at a colleague. He said the incident occurred on a Thursday in 2021 at a Limerick client site, after a resin mix error forced a floor to be re‑laid. Heller argued the act was a one‑off frustration and not gross misconduct, citing a stressful job and a supervisor's threat to report him. The company, represented by Hallisey & Partners, presented evidence of aggressive, intimidating behaviour, including a hotel incident in Galway and a prior warning in 2019. The Workplace Relations Commission found the dismissal procedurally unfair, noting no written complaint, no right of reply, and an ambush disciplinary meeting. The adjudicating officer awarded Heller €2,500 in compensation, comprising €1,211.20 for lost earnings and €1,360 for two weeks' notice pay. The dismissal was deemed substantively fair but procedurally flawed.
A trial date has been set for an Irish celebrity, aged in his 40s and unnamed for legal reasons, who faces three charges of sexual acts with a child under 17 in Dublin in 2010 and early 2011. He denies all allegations. The complainant is now in her late 20s. The case was adjourned to July 24 for a hearing on outstanding disclosure, and the trial is scheduled to begin on October 9, expected to last four or five days. Judge Orla Crowe noted the case's impact on the defendant's travel‑heavy work.
A 51‑year‑old woman, Julie Flood, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for stabbing her 94‑year‑old father, Patrick Flood, on his birthday. The Central Criminal Court jury deliberated 48 minutes before delivering a unanimous verdict. Flood, diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, claimed she heard God instructing her to stab her father, whom she believed was an imposter. Two psychiatrists testified that she did not understand the nature or wrongness of her actions at the time of the stabbing. Witness Alan Somers described seeing Flood in a hysterical state before the incident. Patrick Flood died two days later from a combination of a stab wound and underlying heart disease. The judge thanked the jury and adjourned the case for arrangements concerning Flood's care.
In a 2023 decision, the Workplace Relations Commission found that Peter O'Brien, owner of Plan Eden Projects, had unlawfully penalised carpenter David Keegan for pursuing a personal injury claim after a fall from scaffolding on 17 January 2022. Keegan, who suffered a serious knee and leg injury, had received three and a half weeks' sick pay but had it stopped on 17 February 2022 when O'Brien wrote to his payroll company that Keegan had "left us, effective today." O'Brien later admitted the dismissal was an administrative error and rectified it on 8 March 2022, but the tribunal deemed the timing of the pay stoppage and the dismissal to be linked to Keegan's legal action. The tribunal awarded Keegan €21,840 in compensation for the breach of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and an additional €3,360 for breaches of the Terms of Employment (Information) Act 1994, bringing the total to €25,200.
The High Court was asked to order the largest winding‑up in Irish history after hearing that two Irish‑registered leasing companies, GTLK Europe DAC and GTLK Europe Capital DAC, worth over €4.11 billion and ultimately owned by the Russian Federation, are insolvent and cannot pay debts due to sanctions. The companies, part of Russia's largest leasing business, have had lease agreements terminated and assets frozen after sanctions imposed in February 2022. Four creditors – Trinity Investments DAC, Allestor Europe Multi Asset Portfolio, Ben Oldman Special Situations Fund LP and Sona Credit Master Fund Limited – claim €162.5 million is owed and seek liquidation. The court, hearing ex‑parte before Mr Justice Brian O'Moore, set directions and deadlines for interested parties and adjourned to May to determine the hearing's length. The creditors propose Damien Murran and Julian Moroney of Teneo Restructuring Ireland as joint liquidators. The case remains at the winding‑up application stage.
A 44-year-old builder from County Donegal is on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court accused of participating in an armed attack on security personnel at a repossessed farm near Strokestown, County Roscommon on 16 December 2018. Patrick Sweeney of Ramelton faces charges including false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, violent disorder and animal cruelty. During interviews with gardaí, he denied being the man depicted in security footage wielding a chainsaw during the incident, which involved approximately 30 armed men. He stated he had never harmed anyone. Detective Sergeant Mark Geraghty gave evidence of five interview sessions conducted over 48 hours. Mr Sweeney has pleaded not guilty to all 17 charges. Three co-accused, Martin O'Toole, Paul Beirne and David Lawlor, face identical charges and have similarly pleaded not guilty. The trial continues.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 72‑year‑old former sports coach, who cannot be named, pleaded not guilty to five counts of indecent and sexual assault against teenage boys in Waterford, Cork and Kilkenny between 1978 and 1993. One complainant, now 48, testified that the accused began making sexual innuendos when he was about 12, offering money for the boy to allow the man to touch his penis and later to watch him masturbate. The complainant described being tied to trees and beds, forced to perform acts involving urination and defecation, and the accused wearing women's clothes and demanding the boy "punish" him by squeezing his genitals or kicking him. Alcohol and drugs were also present. Another complainant, aged 52, recounted a 1985 incident where the accused touched his penis in a car and the boy later reported the event to a Garda station, only to be told an adult was required.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Alan Leech, 38, pleaded guilty to extortion after being approached by Bryan Kennedy to murder a couple with whom Kennedy's wife was having an online affair. Leech claimed he was paid €10,000 and that he had arranged for third parties to carry out the murder, but the court found he had not contracted any killers and had merely exploited Kennedy's belief that he had criminal connections. Kennedy, who had paid Leech €8,000 and later failed to pay an outstanding €2,000, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for soliciting the murder. Leech, who has 43 prior convictions, was scheduled for sentencing on May 2, 2024. The case highlighted threats, intimidation and the impact on Kennedy's wife, who reported ongoing fear and PTSD after the incidents.
In a complaint of discrimination under the Equal Status Act 2000, the Workplace Relations Commission ruled that landlord John Corley had acted aggressively and threatened eviction of tenant Laura Keane, who was pregnant, after she requested he sign off on a Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) application. Keane, a five‑year tenant, said Corley's behaviour on 26 February 2022 was "extremely aggressive" and that the eviction notice was a direct consequence of her HAP request. The tribunal found Corley had repeatedly refused to complete the HAP form and to accept HAP payments, thereby disadvantaging Keane financially and emotionally. The adjudicator ordered Corley to complete the HAP application, accept payments, and pay Keane €13,000 in compensation for the discrimination and its effects. The decision was made without Corley's attendance at the hearing.
In a High Court extradition hearing, lawyers for Liam Patrick Daly, a 50‑year‑old Dublin‑born man living in Birmingham, argued that extraditing him to Germany for a drunken incident that occurred in Berlin in 1994 would be unjust and a breach of his human rights. The incident involved Daly entering a takeaway on February 18, 1994, brandishing a broken chair leg and attempting to strike a worker, who defended himself without injury. A German domestic warrant was issued in August 1994, followed by a European Arrest Warrant in March 1996. Daly was arrested and detained for three days in 1994, released with his passport, and later moved addresses, preventing service of an indictment. A UK extradition case in 2003 refused to surrender him, citing a nine‑year delay and the unavailability of the alleged victim and witness.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 51‑year‑old woman, Julie Flood, was tried for murdering her 94‑year‑old father on his birthday. Two psychiatrists testified that Flood suffered from persecutory delusions and auditory hallucinations, including voices of U2 and God, which led her to believe her father had been replaced and that she must stab him to rid him of evil. They argued she did not understand the wrongfulness of her act and therefore met the criteria for a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The prosecution urged the jury to accept this expert evidence, while the defence prepared to argue otherwise. The trial was set to continue with the jury's deliberation the following day.
Maurice Kiely, a musician who claims he wrote the song "A Man and A Woman" in 1998, is suing U2 Ltd, the company linked to the band, over its inclusion of the track on the 2004 album How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. He alleges that he performed the song for model Cindy Crawford and that U2 used it without permission, seeking €12 million in damages. U2 Ltd denies the claim, stating the lyrics were written by Bono (Paul Hewson) and the music by all four band members. In a preliminary motion, Judge Brian O'Moore dismissed Kiely's request to compel U2 to answer pre‑trial interrogatories, ruling the questions were inappropriate and unrelated to the case. Kiely intends to appeal that decision to the Supreme Court, while the judge set a timetable for the parties to exchange legal papers and adjourned the matter to July for further review.
A Workplace Relations Commission adjudicating officer has dismissed a discrimination and victimisation claim brought by racecourse bookmaker Jim Desmond against the Association of Irish Racecourses CLG (AIR). Mr Desmond alleged that the operator of Mallow Racecourse refused him access to a tent during wet weather on 31 October 2021, a restriction he described as "apartheid Irish style." He claimed this constituted a "man-made discriminatory rule" imposed by AIR, arguing that other betting operators were allowed indoor facilities while on-course bookmakers were not. Mr Desmond, who stated he had attended Mallow meetings for 70 years, sought improved facilities rather than financial recompense and later attempted to progress the claim on the grounds of disability, citing compromised mobility. However, he acknowledged he had not specified a protected characteristic in his initial statutory notification. AIR chairman Paddy Walsh responded that the association had no role in designing betting rings and that Mr Desmond had failed to link his complaint to prescribed grounds. Adjudicating officer Patsy Doyle found that Mr Desmond did not have a protected disability and had not been refused service by AIR, as he paid the racecourse directly for his pitch. She determined there was no less favourable treatment by AIR and that the matter was a commercial dispute. While noting Mr Desmond acted in genuine belief, she concluded he was "mistaken" in his claim for victimisation.
A Workplace Relations Commission adjudicating officer ordered a creche to pay €5,000 in compensation to a gay employee for discriminatory harassment under the Employment Equality Act 1998. The hearing, brought under the Equal Status Act 2000, found that the complainant was effectively "outed" at work after a colleague, Ms A, persistently questioned her about her romantic interests. Although the officer found no intentional targeting based on sexual orientation, he determined that Ms A's conduct constituted unlawful harassment, noting the complainant was "deeply upset" and that the creche lacked adequate sexual harassment training beyond written policies. The officer also rejected a second complaint of victimisation regarding alleged roster changes, which the respondent argued were based on business needs during the pandemic. The creche's solicitor denied discrimination, arguing the incident was handled sensitively and that the complainant failed to establish a prima facie case. The complainant's legal team argued that the manager's response undermined the employer's harassment policy. The decision was fully anonymised, with neither the creche nor the worker identified. The matter was concluded with the award of compensation for the harassment claim.
Stephen Silver, aged 46 and a resident of Aughaward, Foxford, County Mayo, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 40 years at the Central Criminal Court following his conviction for the murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan on 17 June 2020 at Castlerea, County Roscommon. Justice Tara Burns imposed the sentence, noting she had no discretion in light of the jury's guilty verdict on the capital murder charge. The court heard that Silver had initially pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. With standard remission for good behaviour, Silver will become eligible for parole consideration after 30 years, when he will be aged 74. Justice Burns emphasised the importance of mental health treatment maintenance, noting evidence that Silver had ceased medication for bipolar affective disorder prior to the shooting. Members of Garda Horkan's family delivered impact statements describing their profound loss and the ongoing trauma caused by his death.
The former governor of Portlaoise Prison, Ethel Gavin, has accused the Irish Prison Service of a sexist demotion, claiming it was at the behest of 14 male prison officers who staged a walkout in 2018. The incidents leading to the walkout included a senior gangland criminal being allowed a phone call before transfer and the withdrawal of barrier control of a prisoner, who later seriously assaulted an officer. The Workplace Relations Commission heard that the Prison Service denied allegations that a senior civil servant gave the officers Gavin's head 'on a plate', insisting that urgent action was taken to expedite management restructuring following a series of incidents. Gavin alleges she was demoted from an acting-up position as governor of the Portlaoise and Midlands Prisons to only oversee the Midlands Prison, losing two grades of seniority. The Prison Service maintains her acting-up role was temporary and that restructuring was necessary due to incidents at Portlaoise.
Martin O'Toole, aged 58, of Stripe, Irishtown, Claremorris, County Mayo, stands trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on charges including false imprisonment, assault causing harm, aggravated burglary, arson, violent disorder and robbery relating to an incident at Falsk, County Roscommon on December 16, 2018. The trial heard that on that date, approximately 30 armed men, some masked, attacked security personnel at a repossessed farm near Strokestown. During garda interviews, Mr O'Toole initially denied attending the property, later conceding he was present after being shown body-camera footage. He stated he attended to observe and believed the gathering would be peaceful, claiming events escalated unexpectedly. He expressed views that court proceedings constituted unlawful authority. Three co-accused, Patrick Sweeney of Ramelton, County Donegal, Paul Beirne of Boyle, County Roscommon and David Lawlor of Navan, County Meath, face identical charges. All four defendants have pleaded not guilty. The trial continues.
Alan Swan, 52, of Drimnagh, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to eight counts of the unauthorised use of trademarks, including Adidas, Nike, Ugg, and Hugo Boss, arising from incidents at Liberty Market on December 21, 2015, and December 19, 2017. Judge Orla Crowe described the matter as an "unusual case" and directed the Probation Service to prepare a report assessing Swan's suitability for community service. The court is "minded" to impose a community service order, subject to this assessment. Evidence indicated that gardai seized counterfeit goods with an estimated street value of over €36,000 during operations at the market. Swan, who has 13 previous convictions for similar offences, admitted to renting the stalls but claimed he did not know the items were counterfeit. Defence counsel John Gallagher BL highlighted Swan's cooperation, his care for grandchildren, and his application for a taxi licence, requesting leniency. The judge noted the value of the guilty pleas to the prosecution. The matter was adjourned to July 7 for finalisation.
Two financial funds, Emerald Sky II DAC and Lotus Decalia DAC, and their receivers, Myles Kirby and John Healy, obtained a temporary High Court injunction to stop businessman Patrick 'Paddy' Byrne, who is alleged to be the owner and director of Victoria Homes Ltd and Victoria Homes Development Ltd, from publishing or distributing confidential financial information he claims to possess. The injunction was granted on an ex‑parte basis by Mr Justice Brian O'Moore and remains in force until the case returns later in the week. Byrne's email, sent on 14 April, alleges he has the entire Lotus loan book, including names, contact details and risk assessments, and threatens to release it to the media if the plaintiffs do not respond by a specified date. The plaintiffs, represented by Edward Murray BL, argue that Byrne is not entitled to publish or distribute such material and that the email constitutes a potential GDPR breach.
A married couple, whose identities are withheld for legal reasons, have filed a High Court challenge against the Adoption Authority of Ireland's refusal to formally recognise or register the adoption of their second daughter, who was adopted in a foreign jurisdiction. The couple first adopted a child abroad while living in Ireland; that child has since obtained Irish citizenship. For the second child, they moved to the country where the adoption took place, became habitually resident there, and completed a local adoption that was recognised in that country. After returning to Ireland several years ago, they have repeatedly applied to register the second adoption with the Irish Adoption Authority. The Authority has rejected their applications, citing failures to meet Irish legal requirements and lack of habitual residence at the time of adoption. The couple argues the refusal is unlawful, alleging misapplication of Irish and European law and violations of constitutional family rights and the European Convention on Human Rights.
The High Court heard that Knocklofty House, a protected 18th‑century landed house outside Clonmel, is being illegally occupied by unknown persons in four caravans and a makeshift camp. The occupants have set up a camp that includes up to 20 piebald ponies, chickens and dogs housed in wooden structures, and have left a significant amount of debris on the site. The camp is described as unsightly and potentially dangerous to humans and animals. Chartered Accountant Ken Fennell, acting as receiver for the property after a settlement with former owner Denis English, seeks court orders directing the unknown occupants to vacate and cease interfering with the property. Mr Justice Brian O'Moore granted Mr Fennell permission to serve notice to the occupants and the case is scheduled to return to court next week.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 72‑year‑old former sports coach, who cannot be named, pleaded not guilty to 266 counts of indecent and sexual assault against five boys in Waterford, Cork and Kilkenny between 1978 and 1993. The prosecution, led by Paul Greene SC, presented evidence that the accused tied boys up in woods or at his home, exposed his penis, forced them to urinate in a glass and defecate in his mouth, and engaged in other sexual acts. The first complainant, now 51, testified that the coach, a family friend, offered money for such acts, describing a pattern that began when he was 13 and continued until he was 20. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, remains ongoing with a jury hearing the case.
At the Central Criminal Court in Monaghan, victim impact statements were heard in the case of Richard Burke, who pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Jasmine McMonagle on 4 January 2019 at Forest Park, Killygordon, County Donegal. The 28-year-old was found dead in her home following a three-hour standoff with gardaí. Burke, aged 32, had initially pleaded not guilty to murder but accepted responsibility for manslaughter. A jury unanimously returned a manslaughter verdict last month after hearing psychiatric evidence that Burke was suffering from a mental disorder substantially diminishing his responsibility. During today's hearing, Ms McMonagle's mother, Jacqueline, described the devastating impact on her family, whilst her daughter spoke of ongoing trauma and separation from her sibling. The court heard Burke has 23 previous convictions. Justice Paul Burns remanded him in custody pending sentencing on 22 May.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Julie Flood, 51, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity for fatally stabbing her 94‑year‑old father, Patrick Flood, on his birthday in April 2019. The prosecution alleged that Flood was in a psychotic state, claiming God instructed her that her father was an intruder and that she must stab him. She stabbed him with a kitchen knife, left the house, and later flagged down a driver, stating she was after stabbing her daddy. Gardaí arrested and detained her under the Mental Health Act. Patrick Flood was taken to hospital, underwent surgery, but died two days later from a stab wound to the abdomen compounded by severe heart disease. The trial focuses on whether Flood was insane at the time of the act, with expert testimony from both sides expected. The case continues before a jury.
Paul Coffey, a 46‑year‑old Limerick resident with 100 prior convictions, was sentenced to five years in prison for the reckless discharge of a firearm and possession of a firearm in circumstances suggesting it was not for a lawful purpose. He pleaded guilty in March to the offence of discharging a firearm recklessly and to possession of a firearm in circumstances implying unlawful possession. The Central Criminal Court, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Burns, imposed a headline sentence of nine years, but reduced it to six years with the final 12 months suspended for three years in respect of the possession charge. The judge also sentenced Coffey to three years for the reckless discharge offence, to run concurrently. Coffey's sentence will be back‑dated to August 2021, when he first entered custody. He will be required to work with the probation services and keep the peace upon release.
The Workplace Relations Commission ruled that the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) acted unfairly and disrespectfully when it made former Irish Army captain Seán Dillon redundant and appointed a UK manager to the role he had been performing as head of region for Ireland. The adjudicating officer found it "extraordinary" that RNLI considered a head office policy and fundraising officer more suitable for the front‑line operational role. Dillon's claim under the Unfair Dismissals Act was upheld, and the tribunal ordered RNLI to pay him €30,000 in compensation in addition to the redundancy lump sum already received. Dillon had argued that RNLI's failure to address his statutory complaint reflected contempt for Ireland, citing issues such as lack of compliance with maritime regulations, inadequate training, and the absence of new lifeboats in the country.
The Special Criminal Court acquitted Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch of the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in Dublin 9 on February 5, 2016. Ms Justice Tara Burns stated the court could not rely on the unsupported evidence of Jonathan Dowdall, whose credibility was severely undermined by his criminal history and inconsistencies. The court found surveillance audio did not corroborate Dowdall's claim that Hutch confessed to being a hitman, noting instead that the recordings suggested Hutch was abroad immediately after the attack. While Hutch was cleared, co-accused Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney were found guilty of participating in or contributing to the murder by providing access to motor vehicles. Their sentences are scheduled to be mentioned on May 8. Separately, Patrick Dowdall admitted to falsely imprisoning Alexander Hurley and threatening to kill him in 2015. He was initially sentenced to 12 years imprisonment, later reduced to seven years and 11 months following a successful appeal. His father, also named Patrick Dowdall, was sentenced to eight years for the same offences, later reduced to four years. The report confirms the procedural stage for the primary subjects is sentence, with specific dates and durations preserved for the convicted individuals.
Thomas McCarthy, a fifty-five-year-old father of five, was shot dead at his mother's home in Ballyfermot, Dublin, on 27 July 2020, having been due to return to England that same evening following a three-week visit. The Central Criminal Court heard that Mr McCarthy sustained nine separate gunshot injuries when he answered the door, apparently to what he believed was a postal delivery. Charles McClean, aged thirty-four, of Clondalkin, and Mark Lee, aged thirty-two, of Lucan, have each admitted to facilitating a criminal organisation in connection with the fatal shooting. Detective evidence established that Mr McCarthy had no involvement in criminality and there was no apparent motive for the attack. Victim impact statements were read to the court describing the profound devastation caused to Mr McCarthy's family and his long-term partner. Mr Justice Paul McDermott remanded McClean in custody and Lee on continuing bail to 27 April for sentencing. Thomas McCarthy pleaded guilty. Charles McClean pleaded guilty. Mark Lee pleaded guilty.
Four men accused of participating in an armed attack on security personnel at a rural property near Strokestown have pleaded not guilty to 17 charges each at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The trial, now in its twentieth day, heard evidence of WhatsApp messages and phone records retrieved from an iPhone allegedly found in a vehicle linked to one of the defendants. Garda James McCann told the court that specialist software extracted communications from the handset, including messages from a group titled "Roscommon group". A message sent on December 10, 2018, allegedly sought assistance for the following morning at Strokestown. The attack occurred on December 16, 2018, when approximately 30 armed men descended on the repossessed property at Falsk and assaulted four security guards. The accused men—Patrick Sweeney of County Donegal, Martin O'Toole of County Mayo, Paul Beirne of County Roscommon, and David Lawlor of County Meath—face charges including false imprisonment, assault, aggravated burglary, arson, and violent disorder. Defence counsel submitted that her client denies knowledge of the messages in question.
A 38-year-old man was sentenced to five years in prison at the Central Criminal Court after pleading guilty to seven counts of assault causing harm to his younger brother. The offences, committed between March 2001 and March 2006 at a Dublin family home, involved the defendant, then aged 16 to 21, subjecting the victim, then aged 11 to 16, to beatings with a nail-studded baton and other violence. Ms Justice Melanie Greally described the conduct as "sadistic" and involving "particular brutality," noting the profound and lasting damage inflicted on the victim. The court heard the defendant has 138 previous convictions and is currently serving a separate five-year sentence for assaulting another brother. Although oral rape charges were withdrawn by the Director of Public Prosecutions during the current trial, the defendant admitted to the seven assault counts. Defence counsel Kathleen Leader SC urged the judge not to extend his custody beyond his current term, citing his history of substance abuse and family instability. Ms Justice Greally handed down a five-year sentence, backdated to February 2020, when the man first entered custody for the other brother's convictions. The judge considered the guilty pleas as a mitigating factor while emphasizing the breach of trust and the vulnerability of the child victim.
Fr Foley, a 93-year-old retired priest, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to driving a vehicle in a manner dangerous to the public. The charges related to an incident on June 25, 2018, outside the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Clondalkin, where his vehicle struck mourners, causing the death of Christopher Phillips and grievous bodily harm to Jason Kelly, Martin Cawley, and Rebecca Meredith. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged the tragic consequences, noting that the driver's confusion and lack of experience with the hybrid vehicle led to the loss of control. However, the Judge determined that Fr Foley did not deserve a custodial sentence, citing his advanced age, current residence in a nursing home, and the fact that he will not drive again. Consequently, the court imposed concurrent sentences of 18 months, which were suspended in full. The matter was finalised with this suspended sentence, reflecting the Judge's view that the defendant's circumstances warranted a non-custodial disposal despite the severe injuries and death caused.