In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 19 July 2024, the court heard that Andrei Dobra, aged 36, strangled his fiancée Ioana Mihaela Pacala to death on 12 November 2023. The court found Dobra not guilty by reason of insanity and committed him to the Central Mental Hospital in Portrane. Dobra had been in a loving relationship with Pacala and had been seen holding hands with her on CCTV less than 24 hours before the murder. Two consultant psychiatrists diagnosed Dobra with schizo‑affective disorder, describing psychotic delusions that led him to believe Pacala was a threat. Pacala's father, Gheorghe Gratian Pacala, expressed deep devastation and described his daughter as gentle and respectful, noting that the couple had planned a wedding for 10 June 2023 and had bought a house together. The judge ordered Dobra to remain at the CMH for continuous treatment and assessment. The hearing was conducted via videolink as Dobra was not physically present.
Raymond Shorten, a 50‑year‑old Dublin taxi driver, was convicted in May 2024 of two counts of rape and one of sexual assault against a seven‑year‑old girl in 2012. The victim, now 20, requested anonymity. Shorten was also convicted in June of two counts of rape and one of anal rape against two other young women who had ridden in his taxi after a night out in Dublin in 2022. He is due to be sentenced next Monday by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, after Mr Justice Naidoo's unavailability.
A 61‑year‑old Dublin soccer coach was charged with 30 counts of sexual assault, four counts of defilement, one count of rape and one count of anal rape, all alleged to have occurred 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 coach, who worked as a team coach at the complainant's school, pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court. In court, the coach claimed he had a sexual relationship with the complainant when she was 18, stating that the relationship began after she turned 18 and lasted six months. He denied any anal sex and denied having been in a hotel with her. The trial is ongoing before a jury presided by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a tourist from France was attacked on Talbot Street by a group of men, one of whom struck him repeatedly with a machete. The victim, who had been traveling extensively across Europe, was left with two deep wounds on his right leg and required surgery. He survived but suffered significant trauma and expressed uncertainty about future travel. John Hogan, 33, with 29 prior convictions including knife possession, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and producing a machete. He was sentenced to five and a half years' imprisonment, with a headline sentence of eight years, and the court noted the attack was "particularly savage." The sentence was backdated to 30 December 2023 when Hogan entered custody. The case highlighted the potential for a murder charge had the victim died.
In a tribunal hearing on 19 July 2024, a senior manager of Dublin Coach, John O'Sullivan, explained that the dismissal of driver Nico Holloway on 5 January was due to declining performance and a perceived threat of a mass exodus of drivers, not because of any protected disclosures about safety defects. Holloway, a South African haulier, had alleged that he reported safety defects on company buses that were not rectified and that he was subsequently penalised, including a flight booking to Cape Town and a deduction from his severance payment. O'Sullivan denied that the flight or deduction were related to Holloway's safety concerns, stating they were "nothing to do" with any alleged protected disclosures. He also highlighted that the company's buses had passed roadworthiness tests and that maintenance was carried out by qualified mechanics. The tribunal heard evidence from former drivers who claimed defects were logged but not addressed, and from a driver who noted recent defects.
Three men have appealed their convictions for involvement in a vigilante attack on security personnel at a repossessed farmhouse near Strokestown, County Roscommon, in December 2018. Martin O'Toole, PJ Sweeney, and Paul Beirne were convicted in June 2023 of fifteen charges including aggravated burglary, violent disorder, and animal cruelty. During the incident, a group of armed men forced entry to the property at Falsk, attacking security guards with weapons including a baseball bat, meat cleaver, and chainsaw. The guards were beaten, restrained with cable ties, and a dog was beaten unconscious and subsequently euthanised. At the Court of Appeal, the appellants' counsel challenged the admissibility of video evidence and questioned whether guilt could be established given the number of people present. They also contested identification procedures and the lawfulness of certain detentions. The State's counsel argued that video footage clearly identified the appellants and demonstrated a common design among those involved. Mr Justice Peter Charleton reserved judgement.
At the Central Criminal Court, a psychiatrist denied allegations that he selectively considered evidence supporting an insanity defence in assessing a Mayo man charged with his wife's murder. Dr Ronan Mullaney was cross-examined regarding his assessment of James Kilroy, aged 51, who is charged with murdering Valerie French Kilroy at their home in 2019. The accused has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Prosecution counsel suggested Dr Mullaney omitted evidence that Kilroy appeared rational when an insulation contractor visited shortly before the killing, querying whether he was only interested in material bolstering his psychosis conclusion. Dr Mullaney maintained he would likely include such evidence if preparing his report again. The court heard evidence regarding Kilroy's cannabis use and mental health history. Consultant psychiatrist Professor Harry Kennedy was subsequently called for the prosecution, providing background on Kilroy's family circumstances and substance use over decades. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and jury.
A Central Criminal Court jury has returned guilty verdicts against three defendants in the murder of Thomas 'Tom' Dooley, a father-of-seven, at Rath Cemetery in Tralee, Co Kerry, on October 5, 2022. The unanimous jury found Thomas Dooley Senior (43) and his son, Thomas Dooley Junior (21), both of Cork, guilty of murder. All three convicted individuals had previously pleaded not guilty. Thomas Dooley Junior was additionally convicted of assault causing harm to the deceased's wife, Siobhán Dooley, who sustained a shoulder wound requiring 45 stitches and 30 staples. The prosecution alleged the victim was attacked by a group armed with bladed weapons, resulting in fatal injuries including a severed femoral artery. The jury's deliberations took over eight hours across two days. The matter remains ongoing as the jury is scheduled to return to court to consider verdicts for the remaining three defendants: Patrick Dooley (36), Michael Dooley (29), and Daniel Dooley (42). These three men, who are also charged with murder and have pleaded not guilty, await their findings. The trial is currently at the finding stage for the first group of defendants, with sentencing yet to be determined.
A former ESB electrician, Colm Sheehy, aged 43, pleaded guilty to possessing €133,752 worth of heroin and cocaine at his Tallaght home in October 2022. He was on bail for a prior drug conviction when the offence occurred. Judge Martin Nolan, hearing the case in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, normally would have imposed a six‑year sentence for the serious offence but reduced it to three years because Sheehy suffered a serious brain injury in 2017 after falling from a ladder at work. Medical reports showed a 30‑point IQ drop and ongoing cognitive difficulties, headaches, anxiety and depression. Sheehy has 33 prior convictions, including a previous three‑year prison term in 2002, and has struggled with long‑term drug addiction since age 18. The court noted his good work history and the impact of his injuries on his culpability. The case was adjourned to address his earlier conviction.
Magno Da Silva, 33, pleaded guilty to possessing €99,975 as proceeds of crime in his AIB account. He had previously received a suspended sentence for laundering €10,000 in a 2023 investment fraud. The court heard that the €100,000 came from a fake treasury bond scam in which the victim transferred the money to Da Silva's account after receiving a digital copy of a purported bond. Da Silva claimed the money was "clean" and intended to pay tax. Two weeks later he bought a second‑hand Mercedes for €22,900 and a Toyota for €22,400, and gave the remainder to his wife. The court sentenced him to three years' imprisonment with the final nine months suspended, ordered the sale of the two cars, and directed the proceeds to the victim. The victim's loss was €79,604. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
A woman who says she was locked into Aughrim Garda Station and sexually assaulted by Garda William Ryan (38) has told a jury that Ryan told her to "wear something tight" before the alleged attack. She claims Ryan prevented her from leaving the station and sexually assaulted her three times. The woman, who had gone to the station for advice about her son's impounded car, says Ryan insisted she come to the station, invited her inside, and after a brief conversation he allegedly slapped her buttocks, grabbed her breasts, and sexually assaulted her in a shower room. She says the incident lasted about seven or eight minutes. Ryan denies the allegations. The case is before Judge Elma Sheahan and a jury. The trial continues. William Ryan pleaded not guilty.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court has convicted Derry O'Rourke, a former Irish Olympic swimming coach, of raping and sexually abusing a teenage girl over three decades ago. O'Rourke, aged 78 and resident in Cavan, had pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and 15 counts of indecent assault alleged to have occurred at a school between October 1989 and June 1990, when the complainant was aged 13 to 14 years. The trial judge directed the jury to acquit O'Rourke of four charges, leaving 12 offences for consideration. The jury unanimously convicted him on all remaining counts following five hours and 27 minutes of deliberations. Justice Melanie Greally remanded O'Rourke in custody pending sentencing on 30 July. O'Rourke has previous convictions for sexual offences dating back to 1998, including rape and indecent assault involving multiple victims. A victim impact statement has been ordered for the sentencing hearing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a serving Garda, William Ryan, aged 38, pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexual assault and one count of false imprisonment. The case concerns an incident at Aughrim Garda Station on 29 September 2020, where a woman sought assistance with her son's case. According to the prosecution, Ryan invited her into the station, made lewd comments, and after a brief conversation, allegedly forced her to stand, slapped her buttocks, and locked the side door to prevent her escape. The woman is said to have tried to leave but was prevented by the lock. She reportedly showed Ryan a bikini photo, after which he allegedly grabbed her breast, propositioned her, and forced her into a shower room. In that room, he is alleged to have placed his hand on her, forced her to pull away, and then digitally penetrated her vagina.
A 61‑year‑old Dublin soccer coach has gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court for 30 counts of sexual assault, four counts of defilement, one count of rape and one count of anal rape. The alleged offences took place between September 2007 and February 2010 at unknown locations in the State. The complainant, aged between 15 and 18 at the time, was a student at the school where the coach worked. She said the coach, who was a married man with children, used his position to contact her, eventually becoming a prominent figure in her life. She alleged that he took her to private accommodation, drove her around, kissed her, touched her genital area and breasts, and forced sexual activity, including rape and anal rape, while she was under 18. The coach denies all allegations. The trial is proceeding before a jury presided by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon. The unnamed 61-year-old pleaded not guilty.
Nico Holloway, a South African bus driver for Citi Bus Ltd, claims he was dismissed after raising safety concerns about multiple vehicles on intercity routes between October 2023 and January 2024. He alleged defects such as a cracked windscreen, malfunctioning wipers, faulty power steering, seatbelt failures, tyre misalignment and a door that opened on the M7 motorway. Holloway said he reported these issues to duty managers who told him to drive the buses as‑is and that no action was taken. He was served with a dismissal notice on 5 January 2024, after which managers allegedly arranged a flight for him to Cape Town and attempted to escort him to the airport, an action he described as a "self‑styled deportation." The Workplace Relations Commission hearing is ongoing, with further evidence to be presented tomorrow.
In a Central Criminal Court sentencing hearing, a 31‑year‑old man was jailed for six years for keeping his partner prisoner and repeatedly beating her over a three‑day period from 18 to 21 February 2021. He pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm and one count of false imprisonment. The court heard that he entered the victim's home, took her keys and phone, and after she tried to calm him, he locked the door, beat her with a baton and a glass bottle, and left a rope around her neck. He beat her on the head on 19 February and continued until she woke on Sunday. He has 37 prior convictions, including 18 for public order offences.
In the Central Criminal Court, Dr Ronan Mullaney testified that James Kilroy, 51, was likely suffering from drug‑induced psychosis when he strangled, bludgeoned and stabbed his wife Valerie French Kilroy at their home. Mullaney described Kilroy's delusional beliefs that his wife was part of a conspiracy to torture and kill him, and that he heard owls and spoke to God. Kilroy had a long history of cannabis use, including high‑THC strains, and had mixed cannabis with CBD. Mullaney argued that at the time of the killing Kilroy was acutely psychotic and that cannabis use probably contributed to this state. He concluded Kilroy met the criteria for a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006. The case will be heard by Mr Justice Tony Hunt with a jury of eight women and four men.
Amy Reynolds, 38, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm after she broke a red light and collided with another car at Walkinstown Avenue and the Long Mile Road on the night of 2–3 January 2022. The impact left the other driver with a brain bleed, fractured skull and other injuries, requiring five weeks in hospital. Reynolds also admitted to leaving the scene to evade liability and driving without insurance or a licence. She was already disqualified from driving for five years at the time of the offence and had 26 previous convictions, many for traffic offences. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a headline sentence of five years, citing an "element of coercion" as a mitigating factor, but noted that a custodial term was unavoidable. He also extended her disqualification from driving for an additional five years. Amy Reynolds pleaded guilty.
Dermot O'Callaghan, 58, a serial armed robber, had his original eight‑year sentence quashed and resentenced to seven years with six months suspended after the Court of Appeal found the judge had set an inappropriate headline sentence. The appeal was prompted by the fact that O'Callaghan was on bail when he participated in a 2017 raid on Ulster Bank's Stillorgan branch, during which a bank employee was threatened with a gun and forced to hand over €13,200 and £800. O'Callaghan pleaded guilty to possession of an imitation firearm with intent to rob. He had 22 prior convictions, including armed robbery and firearms offences. The Court of Appeal ruled that the headline sentence should have been 11 years, reduced to nine years after mitigation, and imposed a consecutive seven‑and‑a‑half‑year term with the final year suspended.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal of Daniel Bowker, a 41-year-old UK national, against his sentence for possessing €2.364 million worth of cannabis for sale or supply. Bowker and co-accused Ibrar Sharif, 48, both pleaded guilty to the offence committed at Kilmainham, Dublin 8, on December 22, 2022. Following a surveillance operation, gardaí seized 119 kilos of cannabis concealed under frozen chicken. In October 2023, Judge Orla Crowe at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced both men to eight years in prison, with the final year suspended. Bowker's counsel argued that the sentence failed to adequately account for mitigating factors, including his status as a foreign national and his role as a father of three. However, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy ruled that it was "ludicrous" to claim a further reduction based on foreign nationality, given that Bowker had travelled to Ireland specifically to commit the offence. The court found no error in principle in the original sentencing, noting that the eight-year term already represented a substantial reduction from the mandatory minimum of ten years. The appeal was dismissed, leaving the original sentence intact.
The Court of Appeal has rejected an appeal by Michael Farrell, a convicted person with 231 previous convictions, against his five-and-a-half-year effective prison sentence. Farrell, who pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm in 2022, one count of threatening to kill or cause serious harm in 2021, and possessing a realistic imitation firearm in 2020, argued that the sentencing judge failed to adequately consider his personal circumstances and rehabilitation. The State characterized Farrell as a recidivist criminal. At his original sentencing in December, Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a six-year term with the final six months suspended, noting Farrell's mild intellectual disability resulting from a childhood brain injury. During the appeal, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy upheld the original sentence, stating that the threat to a female garda was taken very seriously and that Farrell's unprovoked attacks on two prison officers caused significant injuries, including a fractured finger and stitches. The judge acknowledged Farrell's mental age but found no error in the sentencing judge's decision. The court concluded that the cumulative custody period was not excessive and dismissed the contention that the suspended portion was insufficient. Farrell will serve his full term in prison.
The appeal of Desmond Smith and Stephen Hamill, who admitted to knowingly rendering assistance to an organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on March 13 and March 18, 2021, was heard in the Special Criminal Court. Both men pleaded guilty to the charges and are appealing for a non-custodial sentence, having pledged to have no further association with paramilitary organisations. Their legal representatives argued that their clients were at the 'lower level of the organisation' and expressed remorse for their actions. Counsel for both men highlighted their clients' personal circumstances, including Smith's medical conditions and family ties in Australia, and Hamill's role as a chef, musician, and father, as well as his community contributions. The court heard that an improvised 'slam gun' was discovered near Enniskillen police station following a search, and that phone calls purporting to be from the Continuity IRA were made to media outlets in the North and Border region. Mr Justice Tony Hunt adjourned the matter to October 14 for sentencing.
A jury has begun deliberating in the Central Criminal Court trial of six men accused of murdering Thomas 'Tom' Dooley, 43, at Rath Cemetery in Tralee, Co Kerry, on October 5, 2022. The accused are Patrick Dooley, Thomas Dooley Senior, Thomas Dooley Junior, Michael Dooley, Daniel Dooley, and a male teenager. All six pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. Thomas Dooley Junior additionally pleaded not guilty to a separate charge of assault causing harm to Siobhán Dooley. The prosecution alleges the group acted with 'focused and murderous ferocity' using bladed weapons, resulting in fatal injuries to the deceased. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring charged the 12-member jury, instructing them that if they are satisfied each accused knew their co-accused carried weapons and participated in the attack, they are guilty of murder under the doctrine of joint enterprise. The judge noted that while no specific weapon was linked to an individual accused, a machete was found and injuries were consistent with bladed instruments. The jury was asked to reach a unanimous verdict, with options limited to guilty of murder or outright acquittal. The matter is currently at the deliberation stage and has not yet been finalised.
The Central Criminal Court is in the closing stages of a rape trial involving a 78‑year‑old sports coach accused of raping and sexually assaulting a teenage girl between October 1989 and October 1990. The defendant, who cannot be named, has pleaded not guilty to one count of rape and 15 counts of indecent assault. The complainant, aged 13 to 14 at the time, is the sole witness. Prosecutor Patricia McLoughlin SC emphasised that the case hinges on the complainant's evidence, noting that such offences are typically secretive and that belief in her testimony is sufficient for conviction. Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC highlighted discrepancies between the complainant's and the defendant's sketches of the room layout, arguing that the prosecution's only layout evidence is a Garda sketch from 2021. Justice Melanie Greally has begun her charge to the jury, who will retire tomorrow to consider the verdicts.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Martin Nolan faced uncertainty over how to sentence two 16‑ and 17‑year‑old boys charged with demanding money with menace during a drug‑debt dispute. The judge noted that suspended sentences are not available for juveniles, so he considered an 18‑month good‑behaviour bond that would require the boys to remain under Probation Service supervision for one year. He questioned counsel about consequences if the boys misbehave or fail to attend, and was told it would be difficult to enforce. After reviewing CCTV footage showing the boys, a third person, and a ringleader who has fled, the judge ruled that neither boy deserved detention and imposed the bond. Both pleaded guilty to the single count, with additional affray and trespass charges considered. The boys had no prior convictions, had recently finished their Leaving Certificate, and expressed remorse.
A 36‑year‑old Dublin man was jailed for three years after he beat his partner unconscious on 17 December, an act that left her seven‑year‑old son wandering the streets in pyjamas looking for help. The court heard the boy was found by a passer‑by who took him to safety and called the Gardaí. The victim, who was found bleeding and bruised, was taken to hospital and later told police that the man had been drinking and had punched her twice, causing her to lose consciousness. The defendant pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm. He had 14 prior convictions, mainly for public‑order and traffic offences. The judge, after noting his guilty plea, cooperation and apology letter, set a headline sentence of four years, reduced to three, citing mitigating factors.
Aaron Brady, aged 33, admits that his attempt to pervert the course of justice during his trial was wrong but maintains that witnesses gave untrue evidence against him. He was convicted in 2013 of murdering Garda Adrian Donohoe during a robbery and is serving a life sentence with a minimum of 40 years. In 2020 he pleaded guilty to recording a witness interview and sending photographs to a prison colleague in an effort to influence testimony. Brady's counsel, Michael O'Higgins SC, argued that the witnesses were under pressure during the COVID lockdowns and that Brady's actions were a serious error of judgment, not a justification. The court was asked to consider leniency and to allow the maximum benefit for Brady's guilty plea. Brady's perverting‑justice sentence cannot run consecutively to his life sentence, but the DPP seeks it to run consecutively to his 14‑year robbery sentence.
A 67‑year‑old man from Carlow was sentenced to life imprisonment by Ms Justice Melanie Greally for a prolonged pattern of sexual and physical abuse against his wife, spanning from 1991 to 2015. He pleaded guilty to 12 counts, including nine rapes, two sexual assaults and one assault causing harm, all committed in the family home. The judge highlighted the regularity of the offences, the use of gratuitous violence, and the presence of children during the assaults. The victim's impact statement described "25 years of hell" and the severe damage inflicted. Concurrently, the court imposed a four‑year sentence for the sexual assault and assault causing harm charges and ordered a two‑year post‑release supervision if he is ever released. The life sentence reflects the extreme and prolonged nature of the offending.
An asylum seeker, Adel Kerai, 26, was jailed for two years and three months after sexually assaulting a 22‑year‑old woman in Dublin's city centre. Kerai had arrived in Ireland five days earlier and, after following the woman for up to half an hour, forced his way into her personal space on Henry Street on 10 December 2023. He attempted to kiss her, touch her genital area under her clothes and press his erect penis against her. The victim tried to escape, but Kerai was too strong. The incident lasted 30 minutes, parts of which were captured on CCTV. Kerai, who has four prior convictions in the UK and is seeking asylum from Algeria, pleaded guilty. Judge Martin Nolan set a headline sentence of four years, reduced to 27 months, and back‑dated it to the time of Kerai's arrest. The court noted the assault was uninvited and particularly frightening for the victim.
Templeogue College reached a compromise with teacher Darren O'Sullivan, the fourth teacher to bring an employment rights claim against the school in the last two years. The resolution was announced at the Workplace Relations Commission, where the tribunal was set to open two days of hearings into O'Sullivan's statutory complaints. Adjudicator Penelope McGrath confirmed the parties had reached an agreement and that the complaints would remain alive for five weeks pending implementation of the compromise arrangement. The school's barrister noted no difficulty with the proposal and that the complainant's solicitor would communicate a withdrawal on or before 10 August. No particulars of O'Sullivan's complaints or the legislation under which they were brought were made public at the brief hearing. The school's unitary manager and an ASTI officer attended but did not address the hearing.
The Special Criminal Court will hold a trial in November for seven men charged in the murder of Tristan Sherry, a gangland assassin, at Browne's Steakhouse on 24 December 2023. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, has announced that an early guilty plea entered before 31 July will result in a 25 percent reduction of the headline sentence. The prosecution, represented by Maddie Grant BL, is prepared to proceed, and the trial is expected to last about four weeks, concluding between 4 November and 21 December. The accused include Noah Musueni (18), Wayne Deegan (26), David Amah (18), Michael Andrecut (22), Jonas Kabangu (18), an unnamed 18‑year‑old, and Jaures Kumbu (18). Their charges range from murder and violent disorder to possession of a submachine gun. Sherry, aged 26, was killed after shooting Jason Hennessy Senior on Christmas Eve 2023. The court will determine the final sentences once the trial concludes.
American tech firm PluralSight was ordered by the Workplace Relations Commission to pay Irish sales director Grainne Sherlock €112,000 for the handling of her redundancy in 2022. Sherlock, who joined PluralSight's Dublin commercial team in June 2019 and rose to SMB director by 2022, was made redundant when the company announced a staff reduction of a fifth, affecting 254 workers in the US and nine in Ireland. Sherlock's lawyers argued the redundancy process was contrived and manipulated to select her, a claim denied by the company. The tribunal found the selection criteria lacked clarity and objectivity, noting an 80/20 weighting of interviews versus past performance and no ranking was provided to Sherlock. The award covered her base salary, commission, a €20,000 bonus, and a cash equity payment, but excluded stock options. The decision was based on a 13‑month period from February to March 2024. The total compensation awarded was €112,000.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 47‑year‑old woman, Ms. Moire Bergin, was found not guilty by reason of insanity for the murder of her 76‑year‑old mother, Mary Bergin, who was stabbed to death on 13 April 2022. The jury accepted evidence from two consultant forensic psychiatrists that Ms. Bergin suffered from bipolar affective disorder with mania, depression and psychosis at the time of the killing, meeting the three criteria for the special verdict under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006. Ms. Bergin had been admitted to hospital six times between March 2021 and April 2022 and was released five days before the murder. A Central Criminal Court judge, Mr Justice Paul McDermott, ordered that she remain in the Central Mental Hospital for ongoing treatment, following a report by Dr Ronan Mullaney that she continues to suffer from a mental disorder. The case was prosecuted by James Dwyer SC and defended by Fiona Murphy SC.
A jury has been empanelled for the trial of William Ryan, a 38‑year‑old Garda of Aughrim Station, who is charged with three counts of sexual assault and one count of false imprisonment of a woman at the station on 29 September 2020. Ryan appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, pleaded not guilty to all charges, and was informed that he is a serving member of An Garda Síochána. The trial, expected to last eight to nine days, will hear witnesses including Gardaí and senior detectives, and is scheduled to open tomorrow before Judge Elma Sheahan.
A 19-year-old, John Mulrooney Sugrue of Manorfield Green, Clonee Dublin, has initiated a High Court challenge against the mandatory life sentence law, which would prevent a judge from imposing any sentence other than life in prison if he is found guilty of the murder of Aaron Keating on Main Street, Ongar, Dublin 15 on June 13, 2023. Represented by Seamus Clarke SC, Sugrue argues that the law prevents the sentencing judge from considering that the alleged offence occurred when he was a minor. He claims this breaches his constitutional rights and rights under the European Convention of Human Rights. Sugrue seeks various orders, including an order to prevent further prosecution until sentencing provisions account for his age at the time of the alleged offence, and a declaration that the State has breached his rights by failing to have a sentencing regime that allows for such considerations. The matter was heard by Ms Justice Niamh Hyland, who granted permission for the challenge. The case, along with related matters, will be mentioned before the court later this month. Two other similar challenges have been brought by Noah Musueni and David Amah, who are also charged with murder and are awaiting trial in the Special Criminal Court.
A Workplace Relations Commission hearing was adjourned pending an in-person hearing in the autumn regarding a statutory complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 brought by Liam Óg Lynch against Irish Rail. Mr. Lynch, a Portlaoise-based engineering operative, was dismissed following an incident on 8 March 2023 where a gantry crane collapsed, trapping a contractor's foot. Irish Rail alleged Mr. Lynch recklessly operated the crane despite explicit instructions not to do so, citing a prior disciplinary warning. The union, represented by Andrea Cleere, argued Mr. Lynch acted with bravery to secure an unsafe load and rescue the injured worker. Adjudicator Brian Dolan noted that treating an employee differently due to temporary contract status may constitute a breach, questioning the legality of the policies relied upon by Irish Rail. The matter was adjourned, with up to five witnesses, including Mr. Lynch, expected to be called at the future hearing.
The strike by barristers caused a halt to several Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trials and the Central Criminal Court did not sit. Eight cases were listed for Court 7 at the Criminal Courts of Justice, all adjourned by Judge Patricia Ryan, most to tomorrow. No barristers were present; solicitors took notes of the adjournments. The strike, the second in a week, saw barristers outside the courthouse protesting fee cuts of 28–60% from 2008 to 2011. They plan to withdraw services again on 24 July. The action began in October 2023, with barristers claiming the Government failed to honour a commitment to review fee rates. 'Devil' barristers, including Áine Holt and Darren Lalor BL, joined senior colleagues, demanding an immediate pay increase for District Court barristers and arguing that current fees of €27.72 per application are unfair and unsustainable. They insist that restoring fees would allow them to remain in practice.
In a tragic incident that occurred on 12 January 2018, Alexander Kondrashyn died after jumping from the cargo vessel The Elptrader at Dublin Port. The ship's gangway, which should have been secured to the quayside, had been removed before midnight, contrary to maritime regulations that require a safe means of access and egress for people boarding or disembarking. Kondrashyn, who was socialising with the ship's master Sergej Stolbov and the master of another vessel, jumped from the ship with another man at about 4.30 am. While the other man landed on the quay, Kondrashyn fell into the water, was recovered unresponsive and later died in hospital. The court heard CCTV footage showing the gangway in place at 11.19 pm and its removal before midnight. Stolbov pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the gangway remained in position, a summary offence punishable by a fine of €500.
During the trial of a sports coach accused of raping a teenage girl 35 years ago, the jury heard from the complainant's father. He said the accused, a 78‑year‑old defendant who cannot be named, called him a month after the alleged rape and asked him to encourage his daughter to return to the sport, claiming she had "great potential." The father testified that his daughter, aged 13‑14 at the time, suddenly stopped participating in the sport and that the accused had encouraged her to return because he did not know what had happened. The jury also heard evidence that the accused regularly walked through the girls' changing and shower areas while they were showering and changing after PE classes. The trial, before Justice Melanie Greally, continues with the jury hearing further evidence and cross‑examination. The unnamed 78-year-old pleaded not guilty.
A financial fund, Everyday Finance DAC, has applied to the High Court to restrain Mr Joseph Kennedy and others from occupying a beach‑side property at Brackendown, Portrane, Co. Dublin, which the fund repossessed last month following court orders. The fund claims that Kennedy, who had previously lived there, unlawfully re‑occupied the two‑bedroom gated house with the help of unknown individuals. On Thursday evening, Kennedy allegedly asked a lone security operative for a guitar; when the operative returned the instrument, four men seized him and forced him out. The operative was then followed by a UK‑registered Nissan SUV that shoved into his car and pursued him to Malahide Garda Station, where the Gardaí reportedly did not register a complaint or remove the trespassers. Kennedy has since initiated proceedings against Everyday, which the fund says amount to a collateral attack on the possession orders.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, Gerard Ward, aged 48, was sentenced to five and a half years' imprisonment for an aggravated sexual assault committed on August 25, 2020, at Raheen Business Park, Limerick. The assault involved a threat of rape, forced kissing, and the victim biting down on Ward's tongue, removing a significant portion. Ward also pulled the victim's hair, leaving a bald patch, and inflicted bite marks and scratches. He had previously been convicted of robbery, road traffic, and drug offences, receiving sentences of six and seven years in 2016 and 2001 respectively. The judge, Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, set a headline sentence of seven years, reduced by 18 months, and suspended the final six months, citing Ward's remorse and acceptance of the jury verdict. The court noted Ward's injuries required relearning how to speak. The victim, who had called emergency services, was praised for her bravery.
Mark Adams, a 44‑year‑old former male model and airport police officer, was surrendered to Northern Ireland after a series of money‑laundering convictions. He had previously been jailed in the Republic for laundering about €1.2 million and for carrying €180,550 through Belfast International Airport in May 2018, an act he admitted was criminal property. In January 2022 at Laganside Crown Court he pleaded guilty to attempting to remove and arranging to remove criminal property, each offence carrying up to 14 years' imprisonment. He received a 10‑month sentence in May 2022, with an additional 10 months on licence, to run consecutively to a term he was already serving in the Republic. In August 2021 he was temporarily surrendered to attend court in the North and was returned to the Republic in June 2022 after 10 months' custody.
A 17‑year‑old woman was raped by Geoffrey Kumah, 27, whom she had befriended online. She told the Central Criminal Court that after the assault she felt she had to "act normal" for her own safety. Kumah had sent a friend request on Facebook, communicated via Snapchat, and arranged to meet her at his residence. He raped her after consensual kissing, despite her repeatedly telling him she did not want intercourse and attempting to stop him. The victim's impact statement described her ongoing trauma, her need to seek help from a friend and counsellor, and her fear of further exposure during the court process. The judge, Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, sentenced Kumah to seven years' imprisonment with the final six months suspended, after a headline sentence of eight and a half years. The sentence considered Kumah's lack of prior convictions, family situation, and cooperation with Gardaí. The victim's statement was praised for its eloquence and bravery.
In a High Court order, X was directed to give live‑streaming service Vinivia AG and its executives Steffan Graff and Marcello Genovese details of the owners of four X accounts alleged to run a malicious smear campaign. The court found that the accounts had posted defamatory statements about the plaintiffs, including claims of fraud, financial misconduct, and criminal behaviour, and that the posts breached the plaintiffs' GDPR rights. The plaintiffs, represented by Peter Shanley BL, said the posts caused significant reputational damage and harmed the company's business prospects. They sought a Norwich Pharmacal Order to obtain the identities of the account holders. X's Ireland subsidiary, Twitter International Unlimited Company, agreed neither to object nor to consent to the disclosure orders, and the plaintiffs agreed to pay the respondent's legal costs. Mr Justice Mark Sanfey noted the speed of the proceedings.
Michael Farrell, aged 32, was sentenced to six years in prison with the final six months suspended for assault, threatening to kill, and possessing a realistic imitation firearm. He has 231 prior convictions, including violent offences, and has a mild intellectual disability and a serious brain injury from a childhood accident. Farrell argued that the judge failed to give adequate weight to his personal circumstances and that the suspended portion was too short. Counsel Karl Monahan BL contended that a longer suspension would aid rehabilitation, citing Farrell's complex needs and developmental issues. State counsel Derek Cooney BL maintained that the judge had applied appropriate mitigation and that Farrell's history of recidivism justified the sentence. The court reserved judgment on the appeal. Farrell had previously threatened a female Garda with ammonia and attacked two prison officers in 2022. The firearm incident occurred in 2020 when Farrell displayed a realistic imitation weapon in his garden. Michael Farrell pleaded guilty.
Lee Murray, 29, was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment after breaking into his childhood home in Blanchardstown on 2 October 2023. He smashed the front‑door window, entered the house, shouted for money to buy drugs and assaulted his grandfather and his aunt. Murray grabbed his grandfather by the top of his head and forced his aunt upstairs, where he struck her twice on the head with a metal pot. The aunt fell and was injured; she declined hospital treatment and no victim impact statement was made. Murray fled the scene but was re‑arrested 45 minutes later. He pleaded guilty to assaulting his grandfather and assault causing harm to his aunt, with 47 prior convictions including assault and production of an article. The court noted his long‑standing drug addiction and his attempts at rehabilitation. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the custodial term, describing the incident as a shocking experience for the aunt.
In a High Court case, a woman who was assaulted and threatened by her former husband claims she cannot sell her €1.5 million family home because a solicitor's firm that previously represented the couple refuses to return the property deeds. She alleges the firm has no right to retain the documents and has been denied them for over a year, despite her repeated requests. The firm, which had also represented her husband during their divorce, claims it is owed €10,000 for a failed property sale and has asked for €1,500 from her. The woman, represented by Gabriel Gavigan SC and David Geoghegan BL, seeks an order directing the firm to provide the original title deeds and the retainer file. The matter was scheduled for a hearing in July after Mr Justice Mark Sanfey granted the application on an ex‑parte basis.
In a Workplace Relations Commission hearing, baker Andrew Morris claimed he was unfairly dismissed by Realbread Wholesale Ltd on 10 November 2023 after being fired by phone. Morris alleged that his employer, Patrick Ryan, had repeatedly warned him about lateness and absenteeism, but that the warnings were disputed. Morris said he had been absent due to bereavement and illness in his family, including his uncle's death and his father's hospitalization, and that he had not been offered medical certificates. He also claimed that Ryan had shouted at him and that he had been treated disrespectfully. Ryan denied the allegations, stating that Morris had been late on several occasions and that the start time had always been 7.30 am. The tribunal is considering a decision.
A psychiatrist has testified at the Central Criminal Court that a Westport man accused of murdering his wife was not suffering from a mental disorder at the time of her death. James Kilroy, aged 51, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the charge of murdering Valerie French Kilroy at their home in Kilbree Lower between June 13 and 14, 2019. The court heard that the accused accepts responsibility for killing his wife, who died from strangulation, blunt force trauma, and a stab wound to the neck. Consultant psychiatrist Dr Camilla Curtis assessed Mr Kilroy shortly after his arrest and concluded he did not meet the criteria for detention under the Mental Health Act. The trial before Mr Justice Tony Hunt continues, with the prosecution indicating that conflicting psychiatric evidence will be presented. The defence accepts the defendant killed his wife.
The 48‑year‑old complainant, who was 13‑14 at the time, testified that the 78‑year‑old sports coach, who pleaded not guilty, began as her coach in secondary school and later performed "muscle checks" that involved touching her breasts and moving his hands up and down for about five minutes. She said the coach told her she was a "good girl" and that she needed to work harder, and that she would later digitally penetrate her. The complainant claimed the coach raped her in a small room after she resumed training in September, after which she did not inform her parents but stopped participating in the sport. She described feeling shocked, violated and that the trust had been broken. The trial is ongoing before Justice Melanie Greally and a jury.