A 45‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to ten and a half years in prison for six counts of rape and anal rape of his former partner between January 2019 and September 2020. The victim, who was not named to protect her anonymity, was repeatedly forced into sexual acts at her home while she repeatedly said no and asked him to stop. The court noted that the man used humiliating and degrading language, pulled her hair, pushed her onto a bathroom floor and a bed, and that the violence exceeded the inherent violence of rape. He was found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury and does not accept the verdict or express remorse. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs imposed the sentence and ordered him to remain under Probation Service supervision for three years after release.
An unnamed 39‑year‑old man was sentenced to four years in prison for nine counts of sexual assault against three girls aged between seven and 17, committed when he was 12 to 17 years old between 1996 and 2022. The court heard that the defendant, who had no prior convictions, carried out a "Nerves" game in which he touched the girls' legs and vaginas, made animal noises, and pinched their vaginas. He also gave a 12‑year‑old girl alcohol and later found her naked in a wooded area, and he touched the breasts and mouth of a 17‑year‑old girl in a carpark. The three survivors gave victim impact statements describing lasting psychological harm, insomnia, anxiety, and loss of trust. Judge David Keane noted the aggravating factors of the victims' ages and alcohol use, and the mitigating factors of the defendant's lack of convictions and cooperation. The unnamed 39-year-old was found guilty.
Judge Sarah Berkeley, while sentencing a 28‑year‑old Dublin man who sexually assaulted his younger cousin over four years, expressed concern that recent legislation offers no guidance for sentencing judges on how long a convicted person should remain on the sex offenders' register. The defendant, convicted of ten counts of sexual assault committed between 2008 and 2011 when he was 13‑17 and the victim was 6‑10, was sentenced to five and a half years' imprisonment, back‑dated to his entry into custody. Judge Berkeley directed that he be placed on the register for two and a half years, noting his lack of prior convictions and that he had not attracted recent Garda attention. She suggested the Court of Appeal might consider this absence of guidance for sentencing judges. The judge also granted an application to extend legal aid for an appeal.
A tribunal found that Trevor Shaw, a former ministerial driver for Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue, was unfairly dismissed on Christmas Day 2022 when the Department of Agriculture replaced civilian drivers with Garda personnel for security reasons. Shaw had been notified of redundancy in November 2022 and was offered a clerical role at the Department of Social Protection, a position he deemed unsuitable due to lack of computer skills. The tribunal ruled that the Department acted unreasonably and without consultation, and that the dismissal was peremptory. It awarded Shaw €30,000 in compensation, in addition to his statutory redundancy entitlements and an undisclosed ex‑gratia payment. The decision highlighted the lack of a voluntary redundancy option and the absence of an appeal process for Shaw. The tribunal's findings were based solely on the evidence presented in the hearing.
Lisa Lee, 41, who had previously discarded a knife used in the killing of Isaac Horgan, was in custody for breaching the terms of her suspended sentence. She had been sentenced to four years, with the final two suspended on the condition of good behaviour and engagement with probation services. After spending ten days in custody, Lee's barrister, Ronan Munro SC, informed Judge Tony Hunt that she had changed her mind about the judge's offer to enter a drug treatment programme. Lee now agreed to attend rapid detox and residential care for her addiction issues, accepting the court's conditions. The judge acknowledged her limited engagement with probation services and noted that the suspended portion of her sentence had been activated by new charges. He emphasised that compliance with the treatment terms was essential and that failure to do so would result in a return to prison. Lisa Lee was convicted.
The jury of eight men and four women will return to the Central Criminal Court on Monday to continue deliberations in the trial of Maurice 'Mossie' Boland, 36, who denies murdering construction worker Cian Gallagher, 26, in Tallow on 10 November 2022. Boland pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The prosecution has alleged that a punch from Boland caused Gallagher to fall and hit the back of his head, leading to a fatal brain bleed eight days later. The defence has argued that the pathologist's evidence shows the fall, not the punch, caused the damage, and that the phrase "a Conor McGregor knockout" was a drunken, off‑hand remark. The jury has spent more than 11 hours over three days debating the case and has requested additional time to reach a verdict. The trial is ongoing and no verdict has yet been delivered.
In April 2024 the Court of Appeal upheld the conviction of Feri Anghel, 44, a Romanian national, for the murder of Ioan Artene Bob, 49, who was found dead in a Dublin park after being beaten. The appeal was dismissed because the court found Anghel's submissions lacked reality. The judge noted that the evidence, including extensive CCTV footage and DNA from a cigarette butt, was sufficient for the jury to convict. Anghel had claimed a lack of evidence and privacy violations, but the court found no basis for these claims. The appeal was rejected on all grounds, meaning Anghel will remain in custody under the mandatory life sentence imposed by the Central Criminal Court in 2022. The case remains at the appellate stage, with no further legal action reported. Feri Anghel pleaded not guilty.
Maurice Kiely, a musician who claimed he wrote the song 'A Man and A Woman' and that it was unlawfully included on U2's 2004 album 'How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb', sued U2 Ltd for €12 million in damages. He represented himself and had previously sought interrogatories from U2, which were dismissed by Mr Justice O'Moore. In the High Court, Mr Justice Mark Sanfey dismissed the appeal after Kiely failed to appear for the hearing and could not be located in the Four Courts precincts. The judge noted Kiely's inconsistent communications and his decision not to attend the scheduled mention. Consequently, the entire proceedings were struck out, and U2 Ltd was ordered to recover its legal costs from Kiely. The case remains closed with no further action taken by Kiely.
The Workplace Relations Commission adjudicated a complaint by Patricia Oropeza-Vedia against Juliet O'Connell, finding multiple breaches of employment rights. Adjudicator Catherine Byrne determined that O'Connell's firm, The Zip Yard, underpaid the worker, who was employed as a permit worker. The tribunal found a gross wage shortfall of €6,016 between February 2022 and February 2023, as the worker was paid approximately €460 weekly against a contractual salary of €30,000. The adjudicator awarded €7,378 under the Payment of Wages Act 1991, including back pay and 67 hours of overtime. Additionally, the employer was ordered to pay €1,154 for unpaid annual leave and a further €1,154 in compensation under the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. A further €1,731 was awarded for a breach of the Terms of Employment (Information) Act 1994, citing a mismatch between the job description and actual duties. The total award was €11,417. O'Connell, who appeared as respondent-in-person, disputed the claims but failed to provide sufficient evidence. Following the decision, the Labour Party stated that O'Connell, its former small business spokesperson, had resigned from the party and would not stand in local elections. The party noted it learned of the adjudication via a press query and affirmed its commitment to workers' rights.
Jozef Puska, aged 33, has been granted legal aid to appeal his conviction for the murder of school teacher Ashling Murphy. The Court of Appeal approved legal aid for all 20 applications presented that morning, and Puska will receive the same representation he had at the Central Criminal Court: a solicitor, senior counsel and two junior counsel. His trial concluded with a unanimous jury verdict after he was found to have stabbed Ms Murphy eleven times in the neck and slashed her once with a blade, leaving her to die in the thorns beside the canal towpath. Puska's defence argued that his confession to the Gardaí, made two days after the stabbing while he was under the influence of oxycodone and recovering from abdominal surgery, was involuntary, and objected to the prosecution's use of CCTV footage showing him stalking two women in Tullamore town centre before heading to the canal. Jozef Puska pleaded not guilty. Ashling Murphy pleaded not guilty.
The Court of Appeal quashed the original custodial sentence imposed on a 38‑year‑old mother who had been jailed for one year on five counts of cruelty to her children aged 11 to four. She had pleaded guilty and received a two‑year sentence with the final 12 months suspended. The appeal argued that the trial judge had not fully considered her rehabilitation efforts, citing her completion of educational courses, a 12‑week alcohol treatment programme, and ongoing counselling. The Court of Appeal agreed, finding the trial judge had made an error in principle regarding the custodial element. The new sentence is a fully suspended two‑year term, effective from the date of the appeal, taking into account time already served. The children remain in care and the mother meets them bi‑weekly. The case was heard by Justice Tara Burns, with counsel for the State and the appellant present.
On the day the inquest jury declared that all 48 young people who died in the Stardust nightclub fire were unlawfully killed, families gathered to express relief and demand an apology from the Irish State. Alison Croker, sister of 18‑year‑old Jacqueline, said the verdict gave her family vindication and called for a formal apology for the systematic abuse endured. Other relatives, including Louise McDermott, Antoinette Keegan, Samantha Curran, Susan Behan, Pat Dunne, Siobhán Kearney, Lisa Lawlor, Selina McDermott, Margaret Nangle, Phyllis McHugh and Maurice Frazer, shared personal grief and praised the coroner and jury for their work. Solicitor Darragh Mackin noted that the record had been corrected, affirming that the 48 were unlawfully killed and that families had not given up over four decades.
The High Court and coroner's court have examined competing legal arguments regarding the scope of verdicts available to the jury in the resumed inquest into the 48 deaths at the Stardust nightclub fire. The new inquests, which commenced in April 2023 at the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin, followed a 2019 direction by the then Attorney General that fresh proceedings were necessary due to insufficient examination of the fire's circumstances at the original 1982 inquiry. Former Stardust manager Eamon Butterly challenged the coroner's decision to permit a potential unlawful killing verdict, arguing it would identify him as subject to censure. In November 2022, Mr Justice Charles Meenan rejected this challenge, confirming such a verdict could lawfully be available provided no individual remained identifiable as censurable. Following the conclusion of evidence, Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane received further submissions from interested parties. She ultimately ruled that an unlawful killing verdict could be placed before the jury, applying a beyond-reasonable-doubt standard of proof. The available verdicts were determined as accidental death, misadventure, unlawful killing, narrative, and open verdict.
In the trial of Maurice 'Mossie' Boland, a 36‑year‑old from Waterford, the jury of eight men and four women was given the option of a majority verdict after deliberating for nearly seven hours. Boland pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of 26‑year‑old Cian Gallagher, who died on 10 November 2022 after a fall that caused a traumatic brain injury. The prosecution alleged Boland punched Gallagher, who was drinking, and that the blow caused the fatal fall. The defence argued the fall, not the punch, caused the injury, citing the pathologist's testimony. The jury was instructed that a murder verdict requires proof beyond reasonable doubt of intent to kill or cause serious injury; otherwise a manslaughter verdict is appropriate. Boland claimed he was defending himself and that the incident happened quickly. The case remains at the deliberation stage.
The Stardust fire of 1981, which claimed the lives of 48 young people, was the subject of a lengthy inquest that examined the events leading up to the tragedy. Survivors and witnesses described the chaos and confusion as the fire broke out, with many trapped by locked exit doors and unable to escape the rapidly spreading flames. The inquest revealed that the Stardust nightclub had serious fire safety issues, including locked exits, inadequate fire training for staff, and the use of highly flammable materials. Survivors recounted the horror of the fire, with some describing the intense heat, the collapse of the ceiling, and the suffocating smoke. The inquest also heard evidence about the practice of 'mock locking' exit doors, which gave the appearance of being locked when they were not. This practice, along with the failure to follow fire safety regulations, was a major factor in the high death toll.
Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane presided over the conclusion of the longest inquest in Irish history, where a jury found that all 48 victims of the 1981 Stardust nightclub fire were unlawfully killed. After deliberating for 11 days, the panel returned majority verdicts to the Dublin District Coroner's Court, determining that the fire was caused by an electrical fault in the hot press of the dispense bar. The jury established that the victims' escape was impeded by locked or obstructed emergency exits, lack of staff preparedness, and the rapid spread of fire and toxic smoke. They found that these factors contributed to the deaths, with the majority dying from rapid incapacitation due to fumes and heat. The jury also recommended frequent revision of building regulations and improved inspection targets for places of public resort. Dr Cullinane thanked the jury for their service and acknowledged the persistence of the victims' families, who campaigned for decades to secure these fresh inquests. The proceedings, which began in April last year, heard evidence from 373 witnesses over 95 days. The coroner noted that the unlawful killing verdict indicated the law had been broken in a serious fashion, a finding distinct from accidental death or misadventure. The families expressed profound appreciation for the meticulous work of the coroner and the dedication of the jury, who delivered the verdicts that vindicated the lives of the 48 young people who lost their lives on Valentine's Day, 1981.
Daniel Murtagh, aged 34 when sentenced, withdrew his appeal against a murder conviction for the death of his former partner Nadine Lott, who was 30. The Court of Appeal heard the withdrawal request and granted it without any submissions. Murtagh was found guilty of murder after a two‑day trial at the Central Criminal Court, where the jury rejected his intoxication defence and accepted the prosecution's case that he had formed the intent to kill. He received a mandatory life sentence in October 2021. The trial described how Murtagh beat Lott to the point of being "completely unrecognisable", leaving her with "extreme and grotesque" injuries that caused her death on 17 December 2019. No further appeal was pursued. Daniel Murtagh pleaded not guilty.
Ger Malone, a former chair of SIPTU's internal staff representative council, has taken the union to the Workplace Relations Commission under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, alleging she was penalised for making 17 protected disclosures. She claims 29 separate acts of penalisation, including letters from management criticising her work, and says the union has denied any wrongdoing. The union acknowledges that three of Malone's communications were protected but rejects the allegations. Malone's case was scheduled to open at Waterford Courthouse, but she requested an extension to consider events before the six‑month statutory limit, which the tribunal has postponed. The hearing was adjourned, with a new date set for late June to resume the proceedings. The dispute also involves the burden of proof and the union's readiness to respond to the earlier disclosures.
Gary Prendergast, a groundskeeper at Park West Utilities Management Ltd, was awarded €15,000 by the Workplace Relations Commission for ageist discrimination after his employer replaced his electric litter cart with a manual cart that he had to push 15km daily. Prendergast, who had worked at the site for over 15 years and was nearing retirement, claimed that the replacement of the cart and the monitoring of his work by the operations manager, who allegedly remarked that he was "slowing down," were intended to encourage him to quit. He had taken medical leave for stress in October 2022, citing the manager's surveillance as a contributing factor. The adjudicator accepted that the company's failure to provide a motorised cart was not economically justified but concluded that the lack of a suitable replacement discriminated against Prendergast on the basis of his age, and ordered the company to pay the compensation.
Alan O'Neill and his partner June Finnegan have launched High Court proceedings against Drumgoan Developments Limited, Noel Martin Senior, and Darren Martin regarding a dispute over the ownership of a garage in Portarlington, Co Laois. The plaintiffs allege they purchased the garage in 2005 but it was not properly conveyed due to a solicitor's oversight. They claim the defendants, who assert ownership, engaged in a "land grab," made monetary demands, and damaged the property with a JCB on 21 February, despite the garage housing exotic animals including a caiman alligator, chameleons, and scorpions. Mr O'Neill alleged that men directed by Darren Martin smashed the walls with power tools and drove a JCB through the structure, causing substantial damage and disrupting animal breeding. He further claimed Noel Martin Senior sent threatening messages and that the defendants intimidated the family by driving near their home. In response to a cease and desist letter, Mr Martin Senior allegedly dismissed the legal correspondence as "waffle" and threatened to report the plaintiffs to Tusla. Counsel Ruaidhri Giblin BL, instructed by solicitor Paul Kelly, sought an injunction to protect the property and restrain interference. Mr Justice Mark Sanfey, hearing the matter on an ex parte basis, granted a temporary injunction restraining the defendants or their agents from contacting or communicating with the plaintiffs. The judge noted the defendants' communications did not put them in a good light and granted permission to serve short notice of the proceedings. The matter was adjourned and will return before the court next week.
The High Court President discharged orders that had allowed a hospital to give a blood transfusion to a Jehovah's Witness patient after the patient's condition improved. The orders were originally made because the patient, whose identity is protected, lacked capacity to consent and no signed Advance Care Directive was available. The hospital had sought the orders after the patient's family would not consent to any blood or blood products for religious reasons, and doctors warned that a transfusion might be needed to save his life. The patient was in intensive care after a serious road traffic accident, on a ventilator and unable to communicate. After recovery of mental capacity and no need for transfusion, the court agreed to strike the orders, while orders preventing media identification remain in force.
Brandon Highfield, a 23‑year‑old British man from Wolverhampton, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four and a half years in prison for importing almost 27 kilos of cannabis valued at €538,760. He was caught at Dublin Airport when sniffer dogs detected drugs in his luggage while he was in transit from New York to Manchester. Highfield pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply on 11 November 2023. The judge accepted that he had been transporting the drugs for third parties and that some level of coercion had been applied, describing him as slightly vulnerable with no prior convictions and unlikely to reoffend. The sentence was back‑dated to the November arrest. Highfield is a foreign national who will receive little or no visits while in custody.
John Murray, 43, of Kimmage, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment after pleading guilty to ten counts of possessing the proceeds of crime. The charges stemmed from his wife, Kellie Walton, 42, who as a payroll administrator at Virgin Media siphoned €872,470 into Murray's Bank of Ireland account over a decade. The money was largely spent on foreign holidays, premium TV subscriptions and phone services. Walton had previously received a four‑year sentence in 2023, with the final two years suspended, and is now working part‑time. Murray denied the allegations initially but pleaded guilty on the day of his trial. The court noted that the couple had squandered all the funds, leaving them with nothing, and that Murray had no prior convictions. He was deemed unlikely to reoffend.
During the Special Criminal Court hearing on 17 April 2024, Dean Byrne, aged 30, admitted that he had used a mobile phone found in his Mountjoy prison cell to send photographs of Daniel Cahill's statement to a relative of Cahill. Byrne also admitted that he had sent a message to the relative asking him to persuade Cahill not to testify and that he had called Cahill a "rat", "dirtbag" and "filthbag" in an exchange with another man, offering to "do damage" to Cahill. The prosecution alleges that Byrne was part of a campaign of intimidation against witnesses in Aaron Brady's 2020 murder trial. Byrne's admissions, made under Section 22 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984, are said to be significant and could substantially shorten the trial, which was originally estimated to last 14 weeks. The case concerns Byrne's alleged conspiracy with Brady to pervert the course of justice between 8 April 2020 and 22 June 2020. Dean Byrne pleaded guilty.
Almost a year after the inquests into the deaths of the 48 victims of the Stardust nightclub fire began, the jury in the Dublin District Coroner's Court told coroner Dr Myra Cullinane that they had reached a majority verdict, which will be delivered tomorrow. The jury, composed of seven women and five men, had been unable to reach a unanimous verdict after 11 days of deliberations into the circumstances of the deaths that occurred when fire swept through the Stardust nightclub on the early hours of 14 February 1981. Dr Cullinane explained that the law allows a majority verdict when at least seven jurors agree, and she confirmed that the jury had indeed reached such a verdict. She deferred the announcement of the verdicts and findings to allow administrative matters to be addressed and to give interested parties and family members the opportunity to attend court or observe the proceedings online.
In the trial of Maurice 'Mossie' Boland, who pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, the jury was asked whether the deceased Cian Gallagher's intoxication could legally excuse his inability to break a fall. The judge ruled it was not a defence. The prosecution argued that a punch from Boland caused Gallagher to fall and hit his head, leading to a traumatic brain injury. The defence contended that the fall itself caused the fatal injury, not the punch. The jury deliberated for 2 hours and 53 minutes, considering whether Boland intended to kill or cause serious injury. The judge explained that if intent was proven, the verdict would be murder; otherwise, manslaughter. The case remains at the jury's verdict stage.
A 54‑year‑old man, Dainius Sakevicius, pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm on 26 December 2022 after drinking for five days. He assaulted his partner, punching her multiple times, causing bruising, swelling, a loose tooth and arm soreness. The victim was treated at St Vincent's and St James's Hospitals. Gardaí found Sakevicius intoxicated at his Bray home and later charged him. The woman withdrew her statement and declined a victim impact statement. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a suspended sentence of 1 year 9 months, suspended in full on strict conditions, including 18 months of Probation Service engagement, participation in Men Overcoming Violence and alcohol treatment programmes. The court noted Sakevicius had no prior convictions, had paid over €4,000 for the victim's medical costs, and had no previous Garda attention. The sentence was given on the day of the hearing.
An unnamed 58-year-old man, convicted of raping and sexually assaulting his then-partner and her son, has appealed his conviction at the Court of Appeal. The defendant, who pleaded not guilty to all 61 charges and had no previous convictions, was found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court. He was sentenced to 12 years for the rape of his partner, with concurrent sentences for other sexual assaults and child cruelty. The appeal, argued by Michael Bowman SC, contended that the trial judge should have discharged the jury after they were instructed to disregard evidence regarding a black eye mentioned by a witness. Counsel also challenged the admissibility of a photograph of the victim's injuries and argued the judge's corroboration warning was inadequate. The State, represented by Shane Costelloe SC, maintained the trial judge's rulings were correct and the jury was robust enough to follow directions. The three-judge court, led by Mr Justice John Edwards, reserved its judgment. The matter was adjourned, and the appeal remains pending.
Paul Byrne, a veteran Virgin Media broadcaster, has filed High Court proceedings to halt disciplinary action taken by his employer after he was suspended following a live report on February 9th about a young boy's death in County Waterford. Byrne argues the information he presented was believed credible at the time and that the suspension was due to alleged breach of the broadcaster's News Guidelines for not consulting his line manager beforehand. He claims the disciplinary process is flawed, punitive, and breaches his contractual rights, seeking an injunction to stop the proceedings, restore his salary and benefits, lift his suspension, and prevent replacement. Virgin Media denies the allegations, stating the breach was serious and steps were needed to avoid recurrence. Byrne's counsel, Eoin Clifford SC, described the process as "irredeemably flawed" and highlighted that Byrne was not required to discuss the report with the producer. The case is set to return to court next week.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the prosecution described Maurice "Mossie" Boland (36) as having "targeted" and "relentlessly pursued" Cian Gallagher (26), a Dublin construction worker, before striking him with a punch that the accused claimed was a "Conor McGregor knockout." The State presented CCTV footage showing Boland punching Gallagher while the latter was retreating with his hands up, and a pathologist testified that a fall caused a brain bleed, though deep bruising on Gallagher's right temporalis was linked to the punch. Boland pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The prosecution argued that Boland's intent to cause serious injury, combined with intoxication, met the legal definition of murder, while the defence contended that the fall, not the punch, caused the fatal injury and that Boland had not targeted Gallagher. The trial was set to continue before Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of eight men and four women.
During the tenth day of deliberations on the Stardust inquest, the jury told Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane they were "very close" to a verdict and were finalising wording. The coroner clarified that the jury must answer time questions precisely, or give a range if evidence is uncertain, and explained the two‑stage test for unlawful killing: a failure of very high degree that is a substantial cause of death, proven beyond reasonable doubt. She emphasised that no verdict is automatic and that the jury may return unlawful killing only if satisfied beyond reasonable doubt of at least one such failure. The jury also asked about applying unlawful killing to each death when multiple failures were involved; the coroner confirmed each death could be judged separately if the test is met. The jury, after about 40 hours of deliberation, was discharged before 4 pm and will resume tomorrow. The inquest covers 48 deaths from the 1981 fire at the Stardust.
Anthony Gaffney, aged 54, pleaded guilty to robbing the Topaz service station in Dublin on 22 June 2016. He was first charged, then failed to attend his sentence hearing and lived "under the radar" for eight years. He was arrested later, re‑arrested earlier this year, and has been in custody since. Gaffney has 84 prior convictions, most before 2012, and has not re‑offended since 2016. He was sentenced today to 18 months' imprisonment. The court noted his serious health issues, including COPD, and that his criminal activity is likely to be curtailed by his condition. The sentence was imposed after the court heard that an off‑duty Garda, who was with his family, had confronted Gaffney and a second robber, seized the getaway car keys, and that Gaffney had used a knife in the scuffle. The judge praised the Garda's courage and described the incident as frightening for the Garda, his wife and children.
Keith Tiswell, 39, of Woodavens, Clondalkin, was sentenced to eight years in prison for possessing €3.3 million worth of cannabis. On 8 September last year, he was caught transporting the drugs at an industrial estate in Dublin 12. Gardaí had been surveilling two vans; after intercepting one, Tiswell handed over the keys to the other, which was searched and found with 168 kg of vacuum‑packed cannabis. He admitted to the offence, citing debts from a long‑standing drug and gambling addiction and claiming he was under pressure to keep the drugs. He had 75 prior convictions, including drug possession. The judge acknowledged the coercion but imposed the sentence, back‑dating it for time already served. The case was heard by Judge Martin Nolan, with prosecution by David Staunton BL and defence by Anne‑Marie Lawlor SC.
A 37‑year‑old man was jailed for nine years after pleading guilty to multiple counts of rape and sexual assault against a brother and sister who were in foster care with him. The accused, aged 14‑17 at the time of the offences, abused the siblings, aged 9‑13, between 2002 and 2004 while they were in the same foster home. He also pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of both victims. The abuse ended when he turned 18 and left the home. He had 21 prior convictions. The judge set a headline sentence of 13 years, reduced to ten years with a one‑year suspension for three years on strict conditions, and ordered five years of post‑release supervision. The siblings did not wish their impact statements to be read in open court. The accused expressed regret and hopes the victims can move on. The case was prosecuted by John Fitzgerald SC and defended by Ronan Munro SC.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that the Director of Public Prosecutions is investigating whether assets linked to Michael Lynn are benefits of crime. The DPP alleges Lynn stole just over €18 million from six financial institutions in 2006 and 2007. He was convicted of 10 of 21 theft counts and jailed in February for five-and-a-half years. The investigation targets three bank accounts containing €2.8 million, a house in Brittas Bay purchased by a corporation strongly linked to Lynn, and €3 million confiscated by Portuguese authorities. Prosecution counsel Joe Mulrean BL stated the DPP is engaged in enquiry under sections 9, 10, and 11 of the Criminal Justice Act 1994. Defense counsel Paul Comiskey O'Keeffe BL required proof of service before adjournment. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the matter, noting it is likely to be contested. The case returns to court on July 8. Separately, the Court of Appeal recently required Lynn to provide a statement of financial means before legal aid could be granted for his appeal against conviction. Lynn has recently changed solicitors and intends to apply for further legal aid.
In a High Court case, World Diamond Group SPA (WDG) sued Irish jeweller Shuwan Li, trading as Empress Fine Jewels, over a €585,000 consignment of gemstones that Li allegedly refused to return. WDG claimed the dispute stemmed from payment issues, not from the end of a romantic relationship between WDG's CEO, Giuliano Castrenze, and Li. Li counter‑claimed that the action was motivated by the breakup of their alleged four‑year relationship, which she said had left her unable to trade. Both parties denied wrongdoing. After out‑of‑court talks, the parties agreed to adjourn the case for three weeks with the injunction in place, and to return to court in January. The injunction remains, preventing Li from selling or disposing of the goods. The case is now scheduled for a further adjournment to next month's hearing.
A 77-year-old man was sentenced to two and a half years in prison by Judge Sarah Berkeley at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for eight counts of indecent assault against his teenage daughter. The defendant, who pleaded not guilty, was convicted by a jury following a trial in February. The offences occurred on unknown dates between 1985 and 1987 at a location in Leinster. The court heard that the victim, who made a statement to gardai in December 2020, disclosed that she was digitally penetrated and touched by her father while a teenager. The judge described the acts as "vile" and a heinous crime, noting the victim's ongoing suffering from panic attacks and depression. Although the defendant denied the allegations, claiming he never touched her, the jury found him guilty. In mitigation, defence counsel highlighted the defendant's lack of previous convictions, his lifelong work history, and his serious cardiac health issues, which require specific care and medication in prison. Judge Berkeley set a headline sentence of five years but reduced it to two and a half years, taking into account the defendant's poor health and the fact that he supported his family. The judge acknowledged the victim's closure and return to education, stating that while the defendant is now sentenced, his daughter will live with the consequences of his actions for the rest of her life.
Dean Byrne, aged 30, is on trial in the Special Criminal Court for conspiring to pervert the course of justice by persuading prosecution witness Daniel Cahill not to testify at Aaron Brady's murder trial. The trial, originally set for 14 weeks, may be shortened to two or three weeks if Byrne makes a number of admissions tomorrow. Padraig Dwyer SC is considering a "shopping list" of 35 proposals from the Director of Public Prosecutions that the defence may not need to prove formally. Some proposals relate to searches of Byrne's cell in Mountjoy prison and the obtaining of warrants. Mr Dwyer said some issues are already resolved, some cannot be admitted, and others could be admitted if reworded. Mr Justice Paul Burns adjourned the trial to allow the parties to work on the outstanding admissions. Byrne pleaded not guilty to the charge. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Burns, Judge Elma Sheahan and Judge Marie Keane.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 69‑year‑old man was found guilty of 48 counts of sexual offences against his daughter, including 25 counts of rape and 23 of indecent assault. The abuse began when the daughter was about three and a half years old and continued until she was 16, spanning the years 1977 to 1989. The court heard that the father repeatedly raped her, forced digital penetration, kissed her, performed oral sex, and touched her breasts when she developed. The daughter reported the abuse to the Gardaí in 2019; the father was arrested in July 2020, denied the allegations, and was later convicted. He does not accept the verdicts and maintains his innocence. The case was adjourned to 26 April for finalisation. The daughter's victim impact statement described how the abuse stole her childhood and urged other victims to come forward.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Robert Fennell, then 50, was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment for raping a 16‑year‑old girl who had approached him for advice. The victim had been led to Fennell by a person she believed to be a 17‑year‑old boy, who provided Fennell's contact details. Fennell, who lives in Woodview Cottages, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, gave the girl alcohol and raped her at his home on 11 June 2018. He pleaded guilty, a plea entered late in the process. The judge noted the victim's vulnerability and the breach of trust. The sentence was reduced from 12 to 11 years, with the final year suspended for two years on strict conditions, including offence‑focused work, addiction treatment, drug monitoring and no unsupervised access to children. Fennell was also ordered to undergo assessment for offence‑focused work, addiction treatment and drug monitoring.
Emma Burgess, 38, of Parkview, Rathborne, Dublin 15, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment after pleading guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing €280,000 worth of cocaine for sale or supply at her home on 5 May 2023. Garda Shane Cunningham reported that Burgess admitted to gardaí that she had been supplying a small amount of cocaine, had run up a drug debt of about €15,000, and had agreed to keep the drugs at her home to repay part of that debt. A warrant secured a search of her home, where four kilograms of cocaine were found on top of a wardrobe in a bedroom. Burgess admitted responsibility for the drugs but could not identify the person who had given them to her. She said she had arranged to pick them up from the carpark at Crumlin's Children's Hospital, met an unknown person there, and was handed a heavy black bin.
Maurice Boland, 36, of Bridgeview Close, Tallow, Co Waterford, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of 26‑year‑old Cian Gallagher, a construction worker, who died on 10 November 2022 after a fall on 2 November. Boland told detectives he was defending himself when he struck Gallagher, who had his hands up and was backing away, as shown by CCTV. He claimed he hit Gallagher once, that the man was intoxicated, and that the fall caused a traumatic brain injury leading to death. Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster testified that Gallagher's blood alcohol level was high and that the injuries were consistent with a fall onto the back of the head. The trial is set to continue before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of eight men and four women.
A barrister from Castlebar has had his public order conviction overturned on appeal. Simeon Burke, aged 25, was convicted in July 2023 at Dublin District Court and fined €300 following an incident at the Four Courts on Inns Quay in March that year. The breach of the peace charge related to his behaviour during proceedings involving his brother's legal case before the Court of Appeal. At the District Court Appeals hearing on 15 April, Judge John Martin allowed Mr Burke's appeal and quashed the conviction. The judge found insufficient evidence that Mr Burke's conduct met the criminal threshold required for a public order offence under the relevant legislation. Garda witnesses had testified that Mr Burke resisted and obstructed officers during removal from the courtroom, including making comments about unrelated matters. However, Judge Martin concluded the requisite standard for criminal conviction had not been established beyond reasonable doubt. Mr Burke had argued that gardaí adopted an overzealous approach and removed him without a valid judicial order to do so.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 39‑year‑old woman testified that her uncle, aged 58, raped and imprisoned her for a week after violently assaulting her, leaving her unable to walk. She described being locked in a room, forced to use paper cups for toileting while the uncle repeatedly sexually assaulted her, including inserting fingers during urination about six or seven times a day from 2 February. He also set fire to the bed and curtains, switched off electricity, and threatened to kill or cause serious harm. The court heard the uncle had pleaded guilty to four assault counts and was found guilty of 14 counts, including rape, false imprisonment, 11 sexual assault counts and one threat count. The case was adjourned to 26 April for sentencing. The woman, who sustained bruises and a tooth injury, said she would never forgive him and that her life had been destroyed by his actions.
A 52-year-old man from Longford has been sentenced to nine years imprisonment following his conviction on 52 counts of sexual assault at the Central Criminal Court. The offences occurred between 2004 and 2006, when the victim was aged between 10 and 12 years old. The man, who was known to the victim's family and regularly babysat her, engaged in a pattern of sexual assaults that included inappropriate touching and exposure to pornographic material. During sentencing, Mr Justice David Keane identified aggravating factors including the breach of trust inherent in the babysitting relationship, the vulnerable age of the victim, and the fact that the abuse occurred within her home. The victim provided an impact statement describing the profound and lasting effects of the offences, stating that the trial process itself had been deeply traumatic. The judge noted the man has not accepted the jury's verdict and has demonstrated no remorse. A period of two-year post-release supervision has been imposed, with no portion of the sentence suspended.
The directors of the Sunyata Retreat Centre CLG in Co Clare deny that former chair Jan Ebbs was removed from the board in 2023 because she raised concerns about the charity's tax affairs and employment law compliance. The centre says it has always been tax‑compliant, citing an audit by the Revenue Commissioners that confirmed no further liability would be pursued. Ms Ebbs, who was voted off the board in late 2022, has filed complaints under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 and the Charities Act 2009 alleging that the directors penalised her for voicing concerns about the lack of a written contract for an employee, missing PRSI contributions and the charity's "taxation governance." In a preliminary hearing, the board's spokesperson said no director recalled any phone call or in‑person conversation with Ms Ebbs about her alleged protected disclosures.
The jury at the Stardust inquest, now in its third week of deliberations, will continue to consider their verdicts on the causes of death of the 48 victims of the 1981 fire at the Artane venue. After about four hours of discussion today, the panel of seven women and five men returned to court at 4 pm. Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane told them she would address their progress the next day, noting that further matters might arise. The inquest, which has been in session for almost a year, has heard 95 days of evidence from 373 witnesses. Dr Cullinane has instructed the jury to determine the identity, date and place of death and the circumstances surrounding each death, and to record a verdict. The possible verdicts are accidental death, death by misadventure, an open verdict, a narrative verdict and unlawful killing.
The High Court formally wound up Pressing Matters Limited, trading as Dublin Vinyl, on 15 April 2024, appointing Ken Fennell and Eamonn Richardson of Interpath Advisory as joint liquidators. The company, founded in 2016, employed 22 full‑time staff and four full‑time contractors and had liabilities exceeding €1.3 million. It had been unable to meet its debts as they fell due and had been petitioning for winding up. The court heard that the firm had hoped the provisional liquidators might allow it to complete outstanding orders worth €500,000, but Sam Collins BL reported that the clients deemed this unfeasible. All employees were made redundant. The company had received four separate offers for its assets, which are under consideration. Pressing Matters had sustained significant losses in 2022 and 2023 due to Covid‑19, Brexit, the Ukraine war, a lost major contract and delays in record‑pressing machines.
The High Court formally wound up Clonmannon House Retirement Village Limited, a Dublin-registered company that received millions from Chinese investors to develop a Co Wicklow care facility. Mr Justice Brian Cregan confirmed the appointment of insolvency practitioner Declan De Lacy as liquidator, following a provisional appointment after the court held the firm insolvent. The order was sought by Beijing-based Ms Yi Yuan, who claims to have lent €1m under the Immigrant Investor Programme. Counsel for the liquidator noted that the company's sole director, Ms Candance La Fleur, agreed to cooperate, and that the company intended to complete the purchase of Clonmannon House by month-end, with €1.9m already paid. The judge directed Ms La Fleur to provide a statement of affairs, and the matter was adjourned to return before the court later this month. Separately, proceedings brought last January by Clontarf-based Ms Li Sun, who invested in 2019, secured a temporary freezing order to prevent the disposal of assets. Ms Sun fears she will not recover €1.3m she says she is entitled to. All claims of wrongdoing in those proceedings have been denied by the company, and that action also returns before the court later this month.
During a Special Criminal Court hearing, Detective Inspector Mark Phillips reported that witnesses who had spoken to Gardaí about Aaron Brady's admission of killing Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe feared retaliation if they testified. Phillips cited ten witnesses who did not attend Brady's 2020 murder trial, citing threats or intimidation from Brady's associates. One witness, Ronan Flynn, recorded a video interview in New York where he claimed to have heard Brady admit the murder on multiple occasions, and he expressed concern for his safety and his family's safety after receiving a warning that he would be "dealt with" if he returned to Ireland. Other witnesses, including Colin Hoey and Daniel Cahill, also reported intimidation or fear of harm. The court heard that Dean Byrne, charged with conspiring to pervert the course of justice, had attempted to influence Cahill's testimony. The hearing focused on the intimidation allegations and the witnesses' reluctance to testify, without addressing any verdicts or sentencing. Dean Byrne pleaded not guilty.