The jury in the trial of Gerry Daly, 57, of Derby Lodge, Brownstown, The Curragh, Kildare, has begun deliberations after the court heard that Daly was charged with dangerous driving causing the death of Jacqueline Griffin, 39, at junction five of the M50 on 24 January 2019. The prosecution alleged that Daly's collision forced Griffin into crash barriers, resulting in her instant death from catastrophic head injuries. Daly pleaded not guilty. In his closing speech, defence counsel Roderick O'Hanlon argued that Daly was in an autonomous condition due to diabetes and extremely low blood sugar, which he claimed impaired brain function and awareness at the time of the crash. O'Hanlon said Daly could not have known where he was or what had happened. Prosecuting counsel Garnet Orange countered that the automatism defence was unsuitable, noting that Daly had known how to manage his diabetes and had failed to take simple precautions to avoid the danger.
Paul Farrell, 37, a former Revenue worker, was arrested after Gardaí searched his home on 7 July and seized vacuum‑sealed cannabis worth €104,572, along with scales and bagging material. He admitted owning the drugs, claiming he held them to pay a €6,000 cocaine debt that had cost him up to €200 a week and led to his job loss. Farrell pleaded guilty, stating he was not a major player and had been forced into the trade. He has 19 minor convictions, all traffic offences, and has no criminal background. The court heard character references describing him as a caring volunteer coach at Crumlin Boxing Club and a dedicated family man. He expressed remorse, citing a relative's death as a turning point, and the judge ordered him to undergo regular urine analysis until the case is finalized on 5 March.
A jury will return to the Central Criminal Court tomorrow to consider their verdict in the trial of a man with obsessive compulsive disorder who stabbed his housemate to death because he believed he would go to hell if he did not. Sean Murphy (29) with an address at Bradóg Court, St Lawrence Road, Clontarf, Dublin 3, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael Olohan (35) at the apartment they shared on St Lawrence Road on August 13, 2020. Mr Olohan is originally from Poppintree in Ballymun, north Dublin. The jury of six men and six women began their deliberations this morning, having begun hearing evidence last week. The trial heard that at the time of the stabbing the accused and deceased lived together at Bradóg Court in a "step-down independent living facility" run by St Vincent's Hospital Psychiatric Services. Sean Murphy was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
A man convicted of murder has sought a stay on extradition proceedings pending the outcome of his application to transfer his prison sentence from Northern Ireland to the Republic. James Meehan (54), with addresses in Derry City and Kells, Co Meath, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2009 for the murder of Jim McFadden in May 2007 following an incident in Donegal. Meehan left Northern Ireland in October 2022 whilst on release conditions and later moved to Kells. He was arrested by arrangement in May this year on foot of extradition warrants. At the High Court hearing, his counsel argued that the punitive element of his sentence had been served and that determination of his sentence-transfer application, pending since 2017, should precede any extradition decision. The State's counsel contended he was unlawfully at large from temporary release and that court could not delay proceedings whilst a live prosecution existed in the North. Ms Justice Melanie Greally adjourned judgment to Friday, 8 December.
In the High Court, a dispute between developer Greg Kavanagh and his brother Hugh Kavanagh, along with Simlur Ltd, was adjourned for two weeks to allow the plaintiffs to consider Greg Kavanagh's reply. The case, originally filed in 2020 over alleged attempts to remove Hugh as a director of 19 companies, was settled in May 2020. However, the plaintiffs recently sought to re-enter the action, alleging that Greg Kavanagh and associated companies, including Structured Marshalled Investments Ltd, breached the settlement agreement by stripping assets and making unsanctioned payments. Greg Kavanagh, represented by Martin Hayden SC of Eversheds Sutherland, rejected these claims as "outrageous," "malicious," and "ill-founded," arguing he was not properly served with the motion documents. He sought to have the proceedings struck out and requested a swift hearing, noting the reputational damage caused by the media coverage of the attachment and committal applications. The plaintiffs, represented by Paul McGarry SC, sought declarations of breach and orders restraining the creation of new security over shares without 14 days' notice. Mr Justice Sanfey acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations and the parties' desire for a quick resolution but warned that he could not guarantee a hearing before the end of the current legal term due to a full chancery division diary. The matter was adjourned for two weeks to allow the plaintiffs to review the defendant's reply.
A 45‑year‑old man was sentenced to five years and six months' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, for orally raping his partner's 17‑year‑old daughter on 17 July 2019. He pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court a week before the trial. The offence occurred at the girl's home while she was returning from work; the man watched from the window, removed her top, kissed her breasts, touched her vagina, and forced her to give him oral sex. The victim, shocked and confused, later told her mother and the man was made to leave. He had a history of mental health difficulties and had not been in contact with Gardaí since. The judge noted the lack of a victim impact statement but confirmed the girl was harmed. The sentence was reduced from a headline of seven years to five years and six months, with the suspended portion conditional on probation and treatment engagement.
A jury of twelve, split evenly between men and women, is deliberating on the verdicts for Gerard Cervi, a 36‑year‑old from Dublin, who is accused of murdering Robert 'Bobby' Messett and attempting to murder coach Pete Taylor and Ian Britton at Bray Boxing Club on 5 June 2018. The jury has spent 1 hour 47 minutes on the first day of deliberations, having been called out at 2.13 pm. Justice Karen O'Connor addressed the jurors at 4 pm, urging them to pause for the evening and return tomorrow at 10.30 am to resume, and warned them not to discuss the case or use social media. She reminded them that they must consider each charge separately and that a unanimous verdict is required. The trial has heard CCTV evidence, DNA and fingerprints linking Cervi to a van used in the shooting, and the defence has alleged possible investigative misconduct. Cervi has pleaded not guilty to all counts.
The jury in the trial of a 59‑year‑old man accused of attempted rape and sexual assault of six young men, offences dating from March 1991 to November 1997 in County Dublin, was discharged after a juror said he could not continue. The defendant, who pleaded not guilty, is still named only as a 59‑year‑old. Mr Justice Alexander Owens discharged the jurors, and the trial is expected to restart with a new jury later today.
Michael Lynn, a former solicitor aged fifty-five from County Wicklow, continues his trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on charges of theft amounting to approximately twenty-seven million euro from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. He has pleaded not guilty to twenty-one counts of theft. The prosecution alleges that Mr Lynn obtained multiple mortgages on identical properties without the knowledge of the lending banks. A former Bank of Ireland official testified that loans sanctioned by him for Mr Lynn, including a Carrick-on-Shannon apartment development around 2003, could only be used for purposes specified in loan agreements. The witness stated his employment would have been at risk had he permitted unauthorised use of funds. Another Bank of Ireland witness denied allegations that he had agreed Mr Lynn could use borrowed money as he wished, and stated he had no recollection of meeting Mr Lynn. The trial before Judge Martin Nolan continues with jury present.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Gerry Daly, 57, pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Jacqueline Griffin on the M50. Defence counsel Roderick O'Hanlon argued that Daly was in an autonomous condition due to severe hypoglycaemia from his long‑term diabetes, claiming he could not consciously control his driving. O'Hanlon cited medical evidence of low blood glucose impairing brain function and described Daly as unaware of his surroundings. Prosecutor Garnet Orange countered that the automatism defence was unsuitable, noting Daly's knowledge of his condition and failure to take precautions. The jury heard a post‑mortem report stating Griffin died from catastrophic head injuries after her car was struck from the rear, CCTV footage, eyewitness accounts of a fast‑moving vehicle, and Dr Kevin Moore's expert testimony on Daly's impaired cognition. The case remains at the jury's deliberation stage.
A 59‑year‑old man, whose name is withheld for legal reasons, has gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court for one count of attempted anal rape and eight counts of sexual assault committed between March 1991 and November 1997 in County Dublin. The prosecution, led by Anne‑Marie Lawlor SC, presented six complainants who claim they were each separately victimised by the accused. Four of the complainants were students of the accused's secondary school at the time, while the other two were acquaintances from his hometown. The alleged offences involved inappropriate touching, licking and oral sex, with five complainants stating they woke to find the accused performing oral sex on them and one claiming the accused attempted an anal rape after a prior oral act. The alleged incidents occurred at the accused's home, with one alleged assault taking place in a pub. The unnamed 59-year-old pleaded not guilty.
During the 1981 Stardust fire inquest, 18‑year‑old Anthony McDonald testified that the club's fuses blew "on a regular basis" because no electrician supervised the lighting and sound set‑up. He described moving 50‑60 light boxes, eight speakers, two record decks, a unit, four plugboards and an amp from a van into the venue, all routed through the plugboards. McDonald said he and Colm O'Brien assembled the equipment themselves, leaving it to operate on capacity. He recalled hearing a small flame on the stage, seeing it grow, and attempting to escape through exit three, which was locked that night despite usually being open. He also noted that the DJ van was parked against the steps, forcing patrons to jump over it to exit.
In November 2023, the joint liquidators of GTLK Europe DAC and GTLK Europe Capital DAC, two Irish subsidiaries of Russia's State‑owned leasing firm GTLK, filed High Court proceedings to stop the parent company, Joint Stock Company State Transport Leasing Company, from claiming ownership of 37 aircraft. The liquidators, represented by Stephen Byrne BL, argue that the parent's claim is based on pledge agreements signed in March 2022, before EU sanctions were imposed. They contend the agreements were intended to secure loans from the parent to GTLK Europe between 2017 and 2022, and that the parent seeks to enforce them to seize the aircraft under Russian law. The liquidators seek orders to set aside the pledge agreements, declare them void under Irish law, and affirm that the liquidators retain title to the aircraft. The case is set to return to the High Court next week.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 21 November 2023, the family of Amadea McDermott, aged 27, presented victim impact statements after her murder on 20 July 2017. The sisters, Olivia, Euphrasia, Eucharia and brother Zack, accused Martin Hayes, 34, of coercive control, physical abuse and a hidden phone tracker. They described the fatal stab wound to Amadea's abdomen and the extensive bruising found at the scene. Hayes had pleaded not guilty to murder but was found guilty of manslaughter by a majority verdict. The court heard that Hayes admitted using violence and had accessed Amadea's phone via a hidden app. He had also claimed Amadea had self‑harmed, a claim the prosecution rejected. The sentencing hearing was scheduled for 28 November 2023, with Hayes remanded in custody. The family urged the court to consider the abuse and the impact on their lives. The case remains in the Central Criminal Court. Martin Hayes was acquitted.
A 33-year-old woman has pleaded not guilty to the murder of a 36-year-old man at a house in Ballyconnell, County Cavan on February 10, 2022. The Central Criminal Court heard that Nicola Brennan is alleged to have stabbed her housemate in the chest after her partner asked the deceased for a cigarette. The prosecution opened its case by outlining that a knife was recovered from the scene with the deceased's DNA on its tip, and that blood matching the victim was found on the accused's clothing. False nails allegedly linked to the defendant were discovered in both her room and the victim's room. The accused was arrested and subsequently released from detention before being rearrested. A jury of eight men and four women has been sworn in. The trial is expected to last a maximum of three weeks.
In a case involving Paradigm Plastics Ltd, trading as Future Plastics, the Workplace Relations Commission adjudicator found that ex‑engineering manager Michael Murphy was blameless and had acted reasonably when he resigned in December 2022. The tribunal heard that difficulties began after Murphy's new line manager, Padraig Shine, was appointed in 2019 and that an informal bullying complaint was first raised in January 2022. Murphy complained that Shine's behaviour, including calling him to his office and changing his role, was harassing. The company's HR representative, Paul McGlynn, and Shine held a meeting on 1 March 2022 that ended in a stand‑off after Murphy refused to sign a waiver. Murphy's formal grievance, lodged in May 2022 while he was on sick leave, was not investigated until October 2022, when an occupational health assessment found him fit to participate. The adjudicator ruled that the delay was entirely the company's fault and that Murphy's resignation was a constructive unfair dismissal.
In the trial of Sean Murphy, 29, who stabbed his housemate Michael Olohan, 35, to death, the prosecution argues a not‑guilty‑by‑reason‑of‑insanity verdict, citing two psychiatrists who say Murphy was psychotic and unable to resist. The defence, however, maintains that Murphy has some criminal responsibility and should be found guilty of manslaughter due to diminished responsibility. Both sides agree Murphy suffered a severe mental illness, diagnosed as obsessive‑compulsive disorder with psychotic symptoms. The jury is instructed to consider whether Murphy's mental state negated all responsibility or merely reduced it. The case is set to be heard by a jury of twelve, with deliberations to begin the following day. The trial is ongoing and no verdict has yet been reached. Sean Murphy pleaded not guilty and was found not guilty by reason of insanity.
Matthew Coward, a former Swim Ireland coach aged 32, was sentenced to three years in prison for sexual exploitation and producing child abuse material. He secretly filmed three girls while they changed into swimming skins in his office, demanding they be completely naked. The court heard that the girls had "worshipped" him and that one girl's father reported her being recorded, leading to a Garda investigation and the discovery of nearly 80 videos on Coward's devices. Two videos were classified as child abuse material and seven as inappropriate. Coward pleaded guilty to six counts—three of sexual exploitation and three of producing child pornography—between September 2021 and February 2022. He received concurrent sentences of four and three years, with the final 12 months of the four‑year term suspended on strict conditions, including good behaviour for two years after release. Coward's plea of guilty and expression of remorse were taken into account by Judge Orla Crowe.
A High Court judge, Ms Justice Niamh Hyland, has ordered that a judicial review challenge by Mr Thomas S White against An Bord Pleanala's permission for 42 assisted living and medical support units at Hardman's Gardens, Drogheda, be heard promptly. White, a retired auctioneer and landowner adjacent to the proposed site, argues the board's decision is flawed because it would effectively sterilise his property by denying vehicular access and providing only inadequate pedestrian access. He claims the board's inspector misrepresented vehicular access in its report and failed to assess the impact on surrounding landowners. White also alleges the planning application was not evaluated under EU directives on habitats and environmental impact assessments. The judge has set a timetable for document exchange and requires the matter to return to court within two weeks for a hearing. The case remains an ongoing judicial review.
A jury has been sworn in at the Central Criminal Court for the trial of a woman charged with murder in County Wicklow. Nicola Brennan, aged 33 and originally from County Carlow, faces a charge of murdering Juris Viktorovs at a residence in Shillelagh on February 10, 2022. Ms Brennan entered a plea of not guilty when the charge was put to her. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, will be heard by a jury comprising eight men and four women. Legal representatives indicated the case is expected to conclude within three weeks.
The Workplace Relations Commission dismissed a claim by Mark J Savage, who alleged that Facebook's ban of his account on 21 October 2021 was religious discrimination. Savage, an evangelical Christian, had used his Facebook page to accuse employees of a north Dublin retailer of child sexual offences and to claim that a politician was a sexual offender. He argued that the ban was a violation of the Equal Status Act and that Meta had treated a hypothetical gay comparator differently. The WRC found Savage's complaints frivolous and vexatious, noting that he had previously made 42 discrimination complaints and had admitted to being "addicted to litigation." The adjudicator ruled the claim was misconceived and dismissed it without a hearing. The decision was made by Roger McGrath.
Andy Cash, aged 30, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter for stabbing his brother‑in‑law, John Cash, 40, to death on 3 May 2022 in Kilkenny. The Central Criminal Court heard that Cash was intoxicated and unfit for interview for six hours after arrest. He admitted striking John Cash but denied stabbing him, claiming John had ducked. A post‑mortem showed two stab wounds, one penetrating the heart. Cash was also charged with assault causing harm to his sister Elizabeth and with producing a knife during a dispute; both charges were acquitted. The jury returned a 10‑2 majority verdict on all charges. The case was adjourned to 1 December for sentencing, with victim impact statements to be prepared. The Cash family issued a statement thanking the court, Gardaí and witnesses for their support. Andy Cash was found guilty.
Karl Scully, 34, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for careless driving causing the death of Devin Shepherd, 7, at St Joseph's Way, Ballymun, on September 1, 2019. Scully pleaded guilty to the charge. Judge Pauline Codd imposed an 18-month prison sentence and disqualified him from driving for 10 years. During sentencing, Scully interjected to request a lifetime driving ban. The court noted that Scully, a road sweeper, failed to check his rear-view camera while reversing, striking the child. This conviction follows a prior six-month suspended sentence imposed in June 2023 for careless driving causing the death of Anthony Hanney, 61, in December 2018. In that earlier case, Scully entered a bus lane prematurely, leading to the fatal collision. The judge considered Scully's guilty plea, remorse, and personal circumstances in mitigation, while noting his prior conviction for causing death by careless driving as an aggravating factor. Victim impact statements from Devin's family highlighted their ongoing grief. Scully has 15 previous District Court convictions, including two for failing to display tax. The court emphasized the driver's duty of care in the presence of children.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 20 November 2023, a 68‑year‑old man was sentenced to an additional four years' imprisonment for sexually assaulting a 10‑year‑old girl, the aunt of a previous victim, between 2003 and 2005. The man, who was a distant cousin and lived with the family, had already been serving a seven‑year‑three‑month sentence for the anal rape of the same girl in 2021. He pleaded guilty to the earlier assault, admitting he had laid on top of the child and digitally penetrated her with his fingers. The court noted that the victim had kept the incident to herself until she learned the man was being investigated for raping her niece. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, cited the victim's youth and the man's abuse of his trusted family position as aggravating factors, and imposed the consecutive sentence while acknowledging the defendant's poor health and remorse.
Sean Murphy, 29, was found to have a severe obsessive‑compulsive disorder with psychotic features when he stabbed Michael Olohan, 35, to death on 13 August 2020. Dr Ronan Mullaney, a consultant psychiatrist, told the Central Criminal Court that Murphy was "acutely psychotic" and could not refrain from the killing because he believed he was saving himself and the world from great harm. He had a long psychiatric history, first diagnosed with OCD at 15, committed to a hospital at 16, and later discharged from St Vincent's psychiatric ward after nine months. In a letter to his treating team, Murphy admitted having thoughts of killing for about two years and described the act as a ritual driven by a fear of eternal torment. The jury was instructed that if they were not satisfied with an insanity verdict, Murphy would still be found guilty of manslaughter due to diminished responsibility. Sean Murphy pleaded not guilty.
During the multi‑million euro theft trial of former solicitor Michael Lynn, the court heard that two members of the legal department of Permanent TSB (now PTSB) attended the proceedings to provide "moral support" to witnesses. Ciaran Farrell, a former branch manager and current business development manager at the bank, told the court that the two attendees were present at the evidence of his colleague John O'Brien. Farrell said he did not know the purpose of the accompaniment, adding that he presumed it was simply support. He also stated that he had not discussed the evidence with his colleagues, noting that their conversations had been about fantasy football. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan and heard by a jury, continues with Mr Lynn accused of stealing around €27 million from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
In the trial of Gerry Daly, 57, who pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Jacqueline Griffin on the M50, Dr Kevin Moore, a consultant endocrinologist, testified that Daly did not make a conscious decision to drive that day. Dr Moore explained that Daly, who has Type 1 diabetes, had been managing his condition for over ten years and had self‑funded a continuous glucose monitor. He argued that Daly's blood glucose levels were severely low, leading to hypoglycaemic symptoms such as confusion and disorientation. According to Dr Moore, this severe cognitive impairment meant Daly could not understand or control his actions, including driving. He further noted that Daly's recollection of the morning would be unreliable and that his behaviour after the crash was abnormal, reflecting his impaired state. The trial continues before Judge Elma Sheahan and the jury.
Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd, the Irish subsidiary of the US social‑media giant, has filed a High Court challenge against a proposed immediate ban that would stop its Facebook and Instagram platforms from processing personal data for behavioural advertising. The challenge follows an enforcement notice issued by the Data Protection Commission (DPC) on 14 November, giving Meta seven days to cease such processing. The DPC warned that non‑compliance would be a criminal offence and could lead to fines. Meta argues that the notice is vague, unclear about compliance requirements, and breaches its legitimate expectation of a fair hearing. It also contends that the notice renders parts of the 2018 Data Protection Act unconstitutional. The court, after granting permission for the judicial review, has offered a short interim stay on the enforcement notice pending further proceedings. The case will return to the court later in the week.
A 26‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for raping a 16‑year‑old girl in the grounds of a GAA club. The conviction followed a trial at the Central Criminal Court in July, where the man had pleaded not guilty to the single count of rape. He was first taken into custody on 17 July 2023, and the sentence was back‑dated to that date. The victim, who was 16 at the time of the offence, was a friend of the man's sibling and had been texting him about cigarettes. After meeting at the club grounds, the man attempted to kiss her, pushed her, and then raped her. He later smoked cannabis before leaving. The court noted the man's age difference, lack of apology, and his prior good character as mitigating factors, while recognising the aggravating factor of the age gap. The victim's impact statement highlighted her long‑term distress and lack of support.
A 25‑year‑old man pleaded guilty to two charges of rape and was sentenced to 11½ years in prison, with five years of post‑release supervision and a prohibition on contacting his former partner. The court considered four additional rape incidents between January and February 2021, all involving the man raping the woman while she was in bed or doing laundry, and the man filming the assaults and sending the videos to friends. The judge noted the man's history of 34 convictions, 11 of which involved the same woman, including assault and coercive control. The victim's impact statement described the attacks as brutal, the woman as vulnerable, and the lasting emotional harm she suffered. The sentence was reduced from a headline 17‑year term due to the man's guilty plea and expression of remorse. The court also ordered the man to remain in prison for any previous Circuit Court offences against the woman.
The jury at the Central Criminal Court has begun deliberations on the case of Andrew 'Andy' Cash, 30, who is accused of murdering his brother‑in‑law, John Cash, 40, on 3 May 2022 at Hebron Road, Kilkenny City. Cash, a father of three from Highrath, Clara, Co Kilkenny, claims he was "out of his head on tablets" and cannot clearly recall the events of that day. He is also charged with assault causing harm to his sister, Elizabeth Cash, and with producing a knife during a dispute at the same time and place. Cash pleaded not guilty to all three charges on 2 November. The jury has deliberated for over three and a half hours and will resume at 11 am tomorrow.
A five‑star hotel in Limerick was ordered to pay €1,000 to a Traveller woman, Mary Jane Sheridan, after it refused her and her husband, Thomas Gammell, accommodation on their wedding night because they could not produce a credit card. Sheridan said she felt the staff were talking about refusing them and that the hotel would not make an exception on their wedding day. Gammell said the hotel would not accept a cash deposit and that his debit card was "no good". The hotel, Labarre Ltd trading as the Savoy Hotel, denied the complaints but the Workplace Relations Commission upheld Sheridan's claim under the Equal Status Act 2000. The tribunal has not yet published a decision on Gammell's complaint. The hotel argued the credit‑card requirement was unrelated to Traveller status, but the adjudicator found the policy was not appropriate or necessary and that the hotel had indirectly discriminated against Sheridan.
The murder trial of James Kilroy, accused of killing his wife Valerie French Kilroy at their home in Kilbree Lower, Westport, Co Mayo, has collapsed for a second time at the Central Criminal Court. The trial, which had been in progress since November 8th, was unable to continue after a key defence witness, psychiatrist Professor Keith Rix, became unavailable to complete his testimony. Mr Justice Paul McDermott discharged the jury of five men and seven women, informing them that the evidence given by Professor Rix was significant but could not now be finished. The trial will proceed afresh before a different jury on a date to be fixed on November 28th. Mr Kilroy, aged 50, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of occupational therapist Ms French Kilroy, aged 41, who died between June 13th and 14th, 2019. The defendant was remanded in custody.
Kingsley Auguste, former head chef at Dillingers in Ranelagh, lost his equality claim against restaurateur John Farrell at the Workplace Relations Commission. Auguste alleged that Farrell's management treated non‑Irish staff unfavourably and that he was denied a greeting and a premium rate for Sunday work. The tribunal found most of Auguste's statutory pay and working‑time complaints lacking evidence or too late, but ordered the restaurant to pay him €895 for a breach of the Organisation of Working Time Act 2004. Auguste also claimed a Christmas‑Eve incident in 2021 led to his resignation in February 2022, but the adjudicating officer noted that any unfavourable treatment was not linked to his Mauritian background. The decision did not find evidence of discrimination under the Employment Equality Act. The case remains at the WRC stage.
In November 2023, a massage‑parlour worker who was dismissed after refusing to provide sexual services to her male boss was awarded €91,000 in compensation for whistleblower penalisation under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014. The tribunal found that the worker's contract was for massage therapy only and that her refusal to comply with her bosses' sexual demands constituted penalisation. The award represented five years' pay, the maximum allowed. Additional employment‑law breaches were also recognised, giving the worker a total compensation package of €102,550. The case highlighted that the worker, a non‑EU national who did not speak English as a first language, was treated as exceptionally vulnerable. The massage parlour was ordered to pay the lump sum, but the employer was not named in the decision.
Sean Murphy, 29, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael Olohan, 35, who died on 13 August 2020 after Murphy stabbed him in their shared apartment on St Lawrence Road. The case was heard at the Central Criminal Court, where the jury was informed that Murphy was 25 at the time of the killing. Both men lived in a step‑down independent living facility run by St Vincent's Hospital Psychiatric Services, where they received medication but were otherwise free to manage their own affairs. Prosecutor Ronan Kennedy SC argued that Murphy caused Olohan's death and that the jury must decide his mental capacity. Defence psychiatrist Professor Keith Rix testified that Murphy suffered from a "most severe" form of obsessive‑compulsive disorder (OCD) at the time of the killing. Rix explained that Murphy's OCD was so severe that he lacked insight, yet he was not convinced he could not have refrained from the act.
Jimmy Fitzpatrick, a 16‑year‑old Stardust survivor, described how his friend Liam Dunne, who later died in hospital, comforted him in intensive care with the words "We made it this far, we're going to get out of this." Fitzpatrick, who suffered life‑changing third‑degree burns, recounted the night of the February 14, 1981 blaze, noting the fire's rapid spread, the chained exits, and the chaos that trapped many. He detailed his attempts to help friends, the sudden loss of power, and the overwhelming smoke that made breathing difficult. Fitzpatrick also recalled seeing other survivors, such as George O'Connor and David Morton, and the fear that the locked doors would prevent escape. The inquest, held at Dublin District Coroner's Court, heard Fitzpatrick's testimony about the fire's intensity, the "raining fire" droplets, and the desperate efforts to reach exits.
A clinical toxicologist has given evidence at the Central Criminal Court that a Westport man accused of murdering his wife was likely not under the influence of cannabis at the time of her death, despite a long history of drug use. James Kilroy, aged 50, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of Valerie French Kilroy at their home in Kilbree Lower between 13 and 14 June 2019. Dr Johann Grundlingh told the court that whilst Mr Kilroy's urine tested clear of cannabis two days after the killing, chronic exposure to the drug may have triggered a psychotic episode in a vulnerable person. The witness stated that intoxication from cannabis typically lasts hours rather than days. Under prosecution cross-examination, Dr Grundlingh acknowledged it remained possible Mr Kilroy had consumed cannabis after his last admitted use on 7 June. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
In a courtroom in Dublin, Ryan Casey, the boyfriend of the 23‑year‑old teacher Ashling Murphy, delivered a tearful statement after the jury convicted Jozef Puska of murder. Casey described his love for Murphy, their plans to marry and start a family, and the loss he feels. He accused Puska of showing no remorse and called him "the lowest of the low." The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, imposed a mandatory life sentence, noting the seriousness of the crime and the possibility of a whole‑life order. Puska, 33, was found guilty of stabbing Murphy eleven times and slashing her once before leaving her to die near a canal in Tullamore. He will be eligible for parole after 12 years. Casey's statement focused on the personal grief and the impact of Murphy's death on his life.
Jozef Puska, 33, of Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly, has been sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment for the murder of 23-year-old school teacher Ashling Murphy. The sentence was handed down by Mr Justice Tony Hunt following a jury conviction. Puska had pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms Murphy at Cappincur, Tullamore, Co Offaly, on January 12, 2022. The jury found him guilty after rejecting his claim that he was attacked by a masked man. Evidence placed him at the scene via his bicycle, CCTV footage, and DNA found on the bike and under Ms Murphy's fingernails. Mr Justice Hunt stated that the sentence was "richly deserved" and lamented his lack of power to impose a minimum term, noting that a whole life term would have been considered if he had such authority. He emphasized that the motive remains unknown. During the hearing, victim impact statements were read from Ms Murphy's sister, mother, and boyfriend, Ryan Casey, who described Puska as showing zero remorse. The court noted that no connection existed between the defendant and the victim, despite online rumors. Puska was led away by prison officers after the sentencing.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 17 November 2023, the State argued that the fully suspended five‑year sentence imposed on Pearse O'Connor, a 41‑year‑old contractor from Dundalk, was too lenient for the €369,000 invoice fraud he committed against Keys Commercial Finance. O'Connor had pleaded guilty in April 2021 to six charges, including five for using false invoices and one for fraudulent trading under the Companies Act. The Court of Appeal noted that the fraud occurred over a short period but was carefully planned, resulting in a loss that grew from €186,000 to €622,000, with only €253,000 repaid. The State claimed the suspended sentence failed to reflect the seriousness of the offence and called for a custodial term. The appeal court will decide on 1 December 2023.
During the trial of former solicitor Michael Lynn, an ex‑Anglo Irish Bank manager, David Casey, testified that he did not believe the bank's chairperson, Sean Fitzpatrick, had "intimate knowledge" of any one customer. Casey, who had taken over management of Lynn's loans after the initial period, said it was common practice to refuse a loan where there was lending with other banks. He also noted that the bank had lent €11 million to Lynn in one year, a significant but not unusual amount. Lynn, aged 55, faces 21 counts of theft of about €27 million from seven financial institutions between October 2006 and April 2007. The trial, presided over by Judge Martin Nolan, continues with a jury hearing the evidence presented by both defence and prosecution. Sean Fitzpatrick pleaded not guilty.
In a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Gerry Daly, 57, pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Jacqueline Griffin, 39, in a fatal M50 collision on 24 January 2019. Sergeant Patrick McElroy, a forensic collision investigator, presented evidence that Daly's Toyota Auris had been travelling at 138‑151 km/h, struck a Scania lorry, then collided with Griffin's VW Polo, causing her head to be severed. McElroy's report detailed the sequence of impacts and the vehicle's continued movement. Garda Aidan McHugh testified that Daly had a voluntary interview on 28 January, described checking his blood sugar, and had a phone call at 10:30 am that morning. Professor Simon Heller, a diabetes specialist, testified that Daly's glucose levels fell from 9.3 to 3.3 mmol/L during the morning, potentially causing hypoglycaemic episodes and "in and out of consciousness." The trial continues before Judge Elma Sheahan.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 16 November 2023, a 33‑year‑old man was sentenced to an additional 13 years for raping his sister and sexually assaulting his niece, offences committed in June 2020. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, described the case as "particularly sad" and noted a probation report indicating a "very worrying disposition" towards women. The man had previously been convicted of possession of child pornography and was serving a seven‑year sentence for false imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. Mr Justice Hunt imposed a headline sentence of 13 years for the rape, reduced by one year to avoid a "crushing length" of total imprisonment, and a concurrent five‑year sentence for the sexual assault. The sentences run consecutively to the existing term, with the final two years of the rape sentence suspended on strict conditions. The unnamed 33-year-old pleaded guilty.
A 17‑year‑old, Ogaga Ogheneyoma, was fined €500 and ordered to be of good behaviour in lieu of a 12‑month sentence for allowing his AIB bank account to hold €31,842 of laundered money in an invoice redirect fraud. He pleaded guilty on the day of his trial at Dublin Circuit Court on 19 November 2018. Ogheneyoma, now 22, is a fourth‑year accounting and finance student at TU Dublin, lives with his parents in Lucan, and has worked part‑time throughout college. The court noted he had no previous convictions, no evidence of involvement in the fraud, and had a pro‑social life since the offence. Judge Orla Crowe invoked Section 100 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, imposed the fine, and deferred the sentence, ordering him to pay the fine before a mention in May 2024, after which he will be discharged.
In November 2023 the High Court heard a renewed dispute between brothers Greg and Hugh Kavanagh over a settlement agreement reached in 2020. Hugh, represented by Paul McGarry SC, alleged that Greg had breached the 2020 agreement by failing to comply with its terms and by engaging in "asset stripping" and payments from the group's companies. Hugh also claimed that Greg had attempted to remove him as director of 19 of the 20 companies in the group, including Structured Marshalled Investments Ltd (SMIL), New Generation Homes Ltd and Isotonic Hotel Ltd, while he remained director of Bezzu Corporation Ltd. Hugh sought orders declaring the breach, contempt of court, and imprisonment for the defendants, and an order restraining new security or share transactions without 14‑day notice. Mr Justice Mark Sanfey granted Hugh ex‑parte permission to serve short notice on the defendants, and the case was scheduled to return next week.
The High Court granted a temporary injunction to RAS Medical Ltd, a Dublin‑registered cosmetic surgery practice, after it alleged that Create for the Web Limited, trading as Ireland Website Design, had failed to preserve important data, including medical information, relating to RAS Medical's websites. RAS Medical claimed that a falling out over an alleged secret recording of a Zoom call between director Dr Ahmed Salman and a representative of the website company led to the defendant's failure to retain data. The court, hearing the case ex‑parte, ordered the defendant to preserve data held by it in respect of RAS Medical's website. RAS Medical seeks further orders to compel compliance with the Data Protection Act and damages for alleged unlawful processing and dissemination of personal data. The matter will return before the court next week.
During the inquest into the Stardust nightclub fire, Yvonne Blackwell, aged 18 at the time, testified that she and four friends from Derry were trapped in a panic when flames erupted at the end of the hall. She described the scene as "raining flames," with ashtrays igniting on tables, and that she was pushed and shoved by the crowd, unable to locate exits. Blackwell could not recall seeing her friend Susan Morgan inside the club, and she later reflected on the trauma and subsequent drinking. Ann and Finola Horner also gave evidence, describing the intense heat, orange glow, and the difficulty of escaping locked exits. They recounted seeing a man named Larry outside, who was severely burned. Valerie Walsh reported that after the fire started, exit doors were closed behind her, preventing people from re‑entering the burning building. The inquest will continue tomorrow.
At the Central Criminal Court, a forensic psychiatrist testified that James Kilroy experienced a psychotic episode in October 2001, some eighteen years before the alleged killing of his wife. Professor Keith Rix told the jury that medical records from that earlier episode showed the accused had used cannabis approximately two weeks prior and subsequently developed abnormal beliefs and perceptions. The witness outlined that in the weeks preceding the death of Valerie French Kilroy at their home in Kilbree Lower, Westport, Co Mayo, the accused exhibited an escalating pattern of delusional thinking, including beliefs about surveillance and poisoning. The psychiatrist stated that cannabis use two weeks before the incident constituted a substance-induced psychotic episode in a vulnerable person rather than simple intoxication. Mr Kilroy, aged fifty, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder charge. Ms French Kilroy, aged forty-one, an occupational therapist, died in June 2019 from strangulation, blunt force trauma, and a stab wound. The trial is ongoing before Mr Justice Paul McDermott.
The Court of Appeal has overturned a trial judge's direction to acquit an unnamed 34-year-old man of rape, finding the ruling was wrong in law. The appellant, who pleaded not guilty, was originally charged with one count of rape and two counts of sexual assault, alleging that between January and September 2005, he sexually assaulted his six-year-old cousin in Dublin. At the Central Criminal Court trial in June 2022, Mr Justice David Keane directed the jury to discharge the rape charge, reasoning that the complainant had touched the accused on his invitation, meaning no assault occurred. The State appealed, arguing that any intentional touching without consent constitutes an assault. In its judgment, the Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice John Edwards, stated that a child under the statutory minimum age cannot legally consent to such touching. The court ruled that the invitation itself could constitute force or impact, an issue that should have been left to the jury. Consequently, the appeal was allowed, and the DPP was granted permission for a retrial. The matter was adjourned, with the DPP directed to re-enter the case in the next list to fix dates at the Central Criminal Court on December 6.