The Court of Appeal overturned a High Court ruling that had reversed a District Court judge's refusal to hear the cases of three people accused of publishing online information that identified the teenage boys who murdered Ana Kriegel in 2018. The Court of Appeal held that the District Court judge had not acted unfairly and that a subsequent judge could reconsider jurisdiction. The three accused – Edel Doherty, 48, Kyle Rooney, 26, and Declan Corcoran, 30 – had been charged with posting photos and naming the boys on social media. They had been initially told by Judge Brian O'Shea that the District Court could hear their matters, but Judge John Hughes later ruled the offences were too serious for the District Court and sent them to the Circuit Court. The High Court had quashed Judge Hughes' decision, but the Court of Appeal vacated that order and remitted the matters back to the District Court for further consideration.
In a trial for the 2018 shooting at Bray Boxing Club, defence barrister Hugh Hartnett SC argued that there is no evidence linking his client, Gerard Cervi, to the gunman. He highlighted alleged lies by Garda officers, potential investigative "corner cutting," and questioned the reliability of CCTV and forensic evidence. Hartnett noted that Cervi had no criminal background and that witnesses' descriptions of the shooter's height did not match Cervi's. He also pointed out that a known drug dealer, who admitted to using the van implicated in the case, had no evidence of drug paraphernalia in the vehicle. Hartnett concluded that the prosecution's case fell short of proof beyond a reasonable doubt and urged the jury to acquit Cervi on all four counts. The judge, Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, charged the jury on matters of law. Gerard Cervi pleaded not guilty.
Roche was ordered to pay €8,000 to a whistleblower who had made a protected disclosure to the HPRA about non‑compliant marketing literature. The Workplace Relations Commission found the penalisation of the whistleblower concerning because Roche is a major private sector organisation with significant public safety impact. The whistleblower, Dr Bruno Seigle‑Murandi, claimed he was pressured by the former Roche Ireland CEO, Pierre‑Alain Dellay, to lie to the regulator and to avoid a recall of marketing material that omitted a sentence about adverse reactions, including two fatalities. The WRC concluded that the CEO's actions did not constitute penalisation, but that the CEO's attempts to align staff on a false narrative were concerning. The whistleblower's subsequent protected disclosure to the HPRA in July 2020 was deemed a protected communication, and the WRC found that the resulting bonus cuts and performance review were acts of penalisation.
During the trial of Michael Lynn, a former legal executive, Ms. Liz Doyle, was cross‑examined about her role in the firm and a loan of €80,000 she claimed to have given to Lynn in January 2007. Doyle admitted she was an authorised signatory on cheques and that she had forwarded emails to solicitor Fiona McAleenan. She acknowledged that the firm had a practice of signing each other's names on documents, but denied that she had ever signed a letter without permission. Doyle also said she had no knowledge of any fraud and that she was very ill at the time of the alleged civil case involving Irish Life and Permanent. The prosecution argued that Lynn had obtained multiple mortgages on the same properties, but the trial continues before Judge Nolan and the jury. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
At the Central Criminal Court, a consultant forensic psychiatrist testified that James Kilroy was suffering from a substance-induced psychotic episode when he killed his wife at their rural home near Westport, Co Mayo. Dr Ronan Mullaney told the jury that the accused's mental disorder meant he did not know his actions were wrong and could not refrain from committing the act. Kilroy, aged 50, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of his wife between June 13 and 14, 2019. The psychiatrist described paranoid delusions and erratic behaviour in the weeks preceding the death, including beliefs about surveillance and conspiracy. He stated the accused met criteria for the insanity defence under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006. In cross-examination, the State's counsel disputed the evidence, suggesting the accused had minimised his long-standing cannabis use and had motivation to provide a self-serving account. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and jury.
Keith Redmond, 45, of Finglas, pleaded guilty to attempting to send sexually explicit material to a child between 30 August and 3 December 2022. He used the social media platform Kick, presenting himself as a 44‑year‑old Irishman, and was contacted by a UK‑based predator‑exposure group's decoy, 'Amber', a 14‑year‑old girl. Over three months, Redmond and the decoy exchanged 83 typed messages, initially ordinary but later sexually explicit. He sent four photographs of his penis and discussed meeting 'Amber' for sexual activity, offering to buy her a phone and to live together. The UK group located him in Dublin, and he was taken into Garda protection. Redmond, a married barman with one child, had no prior convictions. The case was adjourned for a final hearing on 26 February next year, with a request for a probation report.
During the 1981 Stardust nightclub fire, witnesses described a rapidly spreading blaze that resembled the film 'Backdraft'. Bernard Tully, 16 at the time, recalled a ball of flames racing across the ceiling, "drops of molten lead" falling onto the crowd, and the panic that followed. He attempted to open a window that only opened a few inches, then smashed a glass panel to escape. Thomas Dempsey, 19, testified that a fire extinguisher seemed to fuel the flames, which spread along walls and carpet tiles, creating orange‑black smoke and a "backdraft" effect. Anthony Preston, present that night, described a packed hallway, a locked exit with a Chubb lock, and the difficulty of moving through smoke and fumes. Anthony Kavanagh, also 19, recounted seeing a curtain open, causing flames to shoot across the floor and a substance that appeared like acid dropping from the ceiling. The inquest continues tomorrow at the Rotunda Hospital's Pillar Room.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 15 November 2023, counsel Paul Murray SC delivered a closing speech to a jury of twelve in the murder trial of Gerard Cervi, aged 36, who is accused of firing nine bullets at Bray Boxing Club on 5 June 2018. The prosecution presented CCTV footage showing Cervi travelling from his home to the club in a distinctive van, entering the club, firing in a methodical pattern, and then leaving the premises. DNA, fingerprints and other forensic evidence were also cited. The alleged victims were Robert 'Bobby' Messett, who died on the scene, and Ian Britton and Pete Taylor, who were injured. Murray argued that the evidence demonstrated Cervi's intent to kill, and urged the jury to find him guilty of murder and two attempted murders. The judge was scheduled to address the jury the following day. Gerard Cervi pleaded not guilty.
In a Kilkenny murder trial, Andrew 'Andy' Cash, 30, pleaded not guilty to the stabbing death of his brother‑in‑law John Cash, 40, on 3 May 2022. Cash, a father of three from Highrath, claimed he was "out of his head on tablets" and could not fully recall the events of that day. He told the jury that he believed his wife had cheated on him with John Cash "years ago" and that he had confronted John Cash after seeing him and his wife leave a Centra. Cash admitted to having a knife in his car, which he said had been there "for ages," and that he had given John Cash a "good thumping" while he was on the ground, but denied stabbing him. He also denied shouting "you got what you deserved" or threatening to kill John Cash. The case is set to proceed before Justice Eileen Creedon and a jury of seven women and five men.
Boris Barcanec, 35, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three years and nine months in prison, with the final 12 months suspended, for drug‑dealing offences. He had pleaded guilty to possessing €66,000 worth of cannabis, ecstasy tablets and amphetamines for sale or supply at his home in Whitechurch Road, Dublin 14, on 5 July 2021. Gardaí seized multiple plastic bags of cannabis (estimated street value €62,248), amphetamines (€2,527) and 156 MDMA tablets (€1,560) from his garage and living room, along with drug paraphernalia. Barcanec admitted buying around €20,000 of cannabis and about 300 MDMA tablets for €1,000, claiming the drugs were for personal use and for friends at a party. He stated he had been in Ireland for five years, was working as a garden landscaper earning €460 per week, and had no prior convictions.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, the jury heard that the death of 39‑year‑old Jacqueline Griffin on the M50 on 24 January 2019 was caused by catastrophic head injuries after her vehicle was struck from the rear by a black car travelling at high speed. The accused, 57‑year‑old Gerry Daly of Kildare, pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing death. A doctor's report read at the hearing described the scene: a vehicle on its side, a decapitated head on the road, and a body in the rear. A post‑mortem confirmed the head injuries. Witnesses, including truck driver Joseph Dunne and passenger Judith Ryan, described the collision and Daly's hypoglycaemic episode. Daly was treated on scene for low blood sugar, given glucose, and taken to hospital. The case remains before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury.
William Ye, a Chinese takeaway delivery driver, was dismissed without notice by the Emerald Court Chinese Restaurant in Ranelagh, Dublin 6, after he had been asking for a pay rise for over a year. Ye, who worked from January 2020 until March 2023, earned €5 an hour and received no petrol allowance, relying on tips to supplement his income. He had no contract, employee handbook or payslips. On 24 March 2023, the owner, Huiru Zhu, texted him that she had found a replacement and that he was no longer employed. Ye brought an unfair dismissal claim under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. The tribunal found the dismissal was unfair, likely linked to his persistence in requesting a pay increase, and awarded him €1,500 in compensation based on four weeks' pay at the national minimum wage of €11.30 an hour. The decision was published on 15 November 2023.
The former acting campus governor of the Midlands Prison complex, Ethel Gavin, has failed in a sexist discrimination complaint after claiming she was demoted at the behest of male prison officers under her command. The Workplace Relations Commission found that her claim was out of time, as she lodged proceedings under the Employment Equality Act 1998 too late. Ms Gavin alleged that she was removed from her acting-up position following a walkout by 14 male officers in May 2018, which she claimed led to her being placed in a less prestigious role. She argued that the male officers involved were not reprimanded and that she faced a continuum of discrimination. However, the tribunal rejected her claims, stating there were no acts of discrimination within the six months prior to her complaint. The adjudicator noted that the bullying complaint against Ms Gavin was not substantiated, and the Prison Service denied any misleading press statements regarding her retirement party.
Jordan Keogh, a 27‑year‑old from Clondalkin, was on bail when he repeatedly moved cash, a handgun and ammunition for an organised gang. In February 2020 he was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for possession of €172,950 in crime cash, a semi‑automatic pistol, ammunition and drugs for sale. The original sentence comprised 3.5 years for two money‑laundering offences (concurrent), 2 years for cannabis possession (consecutive), and 1.5 years for the firearm offence with one year suspended, totalling seven years with 12 months suspended. The State appealed, arguing the judge had been too lenient, especially for the firearms offence. The Court of Appeal quashed the original sentences and re‑sentenced Keogh to nine years: 2 years for drugs, 3 years for the first money‑laundering offence (concurrent), 3 years for the second money‑laundering offence with 2 years suspended (consecutive), and 5 years for the firearms offences (consecutive). Jordan Keogh pleaded guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Gerry Daly, 57, pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing the instantaneous death of Jacqueline Griffin, 39, on the M50 on 24 January 2019. Witnesses described Daly's vehicle as travelling at high speed, weaving in and out of traffic, and veering across the hard shoulder before colliding with Griffin's car. The prosecution argued that the collision was ferocious, causing Griffin's vehicle to roll over and her immediate death. Daly was also reported to have been a type‑one diabetic with a related medical condition that impaired his control of the vehicle. CCTV footage and multiple motorists' testimonies were presented, all indicating that Daly's driving was dangerous and that the accident caused Griffin's death. The case remains before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury.
In the trial of Michael Lynn, a former legal executive, Liz Doyle, testified that she signed another solicitor's name on documents at Lynn's instruction, citing intense pressure and fear in the firm. Doyle, who worked as a legal executive at Michael Lynn & Co, described a demanding environment with constant calls and emails, and claimed she followed Lynn's directions to sign the name of Fiona McAleenan, a solicitor in the practice, and also the signature of Kinsella Mitchell and Associates, auditors for the firm. She admitted she was aware that signing the documents was wrong but felt compelled by the pressure. Doyle also discussed personal financial strain, including her husband's business collapse and multiple mortgages. The prosecution alleges Lynn obtained multiple mortgages on the same properties, while the defence disputes the extent of Doyle's knowledge and intent. The case is before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Colin Bale, 37, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after a daytime attack at Donabate Shopping Centre on 2 February 2020. The incident began when Bale's former partner's honour was allegedly impugned, leading Bale to confront a shopper who had taken his bike. Bale punched the victim twice, causing cuts to the head and ear and a fractured finger. Garda evidence, including CCTV, identified Bale and he was arrested. Bale's defence claimed self‑defence and an apology, noting a prior minor conviction in 2013. Judge Orla Crowe, citing the victim's injuries and the aggravating nature of the assault, imposed a fully suspended 18‑month sentence for three years, hoping the suspended sentence would encourage behavioural change. No custodial term was imposed. The victim, who has facial scars and mental health concerns, was represented by a victim impact statement. No further contact between the parties has occurred since the incident.
In a High Court hearing on 14 November 2023, Justice Eileen Roberts appointed Joseph Walsh of JW Accountants as interim examiner to a group of restaurant companies linked to the award‑winning Cornstore Restaurants and Coqbull outlets in Cork and Limerick. The companies—Keep it Real Holdings DAC, Rosewalk Ltd, Coal Quay Restaurants Ltd, Winstore Restaurants Ltd, Burgerchick Cork Ltd, Burgerchick Limerick Ltd and Burgerchick Castletroy Ltd—were found insolvent and unable to meet a €26.74 million debt owed to the Sweden‑based Proventus Capital Partners III KB fund. The court noted that the difficulties stemmed from the poor performance of related UK‑based group companies, which had been hit hard by Covid‑19 and had failed to service the debt since December 2022.
The Central Criminal Court trial of James Kilroy, 50, accused of murdering his wife, Valerie French Kilroy, 41, at their Co Mayo home in June 2019, continued with the prosecution case closing. Mr Kilroy has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. The jury heard evidence from gardai interviews in which the accused described waiting in the long grass for his wife before slitting her throat and choking her with his bare hands. He stated he used a black serrated knife and smashed her head, describing the event as a frenzy. The prosecution noted that Ms French Kilroy died from strangulation, blunt force trauma, and a stab wound. Defence counsel called consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Ronan Mullaney, who testified that the accused had a long history of cannabis use, including therapeutic consumption of high-THC 'AK-47' strain in the three years prior to the death. Dr Mullaney stated that THC can induce substance-induced psychosis in predisposed individuals and that the accused slightly increased his use in the week before the incident. The accused also reported feeling watched and paranoid in the days leading up to the event. The trial is ongoing, with no final verdict or sentence recorded at this stage.
In the 2023 inquest into the 1981 Stardust nightclub fire, witnesses recounted being trapped in toilets as smoke filled the building. Deirdre Dames, aged 18, described crawling on hands and knees, hearing people outside screaming for help, and feeling the heat and smoke close to the windows. She said she prayed the Lord's Prayer and was rescued when a fireman entered. Louise Murray, also 18, was trapped in a stage‑rear toilet, inhaled hot debris, and later prayed the Our Father before firemen broke in. Breda Walsh, 19, ran into a gents toilet by mistake, fainted from smoke, and was rescued by the brigade. Helen Henby, 18, was trapped under a table, suffered third‑degree burns, and spent four months in hospital. The testimony highlighted the chaotic escape attempts and the desperate attempts to breathe and pray for survival.
Alanna Quinn Idris, blinded in one eye after a gang of four youths attacked her on Ballyfermot Road on 30 December 2021, was described by her defence counsel as a "courageous young woman" who tried to defend a friend during the assault. The attackers, including 19‑year‑old Josh Cummins, pleaded guilty to causing serious harm to Ms Quinn Idris, violent disorder, assault on Louis O'Sullivan and the use of a hurl. Cummins also pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to O'Sullivan. Darragh Lyons, 19, was sentenced to four and a half years for assault causing serious harm to Ms Quinn Idris and similar charges against O'Sullivan. The case was heard on the principle of joint enterprise, with the four males carrying out an organised and violent attack in a residential area.
The Central Criminal Court heard the trial of Sean Murphy, 29, who stabbed his housemate Michael Olohan, 35, to death on 13 August 2020. Murphy had been released from a psychiatric ward to an independent living facility four months earlier. He pleaded not guilty to murder. The prosecution argued that Murphy had an active mental disorder and should be found not guilty by reason of insanity, while the defence contended that his responsibility was substantially diminished, seeking a verdict of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. Witnesses included a prosecution expert who described severe obsessive‑compulsive disorder with psychotic symptoms, and a defence expert who agreed on OCD but denied a psychotic illness. The jury was instructed to consider Murphy's mental capacity at the time of the killing. The trial proceeded before Justice Mary Ellen Ring with a jury of twelve.
In November 2023, a 17‑year‑old who stabbed 20‑year‑old Cameron Blair at a Cork house party appealed his life sentence, arguing the judge failed to weigh his immaturity and dysfunctional background. The Central Criminal Court had sentenced him to life detention in 2020, with a review after 13 years and an earliest release date of January 2023. The appeal court noted that a juvenile can only be sentenced to detention, not imprisonment, and that once the offender turns 18 he is transferred to an adult prison. Counsel for the appellant claimed the judge focused on age rather than maturity, and that the offence lacked aggravating factors such as premeditation or a callous attitude. The DPP countered that the judge had considered mitigating factors, including the offender's early guilty plea and lack of prior convictions. The Court of Appeal reserved judgment, with a hearing scheduled for December 5, and parties were invited to discuss the appellant's anonymity.
A man in his mid‑seventies was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended, for sexually assaulting his 10‑year‑old granddaughter in a Dublin house on 27 December 2016. He pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual assault. The court noted the offence was aggravated by a significant breach of trust and the age disparity. The judge, Sarah Berkeley, set a headline sentence of two years before reducing it for mitigating factors such as an early guilty plea and remorse. The victim's mother provided a victim impact statement describing the devastating effects on her daughter. The man had no prior convictions and had lost his family and social life. The case was prosecuted by Aoife McNickle, BL, and investigated by Detective Garda David Egan. The accused was arrested in November 2017 and denied the allegations. The court found the offence fell at the lower end of the spectrum for child sexual abuse.
David Gibney, a press officer for the trade union Mandate, has filed a legal claim against his employer alleging penalisation and unlawful wage deductions. He accuses Mandate of breaching the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, the Employees (Provision of Information and Consultation) Act 2014, and the Payment of Wages Act 1994. Mandate argues that Gibney lacks legal standing and that the claims are out of time, citing missed statutory deadlines. The Workplace Relations Commission held a preliminary hearing focused on case management, with counsel for Mandate, Tiernan Lowey BL, stating that the tribunal could address preliminary objections without an oral hearing on legal points. The adjudicator, Jim Dolan, granted each side six weeks to submit written arguments and adjourned the case. Gibney was not present at the hearing, which was attended by Mandate's acting general secretary Jonathan Hogan and former secretary Gerry Light.
In a High Court hearing in Dublin, Dana Kavanagh, 48, sued pop star Rihanna—identified as Robyn Fenty—over alleged malicious falsehoods in an email and a phone call. Kavanagh claimed mental distress and emotional suffering after a July 2013 email supposedly naming her partner Geoffrey Keating, who had been Rihanna's head of security, and a phone call to her sister‑in‑law. She alleged that these statements destroyed her business, Geoff Keating Media. Rihanna, absent from court, denied the allegations. Kavanagh's counsel informed Justice Leonie Reynolds that the parties had settled, allowing the case to be struck out with costs awarded to the plaintiff. No settlement details were disclosed. The case was therefore resolved without proceeding to trial, and no further legal action was taken by either party in this matter.
Former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 55, stands trial in Dublin for alleged theft of about €27 million from seven banks between October 2006 and April 2007. He has pleaded not guilty to 21 theft counts. During the hearing, Lynn admitted in a prior trial that the borrowings were his responsibility and that he benefited from the money. The prosecution argues he secured multiple mortgages on the same properties without banks knowing other institutions were financing them. The banks named are Bank of Ireland, National Irish Bank (now Danske Bank), Irish Life and Permanent, Ulster Bank, ACC Bank, Bank of Scotland Ireland and Irish Nationwide Building Society. Lynn will give further evidence in this trial, and the jury will hear his full account. The case is before Judge Martin Nolan.
The High Court approved a Personal Insolvency Arrangement for 54‑year‑old Dermot King of Bishopscourt, Straffan, allowing him to write off over €16 million of unsecured debt owed to Everyday Finance DAC. King, who had been self‑employed trading as DMK Property Limited from 2004 to 2017, owed the fund €17.2 million. Under the arrangement, he will keep his €1.5 million family home, continue mortgage repayments for 25 years, and sell his interests in an investment property in Rosslare, part of the land on which his home sits, and an investment property in Athy to reduce the debt. He will make a €23 000 payment, of which €13 000 will go toward the unsecured debt. The PIA, lasting 12 months, was prepared by Personal Insolvency Practitioner John McCormack and approved by Mr Justice Alexander Owens after counsel noted no opposition and that creditors would fare better than under bankruptcy.
Adam Roche, aged 27, was sentenced to ten and a half years in prison, with an 18‑month suspended portion, for a series of sexual offences committed between August 2015 and January 2018. He used 125,000 messages to pose as victims of online blackmail, threatening a young woman with harm to her pet or the release of intimate images unless she performed non‑consensual sexual acts with him. Roche also threatened to disseminate her photographs and coerced her into sending video proof of sexual acts. He pleaded guilty to rape, anal rape, oral rape, aggravated sexual assault and possession of child pornography. The judge noted the manipulation, the victim's trust in Roche, and the profound impact on her life, and imposed a sentence that reflected the seriousness and repetition of the offences while taking into account his guilty plea and remorse. The woman was ordered to be kept away from Roche and his associates permanently.
The 66‑year‑old patriarch of a Traveller family was sentenced to life imprisonment for a campaign of rape that included the sexual abuse of his granddaughter and nephew, with 24 charges found guilty. He also had a 16‑year sentence for abusing his daughter, who became pregnant with his child at 17. His three sons received sentences of 11 to 16½ years for related offences. The patriarch's 64‑year‑old wife was jailed for two years for assisting a son in an anally raping her granddaughter and for assaulting the same child. The court noted the victims were children at the time of the abuse, which occurred between 1999 and 2005 across various locations. The judge described the man as a "deviant father figure" who ruled his family with an iron fist and showed no remorse. The sentencing was carried out despite the man being admitted to hospital, and he made no reaction to the life sentence.
Former priest Denis Nolan, 71, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court following his guilty plea to one count of oral rape and 36 counts of sexual assault committed between 1994 and 2000. The court found that Nolan abused a victim aged 11 to 17 in Dublin and Wicklow. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a five-year sentence for the rape, to run consecutively to Nolan's existing terms, alongside concurrent three-year sentences for the sexual assault counts. Nolan is currently serving a 19-year aggregate sentence for previous convictions, including a 2022 case where the Court of Appeal quashed a suspended portion and substituted a consecutive six-year term. The judge noted Nolan's "predatory" conduct and "egregious betrayal" of trust, while acknowledging his guilty plea and remorse as mitigating factors. Nolan, in custody since 2014, was also directed to undergo five years of post-release supervision. The matter was finalised with the imposition of these additional custodial terms.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Chang Teng Wang, 58, of Finglas, was sentenced to six and a half years' imprisonment for the unlawful killing of his 10‑month‑old grandson, Seán Wang, who died after Wang violently shook him in an attempt to calm him. The judge, Martina Baxter, imposed a 12‑month suspended period, citing aggravating factors such as Seán's healthy condition and the vulnerability of infants. Wang pleaded guilty, which the court noted as a mitigating factor, and he cooperated with Gardaí. The case involved a hospital admission where Seán was in cardiac arrest and later pronounced dead 66 hours after arrival. Wang's defence highlighted his lack of prior convictions, foreign status, and willingness to leave the country. No victim impact statement was presented. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the offence and the court's view of Wang's responsibility.
A jury was sworn in at the Central Criminal Court for the trial of Sean Murphy, 29, who is charged with the murder of Michael Olohan, 35, that occurred on 13 August 2020 on St Lawrence Road, Dublin. Murphy pleaded not guilty. The trial will start tomorrow before Justice Mary Ellen Ring and a jury of six men and six women and is expected to last up to five days.
A 23‑year‑old man from Churchfield, Cork, pleaded guilty before the Special Criminal Court to a single charge of possessing 263 rounds of ammunition in suspicious circumstances on 3 June last year. The court found that the circumstances suggested he did not have the ammunition for a lawful purpose at Churchfield Avenue. He was also charged with membership of an illegal organisation, the Irish Republican Army, at a State location on the same date. The State's counsel said the plea would meet the case, and the judge adjourned sentencing to 22 January.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal of an unnamed 41-year-old man who was convicted of sexually assaulting his daughter. The appellant, who pleaded not guilty to the offence committed in Dublin between January and April 2017, argued that he was asleep at the time and therefore could not form the necessary intent. He contended that the trial judge erred by refusing to direct a verdict of not guilty and by failing to issue a corroboration warning regarding the complainant's evidence. The complainant, who was approximately nine years old at the time, told Gardaí she was unsure if her father was awake, though she described specific acts in detail. Court of Appeal President Mr Justice George Birmingham, sitting with Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh, rejected these submissions. The court held that the detailed description of the alleged acts was, as a matter of common sense, consistent only with the actions of a conscious, awake individual, absent a demonstrated sleep disorder. The judges concluded that the trial judge was within her rights to leave the case to the jury and that the decision not to give a corroboration warning was within her discretion. The appellant had previously secured a successful appeal in May 2022, leading to a retrial where he was re-convicted. Following that second trial, Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to three years and four months' imprisonment. The appeal was dismissed, leaving the conviction and sentence intact.
Martin Hayes, a grave digger, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter after a Central Criminal Court jury returned a majority verdict of 11‑1. Hayes admitted to using violence against Amadea McDermott, 27, and to having accessed her phone via a hidden app. He claimed she stabbed herself, a claim the jury rejected. The prosecution argued that Hayes inflicted a single stab wound to McDermott's abdomen without the intent to kill, and that evidence such as the absence of DNA on the knife, toxicology reports, and McDermott's text messages indicating fear of Hayes supported this view. The jury spent 13 hours and 22 minutes over four days deliberating. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for 21 November, with Hayes remanded in custody until then. The McDermott family will be allowed to speak at that hearing.
Patrick Shanahan, 76, of Cooga, Doon, Co Limerick, remains in prison after the Court of Appeal upheld his 11‑year sentence. He was convicted in July 2022 by a unanimous jury at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court on 14 counts of sexually assaulting his granddaughters Daria and Tara Tobin between 2010 and 2014. The abuse included rubbing the girls' vaginas and later finger and tongue penetration when they were aged 10 to 14. The assaults occurred in Shanahan's home, on nearby land and in his van. Shanahan appealed on grounds of delay and alleged inconsistencies in one complaint, arguing that evidence of how the abuse was disclosed should not have been admitted. The Court of Appeal, led by Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh, found that the complaint met all admissibility conditions, that the delay was justified by the girls' psychological state, and that the evidence was consistent. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed and Shanahan will continue to serve his sentence. Patrick Shanahan pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court sentencing hearing on 13 November 2023, Judge Tony Hunt declined to exclude Aaron Brady's father, Tony Brady, from the public gallery. The decision followed an application by the Director of Public Prosecutions, who argued that an exclusion order would not prevent Brady from "propagating nonsense." Brady had previously been excluded during the trial of James Flynn, who was convicted of conspiracy to steal a car used in the Lordship Credit Union robbery that resulted in the murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe by Aaron Brady. Brady had published an online video accusing a Garda of perjury and contempt of court. The judge noted that such remarks do not affect the court's proceedings and allowed Brady to remain present. The hearing also covered the sentencing of James Flynn, who was acquitted of participation in the robbery but convicted of conspiracy to steal a Volkswagen Passat.
William Duffy, 40, of Dundalk, pleaded guilty in July to discharging a firearm recklessly at 11pm on 28 May 2019 in Marian Park, Dundalk, where he fired twice at Keith Shields, who was walking home. Duffy was seen on CCTV leaving a hospital four hours earlier and later arriving at the park. The Central Criminal Court judge, Ms Justice Caroline Biggs, sentenced Duffy to three years and six months' imprisonment, with nine months suspended, for causing "abject terror" to Mr Shields. The judge noted Duffy's 42 prior convictions, including affray, burglary and assault, and his history of substance abuse, but also his remorse, boxing coaching and positive prison governor's report. The sentence was based on a pre‑mitigation term of four years and eight months, reduced by a 25% mitigating discount. The attempted murder charge was withdrawn by the State.
A 57‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to nine and a half years in prison after a Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty of five counts of rape of his wife, committed in their family home and a holiday home in 2006 and 2018. He was acquitted of three other rape counts and a ninth count was not agreed upon. The judge described the offences as a fundamental breach of trust and bodily integrity, noting that the rapes occurred while their children were present, sometimes with a baby in the bedroom. The victim, whose identity is protected, said the husband abused her under the "guise of Catholic entitlements," controlling her and denying any wrongdoing. She testified that she had been isolated and felt worthless, and that the abuse escalated when she prioritized their children's needs.
In a High Court hearing on 13 November 2023, the court refused to grant a 12‑month stay on an injunction that required Stateline Freight Limited to stop storing shipping containers on land owned by Tesco Ireland Limited at Compass Distribution Park, Santry. Stateline had argued that an immediate cessation would cause a catastrophic economic impact on freight businesses and that it needed time to secure alternative sites and planning permission. The judge, Mr Justice Garrett Simons, found no discretionary basis for a stay, citing the lack of planning permission and the deliberate nature of the breach. He gave Stateline six weeks to remove the containers and noted that any temporary planning permission would be a matter for the planning authorities, not the court. The decision will be revisited later in the month.
In a discrimination claim, the Workplace Relations Commission ruled that the National Women's Council of Ireland (NWCI) was entitled to refuse admission to Sarah Holmes and four other protestors at its 2022 AGM. The NWCI cited a "potentially explosive situation" after a press release from the activist group 'The Countess' threatened a transgender board member. The council had warned the hotel, rearranged registration, and escorted a TD and the board member. Witnesses reported that protestors, including Holmes, were vocal and that the council's risk mitigation measures were necessary. Holmes claimed the refusal was religious discrimination, but the tribunal found no discrimination and upheld the council's decision to bar the group. The case was heard behind closed doors, with the tribunal's findings made public.
Michael Lynn, 55, of Co. Wicklow, is on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court accused of 21 counts of theft in Dublin between October 23, 2006, and April 20, 2007. He has pleaded not guilty to these charges, which allege the theft of approximately €27 million from seven financial institutions. The prosecution contends that Mr. Lynn obtained multiple mortgages on the same properties while banks were unaware of other financing. Testifying, former INBS senior underwriter Olivia Greene stated that her career "nosedived" after the €4.1 million loan to Mr. Lynn for Glenlion House came under scrutiny. She told the court that INBS chief executive Michael Fingleton refused to take responsibility for the approval, leading to her constructive dismissal. Under cross-examination by Paul Comiskey O'Keefe BL, Ms. Greene agreed that INBS was a beneficiary of the bank insolvency scheme, was fined €5 million which it could not pay, and ultimately cost the state €5.4 billion. The trial is currently at the sentencing stage, though the matter remains ongoing as the trial resumes before Judge Martin Nolan.
Julie Maughan, 38, of Kimmage Manor, Terenure, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to a 15‑year‑old boy on 8 October 2022. She had mistaken the boy and his friends for people harassing her daughter and drove her van toward them, then exited with a cricket bat and struck the boy over the head. The boy was taken to hospital and received four stitches. No victim impact statement was given. Maughan was arrested that night after the boys called Gardaí. She denied involvement at the scene, but her mobile phone was seized and video showed her encouraging her daughter to cry in front of Gardaí. She has seven prior convictions, mainly traffic offences and one drug‑related offence from 2013. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced her to two years' imprisonment, suspended in full on strict conditions, after noting the assault was "reasonably bad" but that she did not deserve prison at this point.
Matthew Coward, a 32‑year‑old Swim Ireland coach, pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual exploitation of girls and multiple counts of child pornography production for offences between September 2021 and February 2022. He secretly filmed girls changing in his office, using a phone and a chair‑sectioned area to facilitate the acts. Three girls were harmed; one broke down in her father's car after learning she had been recorded while trying on "swimming skins." Coward's devices yielded nearly 80 videos, including two child abuse material clips and seven inappropriate videos, plus search histories linked to teenage pornography. He was arrested in May 2022, stood down as a coach, and later worked as a Starbucks night manager. Coward expressed remorse, wrote apologies, and the court noted his guilty plea, lack of prior convictions, and the impact on his family. The case was remanded on bail with a final hearing scheduled for November 21.
Shane Ginty, 30, of St Stephen's Green, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for offences committed on O'Connell Street on January 31, 2023. He pleaded guilty to two counts of assault and one count of theft. Judge Orla Crowe noted that Ginty had 65 previous convictions and was serving a suspended sentence at the time of the offence. The court heard that Ginty assaulted a victim and Garda Alan Sexton, who was chasing him. Judge Crowe set a headline sentence of four years but reduced it to three years in prison, backdated to his custody date. She suspended the final six months for two years and ordered 12 months of Probation Service supervision post-release. The judge acknowledged mitigating factors including his early guilty plea, remorse, and good behavior in custody. The victim, a non-national, stated in an impact statement that he did not expect such violence in Ireland. Defense counsel highlighted Ginty's history of homelessness, drug addiction, and ADHD. The matter was finalized with the imposition of the custodial sentence and conditions.
Rebecca Yeats, 21, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of cannabis for sale or supply at her home on 13 November 2020. She was caught with 952 g of cannabis herb worth €19,040 during a Garda search after a 999 call she herself made. Yeats had no prior convictions and had been cooperating with the Probation Service, though her compliance was not 100 %. Judge Elma Sheahan, after a 12‑month adjournment, imposed a fully suspended two‑year prison sentence under strict conditions, directing Yeats to remain under Probation supervision and engage with other services. The court noted her early guilty plea, lack of prior convictions, addiction and mental‑health issues, training to be a barber, and efforts to distance herself from negative associates. The sentence reflects the judge's concern that she still used cannabis and was involved in the trade that brought her before the court. The Probation report was commended for its detail and engagement.
Dana Maria Popovici, 35, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for using false Italian identification and a false Romanian driving licence to open eight bank accounts that processed €168,148 between 2016 and 2019. The accounts were held at Ulster Bank, Allied Irish Bank and KBC. Gardaí seized equipment used to produce fake documents and discovered that Popovici had been arrested in Finland in November 2018 with a member of an organised crime gang. She pleaded guilty to four charges of using false identification to open bank accounts. The prosecution noted that the fraud involved selling undelivered machinery or vehicles online and a Revenue‑related scam that stole almost €10,000 from three Irish victims. Judge Orla Crowe back‑dated the sentence to June, when Popovici was first remanded, and described the case as an international online fraud of great complexity. The sentence was imposed after Popovici's guilty plea and the judge's assessment of her poor use of her talents.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court adjourned the sentencing of Eimear Black O'Keeffe, known professionally as Nikki Hayes, until April 11, 2024. The defendant, 44, pleaded guilty to possessing €10,000 as proceeds of crime in a Permanent TSB account on November 5, 2020. Two further counts involving €2,600 and €2,400 on November 6, 2020, were taken into consideration. Judge Martina Baxter ordered an updated probation report and urine analysis. Defence counsel stated O'Keeffe now accepts she has an alcohol problem and is seeking support from Tiglin. He noted she intends to repay the bank's outstanding €2,000 loss when her financial situation improves. The judge expressed concern that rehabilitation efforts began only after the previous sentencing date but agreed to the adjournment. Prosecution evidence indicated €15,000 was withdrawn from an injured party's account via a scam and deposited into O'Keeffe's account. Gardaí observed a blonde woman making ATM withdrawals in Liffey Valley but could not confirm it was O'Keeffe. The remainder of the funds was returned to the victim. O'Keeffe, who has six previous minor road traffic convictions, was remanded on continuing bail.
The Commercial Court heard that several legal actions over the collapse of German property firm Dolphin Trust have been resolved. No settlement details were disclosed. Dolphin, founded by Charles Smethurst, had raised €650m‑€1bn from investors in the UK, Russia, South Korea, France and Ireland, investing in listed German buildings. Dolphin MUT 116 and MUT 103 were the Irish investment vehicles for pension and individual investors. Liquidators Shane McCarthy, Ian Barrett (MUT 116) and Myles Kirby (MUT 103) had alleged misrepresentations and breaches by parties linked to Dolphin. John Lavelle BL informed the court that his clients had settled actions against several defendants. Proceedings against the estate of the late Paul Dunne were struck out; cases against Wealth Options Trust, Wealth Options Capital, Brian Flynn and Eanna McCloskey were adjourned with a possibility of re‑entry. Actions against Charles Smethurst remain live and will be addressed later this year.