John O'Toole, a 33‑year‑old chef from Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after biting a co‑worker's shoulder twice on 17 July 2023 at the Clayton Hotel. He admitted the act was "the most stupid thing I had done" and apologized via text. The victim, who was working in the dining area, described shock, fear and a throbbing shoulder, later receiving antibiotics and a tetanus shot. She filed a victim impact statement expressing ongoing distress. Judge Pauline Codd, noting the workplace setting and the victim's safety, imposed an 18‑month headline sentence, suspended in full for one year, and ordered O'Toole to pay €3,000 to the victim within six months. He had no prior convictions and had been working at the hotel for ten years before resigning. The court highlighted his early guilty plea and steps toward therapy as mitigating factors.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Brian McKee, 29, pleaded guilty to criminal damage by arson after setting fire to his partner's parents' home at Heather View Lawn, Tallaght, on 27 July 2018. The blaze, reportedly ignited on a couch, spread through the attic and into two neighbouring houses, destroying three privately owned homes. McKee, who had been drinking a can of Coors Light and gin and possibly cocaine, was found by neighbours early in the morning with a long‑bladed knife and blood on his clothes. Garda Josh Doran recounted that McKee was unconscious in the stairwell when the fire erupted, and that the police had to detain him after he attempted to re‑enter the burning house. The owners, who were abroad, suffered significant loss of property and financial hardship, with one victim impact statement noting €2,600 in lost wages and €11,000 in repair costs.
A 32‑year‑old man was jailed for nine years for repeatedly raping his younger half‑siblings between 2001 and 2010. He pleaded guilty to nine counts of raping his sister and three counts of anally and orally raping his brother. The victims were aged 6–14 for the sister and 7–12 for the brother when the abuse began. The judge noted the offences were "humiliating and demeaning", repeated, involved a breach of trust and were committed by a young offender. A headline sentence of 22 years was deemed too harsh given the offender's age, so a 10‑year term was imposed with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. A five‑year post‑release supervision period was added, and the court highlighted the victims' impact statements and the offender's moderate‑to‑high risk of re‑offending.
Businessman Desmond McGahan sued Mars Capital Finance and receiver Rory Cotter over interference with the sale of Ballinacurra House, a Kinsale estate that has hosted celebrities such as Michael Jackson. McGahan, who owns the property with his wife Lisa and three children, sought an injunction to stop the receiver and security staff from restricting access and changing locks. He claimed the receiver was not properly appointed and that the fund might sell the house at a gross undervalue of €4 m. The defendants denied wrongdoing and opposed the injunction. The case was heard by Ms Justice Siobhan Stack, where Edward Farrelly SC and Keith Farry BL represented McGahan, and William Abrahamson SC and Edward Murray represented the defendants. The parties reached a confidential settlement after mediation, allowing McGahan to proceed with his sale plans. The matter was adjourned for several months to implement the settlement terms.
In a High Court ruling on 25 July 2024, Mr Justice Liam Kennedy ordered James Buckley and his wife Paula to pay Caroline Teltsch €800,000 in damages for alleged unjust enrichment. Teltsch, owner of the Emerald Equestrian Centre in Enfield, Co Kildare, claimed she advanced loans to the Buckleys between 2010 and 2018 for purposes such as refurbishing the centre, buying a Jaguar XKR, a Mitsubishi Evo, paying tax and Revenue bills, medical expenses, legal costs, a house deposit, and flights to New York for the couple's wedding. She said she never received any repayment and that the Buckleys used the money for personal and business expenses. Teltsch also sought declarations that land near the centre was held in trust for her and that she was entitled to a stallion named Louis. The Buckleys denied the claims but failed to comply with a court order to disclose documents, leading to their defence being struck out.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, witnesses described Peter Kennedy, aged 65, as a kind, "absolute gentleman" who had taken in Brian Ibe's mother and offered his home to the homeless. Ibe, 23, denied murdering Kennedy but admitted causing his death. He claimed Kennedy demanded money from him and threatened to kill him. Ibe's mother, Martha, testified that her son had threatened Kennedy, used a knife, and stabbed him in the back of the neck. Garda Shane Lehane found Kennedy flat on his back, saturated in blood, and the victim was taken to Naas and Beaumont hospitals before dying on 12 May 2020. A pathology report cited multiple contusions, fractures, and brain injury as the cause of death. The trial will determine whether Ibe's defence of not guilty by reason of insanity applies.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court is considering whether cannabis-induced psychosis constitutes a mental disorder that could support an insanity defence in the trial of James Kilroy, charged with the murder of his wife Valerie French Kilroy at their home in Kilbree Lower, Westport, County Mayo, between 13th and 14th June 2019. Mr Justice Tony Hunt charged the jury following conflicting expert psychiatric evidence. The defence called Dr Ronan Mullaney and Dr Lisa Wootton, who concluded that Mr Kilroy was experiencing drug-induced or acute psychotic disorder and met criteria for a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity. The prosecution's Professor Harry Kennedy argued that cannabis-induced conditions fall within intoxication, which cannot constitute a legal defence. The judge instructed the jury to determine the ordinary meaning of "intoxicating influence" in this context. The prosecution closing submission questioned whether the defence experts' conclusions withstand scrutiny, whilst the defence emphasised toxicology evidence showing no THC intoxication. The jury, having deliberated less than an hour, will resume tomorrow. The unnamed man was acquitted.
In a Court of Appeal hearing on 25 July 2024, Sebastian Bazczuk, aged 36, appealed his 2020 conviction for the murder of former flatmate Michal Kurek, aged 33, who was found dead with 62 stab wounds in Ballyboughal on 4 August 2017. Bazczuk argued that the trial was unsafe because the prosecution failed to establish the locations of mobile phone masts used in the case, and that phone traffic and location data retained under the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011 were inadmissible. He contended that the prosecution's schedule of phone records, which included maps of around 40 masts, was not properly proved, with evidence missing for nine of the cells. The appeal also highlighted that the prosecution had not demonstrated whether human interaction was required to assign cell numbers, and that the jury was presented with improperly proved material. The court reserved judgment on the appeal. The case remains at the appeal stage, with no outcome yet declared.
The Central Criminal Court has convicted all six defendants of the murder of Thomas Dooley, a 42-year-old father of seven, who was killed during a funeral at Rath Cemetery in Tralee, Co Kerry, on October 5, 2022. The jury, comprising ten men and two women, returned guilty verdicts after five days of deliberation. Daniel Dooley (42), the final defendant to be dealt with, was convicted by a majority verdict of 11-1 after pleading not guilty. He protested his innocence upon hearing the verdict. The other five defendants—Michael Dooley (29), Patrick Dooley (36), Thomas Dooley Senior (43), Thomas Dooley Junior (21), and a male teenager—were previously convicted unanimously, having also pleaded not guilty. The prosecution alleged the group acted in a joint enterprise to commit an "honour killing" using bladed weapons. Thomas Dooley Junior was additionally convicted of assault causing harm to the victim's wife, Siobhán Dooley, who sustained a shoulder wound requiring stitches. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring remanded the five adult defendants in custody until July 30, when she is expected to impose the mandatory life sentence for murder. The male teenager will not be sentenced on that date, as he is seeking a judicial review, and will appear for a mention on October 29. The judge exempted the jurors from service for 15 years.
Agnieszka Mialkowska, a former clerk at Lombard Shipping Ltd, claimed she was deceived into working hundreds of unpaid overtime hours, often until 11 pm, under the promise of a promotion. She presented evidence that her normal shift was 8:30 am to 5:30 pm, yet she regularly worked on reports until late evenings and on Saturdays. The Workplace Relations Commission found Lombard Shipping in breach of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, awarding Mialkowska €10,000 in compensation for excessive hours. The tribunal rejected her additional claim for €21,735 in unpaid wages for 630 hours of overtime between September 2021 and January 2022, citing no contractual provision for overtime pay. Lombard Shipping did not attend the hearing, and the adjudicator noted the company's lack of specific communication regarding its solicitor's illness.
A former seminarian's prison sentence has been increased by two years following a Court of Appeal ruling that his original five-year term was unduly lenient. Aidan Gallagher, aged 41, of Dadreen, Killadoon, Westport, County Mayo, was convicted by jury in May 2023 of six counts of oral rape of his cousin on dates between 1998 and 2003. The Central Criminal Court jury sat in Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy found that the sentencing judge had erred by treating all offences as committed while Gallagher was a minor, despite one occurring when he was 19 years old. The court imposed a revised sentence of seven years on each count, running concurrently. Gallagher had denied the allegations across two trials. The victim waived anonymity to allow her cousin's naming in reporting. Gallagher, who was due for ordination, has no previous convictions.
Raymond Shorten, aged 50, was sentenced by Mr Justice Paul McDermott to a total of 30 years in prison for a series of sexual offences. The sentence comprises a 17‑year term for raping a 19‑year‑old woman on 26 June 2022 and a 13‑year term for raping a 20‑year‑old woman on 9 August 2022, both to run consecutively with a 13‑year sentence for the rape and sexual assault of a seven‑year‑old girl in 2012. The judge noted Shorten's lack of remorse and described the offences as a gross betrayal of the trust placed in taxi drivers. He imposed no suspended portion and added a ten‑year post‑release supervision period, prohibiting contact with the victims or unsupervised contact with children. The sentencing highlighted the severity of the crimes and the danger posed by Shorten to society. Raymond Shorten was convicted.
A GP's receptionist, Margaret Dunne, who had worked at Dr Declan Scanlon's surgery in Tullamore, Co Offaly, for nearly 50 years, has won an additional €12,000 from a tribunal. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) ruled in her favor under the Employment Equality Act 1998, finding she was discriminated against on the grounds of age. During her medical leave due to the pandemic, she was replaced by two younger employees in their 40s while she was 65. Ms Dunne informed her employer in May 2021 that she was ready to return to work, but Dr Scanlon requested she undergo a medical checkup. Despite her willingness to comply, she received no further communication from Dr Scanlon. The tribunal noted that Dr Scanlon did not respond to inquiries about her return to work or redundancy payment, which she was entitled to upon the closure of the practice in October 2022.
A High Court hearing on 24 July 2024 addressed a boundary dispute that is delaying the construction of 74 houses in Rush, Co Dublin. The developers – Fintan Price, Frank Wilson, Tom Phelan, Bernard Carroll and Laurance Schwer – have sued market gardener Mr Camillus Archer and his son Derek Archer. The partnership seeks an injunction to stop the Archers from trespassing or interfering with the planned works. The developers claim the Archers entered their land, erected concrete poles, and deposited steel waste. They also allege that the Archers removed boundary markers and accused the developers' agents of forging a 2015 map signature. The Archers deny all wrongdoing. The case, heard by Ms Justice Siobhan Stack, was granted a short‑notice injunction application, with a follow‑up hearing scheduled for next week. The dispute remains a civil matter, and the developers are pressing for immediate construction to resume.
The Workplace Relations Commission heard complaints of constructive dismissal and gender discrimination against the Rotunda Hospital, brought by Kaitlyn Winston. The hospital's head of human resources, Joanne Connolly, admitted that a porter, identified as Mr G under a reporting restriction, was found to have sexually harassed Ms Winston in May 2022. Despite this finding, the hospital retained him on staff, issuing only a final written warning and transferring him to general duties with restrictions. Ms Winston alleged she remained in reasonable fear of further harassment after encountering Mr G in a stairwell in 2023. Her line manager, Jane Hickey, testified she was not informed the complaint was upheld and denied bias, stating she was unaware it was unsafe to keep the porter in her department. The hospital's general secretary, Jim Hussey, chaired the disciplinary process. The complainant's counsel argued the hospital failed to provide a safe environment, while the hospital's representative, Mark Comerford, stated the actions aligned with dignity at work policies. The adjudicator, Catherine Byrne, closed the hearing and is expected to issue a written decision in due course.
A 61‑year‑old Dublin soccer coach was found guilty by a jury of four counts of defilement of a teenage student, aged 16 at the time, between August 2008 and January 2009. The jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts for the defilement charges after deliberating just under five hours. The coach was found not guilty of rape, anal rape and 30 counts of sexual assault. He was remanded in custody for sentencing on 4 November. The case involved allegations that the coach, who was the student's team coach, used his position to contact her, eventually engaging in sexual activity while she was under 17. The prosecution argued that the coach knew she was under 17 and that the evidence was corroborated, while the defence denied any sexual relationship before she turned 18. The judge thanked the jurors and excused them from service for five years.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Garda William Ryan, 41, pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual assault and one count of false imprisonment. He claimed the complainant, who had come to the Aughrim Garda Station to retrieve her son's car, had masturbated him in a shower room while facing away, asserting the encounter was fully consensual. Ryan described the woman's behaviour as "sexually‑charged" and said he was "hot under the collar" and "fully aroused." The State's counsel, Maurice Coffey SC, described Ryan's account as "badly‑written erotica," arguing the woman's actions were implausible and that Ryan had prevented her from leaving the station and assaulted her three times. Defence counsel Breffni Gordon BL argued no crime was committed, noting the woman left the station the same day and later told her husband about the incident. The judge will deliver her charge on Thursday.
During a sentencing hearing for Daniel Okungbowa, a 35‑year‑old of Thornfield Square, Clondalkin, two women who were raped while asleep read victim impact statements. The first woman, now 31, was raped in 2016 and had pleaded guilty to the offence after a 2020 conviction. She described the assault as a loss of her soul, depression, anxiety and self‑harm, and said she forgives the rapist and prays for his healing. The second woman, now 32, was raped in September 2020 while celebrating with friends. She said the event changed her life, damaged her family relationships, and caused her to stop working. Both women described the rapist's attempts to blame them and his denial of the offences. The judge noted the offences were pre‑meditated, involved sleeping victims, and imposed a headline sentence of 14½ years, with a final 13‑year term and 18 months suspended on strict conditions. Daniel Okungbowa pleaded not guilty.
A 79-year-old Dublin man has been sentenced to seven years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sexually abusing his two granddaughters over a fourteen-year period. He pleaded guilty to eleven counts of sexual abuse occurring between 2006 and 2020 at properties in Dublin and Cavan. The offences involved the older girl, who was between three and twelve years old, and her younger sister, aged five to eight during the abuse. The defendant initially denied the charges and only entered a guilty plea on the second day of trial after a jury was sworn. The abuse came to light in 2020 when the younger girl disclosed the matter to her school teacher. Judge Elva Duffy imposed consecutive sentences of three years and four years respectively. She commended the complainants and their mother for their bravery throughout proceedings. The judge noted the serious breach of trust and the significant impact on the victims' physical and mental health.
Caroline Teltsch, former owner of an equestrian centre linked to the John Gilligan family, has brought a High Court claim against James and Paula Buckley of Co. Carlow, seeking over €1 million in damages for alleged loan fraud. Teltsch says she advanced multiple loans between 2010 and 2018 to the Buckleys for purposes such as refurbishing the Emerald Equestrian Centre, paying tax bills, purchasing luxury cars, and covering various personal expenses. She claims the Buckleys never repaid any of the money and that they enriched themselves through deceit, confidence trickery and financial exploitation. Teltsch also seeks declarations that land near the centre is held in trust for her and that she is entitled to possession of a stallion named Louis. The Buckleys denied all allegations, were absent from the hearing, and their defence was struck out for failing to comply with a disclosure order. Mr Justice Liam Kennedy will deliver a judgment later this month.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, James Hawkins, 24, pleaded guilty to robbing an American student studying at Trinity College after she withdrew €200 from an ATM on College Green. The victim, in her early 30s, was forced to surrender her purse, which contained cash, identification cards and credit cards. Hawkins, who has 76 prior convictions, was identified via CCTV, arrested, and admitted the offence. He apologized, claiming the robbery was unplanned and that he was homeless and struggling with drug addiction at the time. The court noted his cooperation, early guilty plea and desire to re‑engage with family and work upon release. No victim impact statement was available, and the case was adjourned to 21 November for further evidence and a governor's report. The court considered a custodial sentence with possible partial suspension.
In a murder trial, the jury heard that Brian Ibe, aged 23, allegedly killed Peter Kennedy in Newbridge between 28 April and 12 May 2020. Ibe, who had previously lived in Moore Park, Newbridge, and was associated with the Peter McVerry Trust, Dublin 12, had allowed Kennedy to stay in his home and also permitted Kennedy's mother to stay there until they found other accommodation. The State argued that Kennedy had become unhappy with Ibe's behaviour, leading to verbal disputes that prompted Gardaí to visit the house in December 2019. On the night of the killing, Ibe allegedly travelled from Dublin, smashed a window to enter the house, and attacked Kennedy, who sustained serious head injuries and died at Beaumont Hospital. Ibe has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder and to an assault charge against Garda Brendan O'Donnell. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Burns, is expected to last up to two weeks.
A 30‑year‑old Dublin man, whose name is withheld to protect the victim's anonymity, appealed his February 2018 conviction for one count of rape. He argued that the prosecution's closing address unfairly focused on his failure to give evidence and repeatedly scorned the testimony of Dr John Garvey, a sleep‑disorder expert who testified that the man suffered from sexsomnia. The defence maintained that the man was asleep during the assault, citing Dr Garvey's expert report. The appeal also challenged the judge's decision to allow evidence of a co‑worker's prior observation of the man's behaviour with the victim, and the use of video‑link testimony from abroad. The appellant contended these rulings prejudiced his right to a fair trial and made the verdict unsafe. The appeal was heard at the Court of Appeal on 23 July 2024. The article reports only the appellant's arguments and the court's hearing, without any outcome of the appeal.
At the Central Criminal Court, a jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts against five of six defendants charged with the murder of Thomas Dooley at Rath Cemetery, Tralee, on October 5, 2022. Michael Dooley, 29, of Cork, was found guilty of murder after pleading not guilty; he publicly declared his innocence in the courtroom. The jury also convicted Patrick Dooley, 36, of Killarney; Thomas Dooley Senior, 43, of Cork; and Thomas Dooley Junior, 21, of Cork, all of whom had pleaded not guilty. Thomas Dooley Junior was additionally convicted of assault causing harm to Siobhán Dooley, a charge he also denied. The prosecution alleged the group acted with "medieval violence" using bladed weapons, causing fatal injuries including a severed femoral artery. The matter regarding the sixth defendant, Daniel Dooley, 42, of Tralee, who pleaded not guilty to murder, remains pending. The jury was adjourned to continue deliberations on Thursday, as the court could not sit the following day. No sentences have been imposed, and the trial is not concluded.
A 21‑year‑old man was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court in Waterford for pleading guilty to six counts of sexual assault against his younger sisters. The offences began in 2010 when the victims were eight to ten years old and continued until the older sister was ten. The court heard that the man controlled and sexually abused the sisters while they visited their father's home, forcing them to comply and threatening them not to tell anyone. The older sister, now 17, described the abuse as having torn her family apart and left her with nightmares and ongoing therapy. The younger sister, now 14, said she feared further harm and had lost focus at school. The judge, Justice Karen O'Connor, imposed a five‑year sentence with two and a half years suspended, back‑dated to June 17, and placed the defendant on the sex offenders register for five years.
Harry Archer, 23, of Kellys Bay Rocks, Skerries, Co Dublin, was remanded on bail pending sentence after pleading guilty to possession of cannabis at his home on 18 January 2022. The court found he was caught with €4,886 worth of the drug during a search. Archer had 13 prior drug and road traffic convictions. He claimed to have Covid‑19 at the time of the search and did not attend the Garda station as promised, later being taken in for questioning after a separate custody case. He made no admissions during the interview but pleaded guilty in the Circuit Criminal Court. The prosecution noted repeated targeting of his family home. Archer's defence highlighted his former cricket success and subsequent drug misuse following disappointment after being dropped from national teams. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the case to 26 November 2024 for a probation report, with Archer remaining on continuing bail.
At the Central Criminal Court, two toxicologists have given evidence that it is "highly unlikely" a man accused of murdering his wife was intoxicated from cannabis at the time of the alleged killing. James Kilroy, aged 51, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of his wife at their home in Kilbree Lower, Westport, County Mayo, between 13th and 14th June 2019. Dr Johann Grundlingh, called by the defence, based his assessment on blood and urine tests taken after Mr Kilroy's arrest, both of which were negative for THC. He noted the symptoms described by Mr Kilroy—including hallucinations and delusions—were inconsistent with cannabis intoxication or withdrawal. Dr Atholl Johnston, called by the prosecution, concurred with these findings. The trial has heard conflicting psychiatric evidence regarding Mr Kilroy's mental state at the time. Mr Justice Tony Hunt adjourned proceedings, describing the expert evidence as complex, before the jury returns to hear closing speeches on Thursday.
In a Central Criminal Court trial in May, Anthony Byrne, 55, was found guilty of two counts of raping his stepdaughter Kim Jordan, now 36, in 2002. Jordan, who had been raped on her 15th birthday while on a family holiday in Spain, waived her anonymity to name Byrne. She described how Byrne, who claimed he was "having an affair" with her, had abused her during a strip‑poker game and later in their home. Jordan said Byrne blamed her for his actions and portrayed her as a "teenage sexual temptress." She recounted the assault in detail, noting her emotional state and fear of pregnancy. Byrne's defence acknowledged sexual contact but denied rape. Justice Mary Ellen Ring noted Byrne's claim of an affair and that sentencing would be delayed until July 31 due to late documents, while also referencing recent changes to the Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking Bill that affect sentencing procedures.
Trevor Byrne, a 43‑year‑old from Finglas West, will continue to serve a 17.5‑year jail term after the Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal. Byrne, who has 44 prior convictions, was convicted in 2021 by the Special Criminal Court on five charges stemming from an armed robbery of Boylesports in Swords on 19 March 2010. The charges were robbery, possession of a firearm, false imprisonment, threat to kill and unlawful seizure of a vehicle. He was found guilty after a mobile phone dropped at the scene was identified as his and after a Garda recognised him in CCTV footage. Byrne's counsel argued the identification evidence was unsafe due to lack of contemporaneous notes, but the court upheld the evidence as admissible and the appeal was rejected. The 17.5‑year sentence, which runs concurrently with other convictions, remains in force. Trevor Byrne pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Sandra Sandaraite, 39, pleaded guilty to manslaughter for stabbing her partner, Zbigniew Czech, 47, to death on 10 December 2022 at their Academy Street apartment. She claimed that if she had not taken a knife, she would have been "battered" and that she felt free after the killing. The court heard that the couple's relationship, lasting about three years, was marked by excessive alcohol consumption and 24 complaints of violent behaviour from both sides. Sandaraite said Czech had become aggressive after drinking vodka, grabbed her arms, and she armed herself with a knife, cutting him before he fled. A pathology report identified a stab wound to the upper left chest causing a major pulmonary injury, leading to his death. The prosecution accepted her plea of manslaughter, and the case was adjourned for sentencing.
Terence 'Terry' Connors, aged 49, was convicted of manslaughter for stabbing Peter Conroy to death during a brawl at Palmerstown Lodge B&B on 9 June 2015. In 2017, a jury found him guilty of manslaughter and he received a seven‑year sentence with the final two years suspended. He was released in July 2019, but in May 2023 he was re‑sentenced to three years after being found in possession of stolen goods. The possession offence triggered the suspended portion of his 2017 sentence, and the court activated the full two‑year suspension, which will run after his current term for the possession conviction. The case was heard by Mr Justice Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court, with counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions and for Connors present. Evidence at the 2017 hearing described a chaotic scene at the B&B, with Connors claiming he feared for his children's safety and subsequently stabbed Conroy.
A 54‑year‑old man pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to four charges of sexual assault against a 28‑year‑old woman who was a teenager when the offences occurred. The victim, aged 16‑17 at the time, described the defendant as a "sub‑human monster" and a "master manipulator" who repeatedly assaulted her while she babysat his children. She said he would stay up with her after his wife and children left, give her alcohol, and then sexually assault her in his home, on the couch, and in two local pubs. The victim's impact statement detailed how he groomed her, used derogatory language, isolated her, and caused her to feel ashamed and powerless. She also spoke of the emotional and psychological toll, including thoughts of self‑harm.
The Court of Appeal quashed a lifetime driving ban imposed on Brian Kelly, who had received a fully suspended sentence for the death of a 24‑year‑old woman in 2008. The court instead imposed a 20‑year disqualification from driving and re‑sentenced Kelly to a two‑year prison term suspended for two years. Kelly, 43, had been convicted of dangerous driving causing death, with a suspended jail term and a lifetime licence disqualification. The appeal argued the lifetime ban was an error in principle. Justice Tara Burns noted that lifetime disqualifications are reserved for exceptional cases, usually involving repeat offenders, which did not apply here. She also observed that a custodial sentence would have been likely had the appeal been lodged earlier, but deemed it unjust to impose imprisonment now, 16 years after the incident. The court therefore reduced the disqualification period to 20 years while maintaining the suspended prison term.
A 17‑year‑old boy, diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at 18 months, used a sledgehammer and a lump hammer to bludgeon 51‑year‑old laboratory technician Lorna Woodnutt to death on 29 September 2023 at a rural property outside Tullamore, Co Offaly. He recorded the attack and posted a 17‑second video on Snapchat, sharing it with a "three‑figure number" of contacts before removing it when Gardaí arrived. The video showed the victim's body with severe facial injuries, a large skull hole and brain matter on the floor. The boy also sent a selfie with the body in the background. He pleaded guilty earlier in the month. The court heard that he had called 999 twice after the killing and that his phone contained searches about hammer attacks and psychopath behaviour. The case was adjourned to 3 October, with the defendant to be detained at Oberstown Children Detention Centre pending sentencing.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard that a Westport man accused of killing his wife was experiencing acute and transient psychotic disorder at the time of the alleged killing. James Kilroy, aged 51, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of Valerie French Kilroy at their home in Kilbree Lower between June 13th and 14th, 2019. Defence psychiatric expert Dr Lisa Wootton testified that Mr Kilroy was likely suffering from the condition rather than cannabis-induced psychosis. She outlined that he held various delusional beliefs, including that his wife was involved in a plot with associates of Donald Trump to have him captured and killed, and that he was on a divine mission. Dr Wootton stated such delusions would have prevented him from understanding the wrongfulness of his actions. The prosecution called Professor Harry Kennedy, who offered a different diagnosis relating to cannabis intoxication. The trial continues.
In a Dublin city‑centre assault on New Year's Day, 24‑year‑old Jordan Maguire, who had been drinking and taking drugs for 48 hours, stamped on a man's head at Aston Quay and Price's Lane, causing a severe brain injury. The victim was left unconscious, required a craniotomy and 96 staples, and suffered a significant bleed, memory loss, slurred speech and depression. Maguire pleaded guilty to assault causing harm. The Court of Appeal quashed his original two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, citing the State's objection that the headline sentence of four years was unduly lenient. The Court set a headline of five years, then reduced it by 25% to three years and nine months, suspended the final six months, and back‑dated the term to 24 July 2023. Maguire will serve three years and three months in prison. The decision was based on the seriousness of the offence, the victim's long‑term impact and Maguire's 45 prior convictions.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, Hamed Azeez, 53, was convicted of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault against a girl aged six to eight, and two counts of sexual assault against her sister aged eight to ten. The offences occurred between 2013 and 2015 in County Dublin, while Azeez was in loco parentis of the girls. The court heard that the rape took place on a counter at Azeez's home, and that other children were playing nearby. Azeez also touched the girl inappropriately, and later assaulted her sister by touching her breasts and buttocks. The victims gave impact statements describing lasting pain, fear, anxiety and a sense of loss of safety. Azeez denied wrongdoing. Justice Eileen Creedon sentenced him to 11 years' imprisonment, with a headline term of 12 years for rape and eight years for the assault offences, reduced by one year each and imposed concurrently.
A jury was sworn in for the trial of Brian Ibe, 23, who pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of 65‑year‑old Peter Kennedy in Newbridge, County Kildare, between 28 April and 12 May 2020. Ibe also pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to an assault charge against Garda Brendan O'Donnell at Newbridge Garda Station on 29 April 2020. The trial, expected to last up to two weeks, will commence tomorrow before Mr Justice Paul Burns with a jury of seven women and five men.
In a Workplace Relations Commission hearing, Abdullah Aljaber, a former general operative at Dawn Meats in Waterford, was awarded €15,000 for discrimination under the Employment Equality Act 1998. Aljaber claimed the company dismissed him because of a back injury and failed to provide reasonable accommodation for his disability. He alleged that during the winter of 2020, Covid‑19 pressure led to neglected hygiene and safety procedures, including the handling of burgers that fell to the floor and were allegedly put back on the line. Dawn Meats representatives, including a former health and safety manager, refuted these claims, stating that fallen patties were placed in red trays for disposal and that no such practice occurred. The tribunal accepted evidence that Aljaber's dismissal in July 2021 was linked to his back injury and that the company had not examined reasonable accommodations, leading to the compensation award.
Raymond Shorten, a 50‑year‑old Dublin taxi driver, was sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment for raping a seven‑year‑old girl in 2022, a crime committed days after the child's mother's funeral. The judge, Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo, highlighted the victim's extreme vulnerability and the lack of compassion shown by Shorten, noting that he "couldn't have cared less" about the long‑term pain inflicted. The sentence was reduced by one year from an initial 14‑year headline to 13 years, back‑dated to the date Shorten entered custody on 22 August 2022. Shorten also faces additional rape and sexual assault convictions from other incidents involving young women that occurred in the same year, but those sentences are pending. He remains in custody and has been working in the prison laundry under an enhanced regime.
Court ruled that Wix Online Platforms Ltd had unfairly dismissed Courtney Carey after her social media posts about the Palestine conflict. The tribunal, hearing under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, found the dismissal procedurally unfair and awarded Carey €35,000 in compensation. The decision noted that Carey had been out of work for 26 weeks from 23 October 2023, losing €20,000 in earnings, and that a further loss of €18,453.30 would accrue if she remained in her former role until the second anniversary of her dismissal. The tribunal highlighted that Carey had applied for 50‑60 jobs over six months, received no responses, and eventually secured a temporary clerk position at An Post paying €27,697.80 per year, compared with her former €40,000 salary. Wix must appeal by mid‑August.
Michael McGuirk, aged 23, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for dangerous driving causing death after he struck 67‑year‑old Carol Seery while speeding at 96.4 km/h in a 50 km/h zone. McGuirk, who had been banned from driving for four years at the time, had 66 prior convictions, including dangerous driving, unlawful vehicle taking, and no insurance. He fled the scene and refused to answer Garda questions. The court noted he failed to activate brake lights, did not alter his course, and continued at speed before abandoning the car. Seery, a caregiver and beloved family member, was killed instantly. McGuirk pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death, endangerment, dangerous driving and driving without insurance. Judge Elva Duffy imposed a headline sentence of eight and a half years but, considering mitigating factors, set a final sentence of six years and a 15‑year driving disqualification. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A 49‑year‑old Meath man was jailed for 10 years after a Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty of one count of sexual assault and one count of rape against his niece, who was aged eight to ten at the time of the offences. The niece, now in her twenties, described how the trial forced her to "relive the trauma over and over again," noting the terror of standing on the witness stand and hearing her uncle's breathing. She had suffered flashbacks since her teenage years and had struggled with denial and fear before finally disclosing the abuse to her family. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Burns, imposed an 11‑year sentence with the final year suspended for three years, citing the life‑changing impact of the abuse. The man maintains his innocence and is also serving a separate sentence for money‑laundering offences.
The Central Criminal Court has entered the closing stages of a trial involving a 61‑year‑old school soccer coach accused of raping and defiling a teenage student. The defendant has pleaded not guilty to 30 counts of sexual assault, four counts of defilement, one count of rape and one count of anal rape, all alleged to have occurred at unknown locations in the State between September 2007 and February 2010. The complainant was aged 15 to 18 at the time of the alleged offences, while the accused was aged 45 to 47. The judge directed the jury that the defendant would be found not guilty of the 30 sexual assault charges, leaving the four defilement counts, the rape count and the anal rape count for consideration. Prosecutor Fiona Murphy SC urged the jury to be satisfied that the complainant was under 17 and that the accused knew this, citing corroborating evidence.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 52‑year‑old man was convicted of 25 counts of sexual assault against his vulnerable adult stepdaughter, who was 21 when the abuse began in 2011 and continued until 2017. The assaults, which included inappropriate touching, attempts at intercourse, and digital penetration, occurred at a house in Co Offaly over six years. The victim, who has long‑standing mental health difficulties and has spent time in psychiatric wards, reported the abuse to work colleagues in May 2017 after the man returned to the home. He was arrested, denied wrongdoing, and later fled, prompting a European arrest warrant. He was extradited in 2021, released on bail, and later gave evidence for himself. The judge, citing the prolonged nature of the abuse, the breach of trust, and the victim's vulnerability, imposed an eight‑year sentence, back‑dated to October, with no probation supervision.
Anthony Kelly, 64, was sentenced to two years in prison for assault causing harm to a woman on 14 April 2019 and a separate conviction for threatening to kill a pregnant bookies employee on 9 October 2020. The assault took place in Blackhall Place, Dublin, where Kelly struck a woman in the face, kicked her, and was verbally aggressive towards an eyewitness who intervened. The victim suffered a 5‑cm contusion but did not require stitches. In the bookies incident, Kelly shouted threats, claimed he had a knife, and the pregnant employee pressed the panic alarm. No knife was found. Kelly's sentence for the assault was two years and six months, with the final six months suspended to encourage rehabilitation. The threat‑to‑kill sentence was two years, suspended in full on strict conditions. He was directed to probation supervision. The judge noted his age, medical difficulties, and personal circumstances as mitigating factors. Anthony Kelly pleaded guilty.
A former clinical director of the Central Mental Hospital has told the Central Criminal Court that drug-induced psychosis does not constitute a mental disorder qualifying for an insanity verdict. Professor Harry Kennedy gave expert evidence in the trial of James Kilroy, aged 51, from Kilbree Lower, Westport, County Mayo, who has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder of his wife, Valerie French Kilroy, in June 2019. The accused accepts responsibility for the killing but claims diminished responsibility due to mental illness. The defence called Dr Ronan Mullaney, who suggested the accused suffered cannabis-induced psychosis at the time. Professor Kennedy disputed this diagnosis, stating that cannabis-induced psychosis results directly from drug use and therefore constitutes intoxication rather than a qualifying mental disorder under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act. He told the jury that the accused understood the nature of his actions and knew they were wrongful.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, a jury was informed that the alleged sexual assault of a woman by Garda William Ryan at Aughrim Garda Station was described by the defence as "consensual activity between two adults." Defence counsel argued that the woman had cupped her own bottom, pressed herself against Ryan, and showed him her breast before they went upstairs together for consensual sexual activity. The woman repeatedly denied these claims, stating "definitely did not happen." Ryan, aged 38, pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual assault and one count of false imprisonment. The State alleged that Ryan prevented the woman from leaving the station and sexually assaulted her three times. The trial, presided over by Judge Elma Sheahan, continues with the jury hearing evidence from both sides.
Patrick Dooley, aged 36, was found guilty of murdering his older brother Thomas 'Tom' Dooley, aged 42, during a funeral at Rath Cemetery, Rathass, Tralee, Co Kerry on 5 October 2022. The jury rejected his defence that he was not a "Cainite" and had tried to intervene. He was convicted of murder, and the court also found his cousin and brother‑in‑law Thomas Dooley Senior, aged 43, and Thomas Dooley Junior, aged 21, guilty of the same offence. Thomas Dooley Junior was additionally found guilty of assault causing harm to Siobhán Dooley, the widow, who sustained a wound requiring 45 stitches and 30 staples. All defendants pleaded not guilty. The verdicts were unanimous and were reached after 12 hours and 26 minutes of deliberation over three days. The jury will return to decide on the remaining two defendants, Michael Dooley, aged 29, and Daniel Dooley, aged 42, who also pleaded not guilty.
In a court hearing on 19 July 2024, Graham McGuinness, aged 32 and with 53 prior convictions, pleaded guilty to causing serious harm after he repeatedly slashed and stabbed Martin Reilly with a homemade shank. The attack took place on 11 June 2020 near Busáras, Dublin, where McGuinness shouted "I'm going to kill you" while striking Reilly's neck and face. Reilly suffered multiple lacerations, including a deep cut that exposed his jawbone, and has been left with lifelong scars. McGuinness had originally been charged with attempted murder but the State accepted his plea for serious harm. The court noted Reilly's belief that he would die that night and that the shank was wrapped in tissue to create a handle. McGuinness offered a brief apology and stated he has turned his life around. The case was adjourned to 9 October for finalisation.