An expert witness has stated that the architects of the Stardust nightclub had 'little or no knowledge of fire safety', which, combined with the lack of a functioning fire alarm and obstructed exits, contributed to the loss of life during the 1981 fire. Martin Davidson, a fire engineer with 29 years of experience, testified that the layout of the Stardust was 'fundamentally okay' but was undermined by poor fire safety strategy. He explained that the fire alarm only sent a signal to the management office and did not sound for patrons, a decision made at the insistence of Dublin Corporation to avoid panic, but which delayed evacuation. Davidson noted that most patrons did not realize the severity of the situation until screens were raised in the area where the fire was first observed. He also highlighted that the presence of carpet tiles on the walls rendered the means of escape redundant and that staff had no fire safety training.
During the Central Criminal Court trial, Dr Mary Davoren, a consultant forensic psychiatrist, testified that Patrick McDonagh's mental health difficulties are more consistent with long‑term substance misuse than schizophrenia. McDonagh, 52, is charged with murdering his neighbour Peter McDonald, 73, on Whitechapel Road on 25 July 2020, and has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea the State has rejected. Dr Davoren reviewed McDonagh's psychiatric history, noting initial diagnoses of schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder but later conclusions that substance misuse—particularly benzodiazepine dependence—was the primary issue. She recounted McDonagh's admissions of cocaine use beginning at 24 or 25 in London, heroin use from 19, and extensive cannabis consumption prior to the death, while denying other drug use in that period. Her evidence will continue before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath and a jury tomorrow.
Eugene Hanratty Snr (65), of Castleblayney Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, is appealing his conviction for assault causing harm at Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, on November 24, 2012. He pleaded not guilty but was convicted by a jury following a trial in October 2022 and sentenced to three years in prison. The matter was adjourned at the Court of Appeal, with Mr Justice George Birmingham reserving his decision. Defence counsel Sean Guerin SC argued the conviction should be overturned due to prosecution failings, including lost forensic evidence, a broken chain of custody regarding a jacket, and the failure to interview Hanratty Snr or his son, Eugene Jnr. The State, represented by Garret McCormack BL, countered that these issues did not warrant removing the case from the jury, noting the trial judge had properly considered the evidence. At sentencing, Judge Melanie Greally described the attack as unprovoked and premeditated, noting Hanratty Snr stamped on the victim's arm knowing he was a musician. The judge set a headline sentence of five years, reduced it by one year, and suspended the final year for 12 months, resulting in an effective custody period of two years. Hanratty Snr was also ordered to have no contact with the victims for 10 years. In a separate 2016 trial, Eugene Hanratty Jnr was acquitted of joint enterprise charges related to the same incident.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) was ordered by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) to pay a former estates manager, Martin Beirne, €31,666.78 for 104 days of untaken annual leave that had accumulated over 15 years of service. Beirne had been left without a line manager after his position was abolished in 2008, and he managed a team of five independently, with no senior manager to approve or advise on his holiday entitlement. He logged all hours and leave in the HSE's computerised system, but the HSE argued that it had not denied his leave and that he was responsible for managing it. The WRC found that the lack of effective line management prevented Beirne from taking his full leave, and ruled the complaint well‑founded. The decision also acknowledged a separate earlier dispute in which the HSE paid Beirne €80,000 for unpaid travel and subsistence expenses, which was unrelated to the leave claim.
In a High Court murder trial, Mr Justice Paul McDermott addressed jurors after Thomas Lorigan was found guilty of killing his 78‑year‑old uncle, John O'Neill, by stamping him to death outside his home in Lisdoonvarna. Lorigan, aged 34 and without a fixed abode, had denied the murder. The jury had seen graphic CCTV footage of the assault, which caused one juror to become very emotional. Mr Justice McDermott explained that the courts could not provide any "time out post‑verdict" or additional support beyond what is already available through the Courts Service, which offers debriefing for jurors and support for court staff. He thanked the 12 jurors for their dedication and noted that they would be exempt from jury service for the next ten years. The judge also acknowledged the increasing impact of traumatic digital evidence on all involved parties.
Wayne Barnes, a former international rugby referee and barrister, will speak at the Judicial Council meeting on Friday. Barnes, 44, is a partner in the government investigations & white collar practice of Squire Patton Boggs in London and has advised sports organisations, sponsors and rights holders on sports law, governance, ethics and safeguarding. He has refereed major club and international matches, including five World Cups and the 2019 Rugby World Cup Final in Paris. During his rugby career he faced severe abuse and death threats on social media. His appearance at the Irish judiciary's annual conference was confirmed by Courts Service sources. Barnes will address judges on decision‑making, but will not be paid and will not recommend a TMO or VAR system for Irish courts.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a jury unanimously found 34‑year‑old Thomas Lorigan guilty of murdering his 78‑year‑old uncle, John O'Neill, in Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare. Lorigan, who had no fixed abode, was alleged to have stamped O'Neill to death while wearing steel‑capped boots. CCTV footage showed Lorigan delivering calculated kicks and stamping the widower, who had previously run a bed and breakfast with his wife, who died in 2021. A Garda witness testified that O'Neill was severely beaten and left unrecognisable. Blood‑stained boots recovered from a house Lorigan stayed at the night before the body was found contained a mixed DNA profile, including Lorigan's. The prosecution argued the attack was "something personal" with no robbery motive. The jury, after three days of deliberation, returned a unanimous guilty verdict for murder. Mr Justice Paul McDermott will hand down a mandatory life sentence on 19 February and remand Lorigan in custody until then. Thomas Lorigan pleaded not guilty.
The High Court struck out a High Court action brought by Aaron Rodericks, co-lead of Threat Disruption at X, against Twitter International Unlimited Company. Mr. Rodericks, who resides in Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, alleged he was subjected to a "sham" disciplinary process and suspended for allegedly liking tweets critical of X, its owner Elon Musk, and CEO Linda Yaccarino. He claimed the process breached fair procedures and his contract, while the company denied wrongdoing. Counsel for both parties informed Mr. Justice Mark Sanfey that the matter had been resolved, and the judge ordered the proceedings struck out. Settlement terms were not disclosed. Separately, the court granted an ex-parte application allowing Mr. Rodericks to serve defamation proceedings on Mr. Musk in San Francisco. Mr. Rodericks alleges a tweet by Mr. Musk, which stated the "Election Integrity team" was "gone," defamed him by implying he undermined election integrity and was incompetent. He seeks damages, including exemplary and aggravated damages, from Mr. Musk and X Corp's Irish subsidiary. The court noted that Mr. Musk had not responded to requests to remove the tweet or make amends.
The 78‑year‑old widower John O'Neill, former owner of a Lisdoonvarna bed and breakfast, was found dead in his kitchen on 6 January 2024. Garda Louise Keogh and a colleague entered the house after a call about a suspected altercation the previous night. They discovered O'Neill's severely beaten body, with facial injuries, a pool of blood at the top of his head, a broken vase, a damaged laptop and scattered bank and social services cards. The scene suggested a "personal" killing. Witnesses identified Thomas Lorigan, 56, as the man who had stayed overnight at Lorigan's home the night before and who was later arrested for assault causing serious harm. Lorigan was detained at Ennis Garda Station after a DNA sample was taken. The case remains a murder investigation, with the prosecution presenting forensic evidence linking Lorigan to the assault and death of O'Neill. The trial has not yet concluded.
Ms Li Sun, a Dublin-based Chinese businesswoman, has launched High Court proceedings against Clonmannon House Retirement Village Limited. Ms Sun claims she invested €1m in 2019 through the Irish Immigrant Investor Programme, expecting to secure an Irish Visa and receive €1.3m, including interest, after five years. She alleges she has only received €100,000 and that the defendant has refused to provide quarterly management accounts or allow inspection of its books. Ms Sun expresses concern that the company may dissipate assets to avoid payment. The defendant's solicitors have denied any wrongdoing and stated Ms Sun has no reason for complaint. Ms Sun, represented by Sean O'Sullivan BL, secured a temporary High Court injunction on an ex-parte basis from Mr Justice Mark Sanfey. The order restrains the defendant from disbursing, dissipating, or disposing of any monies received from the sale or disposal of its assets or shares. The judge noted the need for caution in granting freezing orders after hearing only one side but was satisfied to grant the temporary order. The matter was adjourned to a date later this week. Ms Sun also seeks judgment for €1.3m, damages for breach of contract, and orders directing the defendant to provide accounts and freeze assets below a certain level pending the determination of the proceedings.
Occupli Limited has brought a High Court action alleging that its former CEO, Chris Mee, and others unlawfully accessed and used the company's private, confidential and commercially sensitive information. The plaintiff claims that Mee, his daughter Catherine Mee, former employees Julie Twomey and Leah Murphy, and a firm allegedly owned by Mee, EHS International Ventures Ltd, have solicited Occupli's employees and clients, thereby damaging the company's economic interests and reputation. Occupli seeks temporary injunctions to prevent the defendants from interfering with, deleting, or using its information and to preserve any data on their IT systems. Mr Justice Mark Sanfey granted an interim injunction on an ex‑parte basis, noting that the defendants have strongly denied wrongdoing. The case remains adjourned, with the court allowing parties to return before the scheduled date. The action is based on alleged breaches of a prior settlement that included non‑compete and non‑solicitation provisions.
Andrew Cash, 32, was sentenced to eight years in prison, with the final year suspended, after pleading guilty to multiple offences including theft, robbery, attempted robbery and assault causing harm. The court heard that between May and November 2020 he carried out a series of violent robberies across Dublin, most notably an attack in Crane Lane where he punched a victim, kicked him to the ground, stamped on his head and left him with a concussion, slipped discs and a minor brain bleed. CCTV footage showed Cash returning with two accomplices to repeat the assault. He also pleaded guilty to a robbery at a launderette and theft of a debit card and mobile phone from an unconscious man. The judge cited his 66 prior convictions, the violence used and the threat of knives as aggravating factors, while noting his guilty plea, homelessness and substance abuse as mitigating.
Kacper Koszarski, 23, faced a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing after a series of violent burglaries and high‑speed car chases. He pleaded guilty to 17 charges, including four counts of dangerous driving, four of trespass, one of endangerment, four of criminal damage, two of burglary, one of knife production and one of unauthorised vehicle taking. The court noted his 39 prior convictions, seven of them theft, and warned that a "sentence of some significance" would be imposed. Judge Elva Duffy adjourned the case to 22 March for a probation report, urine analysis and governor's report, remanding Koszarski in custody. The hearing covered incidents from a Maynooth burglary where a Renault Megane was taken and chased, to multiple garden trespasses in Dublin where knives were found. Koszarski's partner testified about their son with additional needs, and he expressed remorse and a desire for rehabilitation. The court considered his young age, addiction history and willingness to cooperate. The case remains pending.
Jonathan Moles, aged 30, was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a series of violent offences. He pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a woman and assault causing harm to her at a flat on Botanic Avenue on 8 August 2020, to assaulting a man at an ATM on Capel Street on 8 July 2019, to assaulting a man on 18 November 2019 and robbing him of over €2,000, and to assaulting a man on 18 November 2019. The court noted Moles' "violent disposition" and cumulative misbehaviour. He has 40 prior convictions, mainly for money laundering and drug possession, and no other convictions for assault or robbery. The judge accepted his guilty pleas, remorse and rehabilitation efforts, and imposed the sentence accordingly.
The Stardust management only complied with ten of 26 by-laws set down as terms of the nightclub's planning permission, an inquest jury has heard, with a lack of fire drills, lack of staff training, and the locking and obstructing of exits all showing non-compliance. Martin Davidson, a fire engineer with 29 years of experience, gave evidence in the Dublin District Coroner's Court during the inquest into the fire that killed 48 people in 1981. He stated that no revised drawings were submitted showing the use of carpet tiles on the walls instead of plastered walls. Doors were fitted with metal shutters that were fully down and locked, and temporary barriers were used, reducing exit width. Chains and padlocks were used on exit doors, which were not secured by automatic fastenings as required. Stardust manager Eamon Butterly confirmed that exits one, five and six were locked until between 11.30pm and midnight.
Charlie Lawlor, 21, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to a woman and assaulting her partner during an incident on 11 August 2022 in Church Street, Dun Laoghaire. The attack followed a dispute with his girlfriend after they had been chatting with a gay couple in a local pub. Lawlor threw homophobic slurs such as "fuck the gays" and "dirty gays" and punched one woman, causing a facial laceration that required surgery and numerous stitches in her mouth. The other woman suffered bruising to her face. The court heard the victims were emotionally scarred and that one woman was left with a permanent facial scar. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Lawlor to two and a half years, fully suspended, and ordered him to pay €7,000 to the more seriously injured woman and €1,000 to the other within nine months, with compensation to a charity if declined. Lawlor expressed remorse and is studying for a PLC course.
Patrick McDonagh, 52, is on trial accused of murdering his next-door neighbour, Peter McDonald, 73, with a machete on Whitechapel Road on July 25, 2020. McDonagh has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea the State has not accepted. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, heard evidence from consultant psychiatrist Prof Patricia Casey. She testified that McDonagh, who has a long history of schizophrenia dating back to 2001, was suffering from an acute psychotic episode at the time of the alleged killing. Prof Casey stated she did not believe McDonagh was feigning his delusional beliefs, which included identifying himself as Moses and his sister as the Blessed Virgin. She noted that McDonagh told her he was turned away from Connolly Hospital the day before the incident due to Covid restrictions. Prof Casey opined that his mental disorder substantially diminished his responsibility under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006. The trial continues.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Thomas Lorigan, aged 34 and a nephew of the deceased, continues with a jury of five men and seven women deliberating for a third day. Lorigan, who has no fixed abode, pleaded not guilty to the murder of his 78‑year‑old uncle, John O'Neill, who lived alone on St Brendan's Road, Lisdoonvarna, Co Clare. The prosecution presented evidence that Lorigan was seen on CCTV delivering kicks and stamping on O'Neill's head with steel‑capped boots, and that a pair of blood‑stained boots recovered from a house where Lorigan stayed the night before the body was found contained a mixed DNA profile including Lorigan's. Witness Walter Burke testified that Lorigan left the house on the night of 6 January, returned before midnight, and had a serious argument with his uncle.
In a January 2024 Employment Equality case before the Workplace Relations Commission, the adjudicator, Ms Lefre de Burgh, rejected all claims made by Ms Nicole Reekie against Liani Ltd. Ms Reekie, an Australian national who had worked as a deli assistant at the Cork City convenience store from 15 June 2022 for six weeks, alleged discrimination on civil status grounds, harassment, and a pay claim. She had requested Portuguese and Spanish interpreters, but the adjudicator deemed the request inappropriate because all parties spoke English and cited the cost to public funds. Ms Reekie claimed her civil status was "homeless" and that she was a single, older, foreign woman, but the tribunal found homelessness was not a protected status under the Equality Act. She also alleged racial discrimination because she was Australian, but the adjudicator held that the complaint could not change as the respondent responded.
The State applied to transfer the trial of Jason O'Connor, 45, accused of attempting to murder Charlie Cooper on 5 December 2016 at Parslickstown Green, Mulhuddart, to the Special Criminal Court. O'Connor also faces charges for possessing a 9mm firearm and 12 rounds of ammunition with intent to endanger life at the same place and time. At a non‑jury court hearing, State solicitor Michael O'Donovan secured a successful ex‑parte application, and Judge Caroline Biggs granted the transfer, adjourned the case to 7 February, and the trial will now be heard by a three‑judge Special Criminal Court.
Paul Claffey, promoter of the Michael English Band, says there may have been an "error" in a submission to a State body about payments to fiddler Matt McGranaghan. McGranaghan, who was dismissed by email in September 2021, has asked the Workplace Relations Commission to set aside findings by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that overturned a Department of Social Protection decision declaring him an employee. He argues the office accepted an "unsubstantiated" assertion that he was paid by Paul Claffey Tours Ltd, which he says never happened. Claffey's firm, MEPC Music Ireland Ltd, denies McGranaghan was ever an employee and claims he has no right to pursue a statutory complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. McGranaghan's lawyer, Martin McMahon, has accused the firm's barrister of "playing to the gallery" and "barracking" witnesses. The hearing, conducted by adjudicator Caroline Reidy, is closed and a decision is expected in writing.
Ciaran Foster, 30, a former Defence Forces member, was jailed for a year after pleading guilty to a robbery on Westmoreland Street, Dublin 2, on 23 July 2019. He punched an unarmed victim, knocking him unconscious for three and a half minutes, and stole a bag, a mobile phone and a watch. Garda Sean Tully reported that the victim had stopped to chat with someone he knew when Foster attacked him. CCTV footage showed the assault and Foster's escape. Foster was arrested on 9 November 2019. He had 13 prior convictions for traffic offences, criminal damage, public order and drug misuse. Judge Elma Duffy described the attack as "callous" and "unprovoked", noting Foster's difficult childhood and Defence Forces service as mitigating factors, but also the cowardly nature of the robbery as aggravating. Foster was sentenced to two and a half years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions.
An expert witness, Dr Will Hutchinson, testified at the Stardust inquest that a fire could have started in the hot press of the dispense bar without being noticed by staff. He explained that if the fire originated there, it would have been contained in the cabinet and channeled upwards like a chimney, traveling into the ceiling void without producing noise or smoke for several minutes. The sound of music in the club may have masked any sounds from the fire. Dr Hutchinson noted that the fire could have developed unnoticed due to the absence of heat, smoke, or noise. He also discussed the possibility of the fire spreading through the ceiling void, igniting combustible materials, and eventually reaching the West alcove. The expert confirmed that no evidence suggested the fire was started maliciously. The inquest continues.
Graham Daly, aged 40, was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison for repeatedly raping and sexually abusing his younger brother between January 1998 and December 2002. The offences were tried in the Central Criminal Court in December 2021, where a jury found him guilty on seven counts. Daly pleaded not guilty and has maintained his innocence, arguing that the sentence was too severe. He appealed to the Court of Appeal, claiming the judge erred in assessing the severity and in balancing aggravating and mitigating factors, and that the sentence was disproportionate. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, stating that the gravity of the repeated, escalating offences justified a headline sentence range of 10 to 15 years, and that the judge's decision to place the sentence within that range was correct. The court found no error in the judge's approach and upheld the eight‑and‑a‑half‑year term.
Michael Kelly, 34, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting a female taxi driver after they refused to pay her fare. The incident occurred on 19 December 2022 when Kelly and his partner left a taxi without paying, walked into their home, and the driver pursued them to the front door. Kelly pulled the driver by her jumper and punched her several times, causing bruising and tenderness to her face. CCTV contradicted his claim of self‑defence. He has seven prior minor traffic convictions. The judge, Martin Nolan, imposed a suspended two‑year jail sentence and ordered Kelly to pay the driver €3,000 within nine months, or donate the amount to charity if she declines. The sentence was suspended on conditions, and no custodial time was imposed at this stage. The driver suffered nausea and dizziness and was treated at hospital the next day.
Oliver Moore, 55, was sentenced to a four‑year suspended term for attempting to set fire to a house on 18 November 2022. He had a long‑standing grievance with the former resident, unaware that the house was now occupied by three students. Gardai found him early in the morning trying to push burning newspaper through the letterbox, claiming he intended to "burn him out." The students heard banging, saw him shouting, and fled to the garden before calling the police. Moore pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge noted his attempts were ineffectual but serious, and, citing mitigating factors, imposed the suspended sentence with conditions, warning him it was his first and last chance. He had no prior convictions and had not returned to the property since the incident.
Eoin Michael Cahill, a quantity surveyor, has filed a High Court claim against Ryanair, alleging defamation and an unjust travel ban. Cahill asserts that Ryanair accused him of disruptive behaviour on a flight he did not take and that an email sent to his employer on January 3, 2024, falsely claimed he was disruptive on a Dublin Airport journey. He says the airline's ban prevents him from travelling to Denmark for work and threatens his professional reputation. Cahill has requested details of the alleged behaviour, a correction to the employer, and lifting of the ban. Ryanair initially considered reversing the ban but later asked for time to investigate. Cahill's lawyers seek damages, injunctions against further defamation, and an order preventing Ryanair from maintaining the ban during the trial. The case is set to return to court in early February.
A 42‑year‑old convicted murderer, Richard Kearney, was sentenced to eight years in prison for a series of offences committed while on temporary release from a life sentence. In March 2023 he briefly imprisoned a former prison chaplain in her bathroom, then robbed and assaulted an 86‑year‑old woman in Clondalkin, and later attacked two priests in Clondalkin. He attempted to choke a 74‑year‑old priest, broke the hip of an 86‑year‑old priest, and locked both priests in an office while taking a phone and cash. The court noted the victims were elderly and unable to resist. Kearney's temporary release was revoked after the offences, and the Parole Board will consider his conduct separately. The judge highlighted that the attacks were similar to the murder for which Kearney was originally convicted in 2001. The sentence was back‑dated to March 2023. Richard Kearney pleaded guilty.
In a landmark ruling, the Court of Appeal held that CCTV footage can be used as evidence in criminal trials, rejecting arguments that its use breaches constitutional and EU rights. Mr Justice John Edwards, in the case of Philip Dunbar, who murdered a homeless man with a disability by stabbing him 183 times, said that where such evidence exists, it would be a dereliction of duty if Gardaí did not access and use it. He noted that data protection laws allow CCTV processing when necessary and proportionate for preventing, detecting, investigating or prosecuting crime. The judge described the footage as highly relevant, obtained from private homes, businesses and public places such as footpaths, roads, a public park, a bus and a shopping centre. He dismissed the appeal, stating that the arguments were "lacking in reality" and that no rights were breached.
Stewart Goodwin, 46, of Ashbourne, was found guilty of deceiving Old Borough National School in Swords by installing inferior flooring, resulting in a loss of €15,240. He pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after a District Court charge. Goodwin had been hired to repair a flood‑damaged floor, paid a deposit, and agreed on a specific type of wood. He instead ordered cheaper, lower‑quality timber, removed the old floor, and installed a thinner, untreated surface. The school cancelled the contract and demanded a refund. Goodwin repaid €9,510 in June but still owed €15,240. He expressed remorse, claiming he intended to improve the floor later. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a 21‑month suspended sentence, requiring Goodwin to repay the full €15,240 within one year under strict conditions. No victim impact statement was prepared.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the jury's deliberations were halted for the day after one juror fell ill. The 12 jurors had begun deliberating at midday, spending an hour and five minutes before being sent home. The foreman notified Judge Paul McDermott that a juror was unwell and requested the rest of the day be excused. The jury confirmed they would return tomorrow at 11 am. The case concerns Thomas Lorigan, 34, who is accused of murdering his 78‑year‑old uncle, John O'Neill, at St Brendan's Road, Lisdoonvarna, between 6 and 7 January 2022. Lorigan, known locally as 'Mossy', is the nephew of the deceased. Evidence presented includes blood‑stained boots recovered from a house in Gleann Bhreandain, a mixed DNA profile containing Lorigan's DNA, and CCTV footage allegedly showing Lorigan delivering kicks and stamping on O'Neill's head with steel‑capped boots. Thomas Lorigan pleaded not guilty.
Philip Dunbar, aged 23, was found guilty of murder after stabbing Adam 'Floater' Muldoon 183 times in an unprovoked attack in Tallaght in 2018. He appealed his conviction, arguing a mental disorder caused by chronic drug use and that CCTV evidence infringed his privacy. The Court of Appeal, hearing via video-link, dismissed all grounds. Justice John Edwards noted the appeal was "bordering on un-statable" and that privacy claims were "misconceived". He emphasised that without an expert opinion proving a mental disorder at the time of the murder, the defence could not rely on that defence. The court also rejected arguments about the admissibility of admissions and a key witness's evidence. Dunbar remains imprisoned, with no changes to his sentence announced. The case highlights the court's stance on mental disorder defenses and CCTV use in criminal trials.
Three men – Steven Byrne (36), Jonathan Dolan (47) and Anthony Grogan (55) – pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting Gardaí and one count of violent disorder for an unprovoked attack on two Gardaí outside a takeaway on Ballyfermot Road on 21 November 2022. The Gardaí, Phillip Nash, Sean Savage and Nicole Malcolmson, were injured; Savage required staples and stitches to his head and Malcolmson suffered a knee injury. CCTV footage was shown in court. The men were arrested at the scene or later that day. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced each to 27 months imprisonment, to run concurrently on each count of assault and the violent disorder count. The sentence was imposed after the men pleaded guilty, cooperated, made admissions and expressed remorse. The court noted the Gardaí were performing their lawful duty when assaulted. The men's prior convictions were mentioned but did not affect the sentencing. The sentence was delivered in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
During the Stardust inquest, expert witness Dr Will Hutchinson, a fire investigator with 23 years of experience, stated that an electrical fault in a hot press was a likely cause of the 1981 nightclub fire that killed 48 people. He explained that defects in the electrical installation, including overloading of circuits and a removed plastic cover on the hot press's upper immersion unit, could have produced excess heat and ignited the wiring. The presence of combustible carpet tiles on the walls, combined with a low ceiling, contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. Dr Hutchinson confirmed that PVC-coated seats could ignite from flaming droplets, and that the carpet tiles' ignition increased heat output, leading to the uncontrolled blaze. The inquest will continue tomorrow in the Rotunda Hospital's Pillar Room.
Michael King, 53, of Warren View, Boyle, Co Roscommon, appealed to the Court of Appeal against his five-and-a-half-year sentence for 12 counts of sexual assault. In May 2023, Judge Kenneth Connolly at Roscommon Circuit Court jailed King after a jury unanimously convicted him on all counts, despite his not guilty pleas. The offences, committed over nine months ending in September 2005, involved the sexual abuse of a 16-year-old babysitter. King was sentenced to five-and-a-half years on two consecutive counts of sexual assault, with the other ten charges taken into account. The trial judge reduced a headline sentence of two-and-a-half years on one count to 18 months, suspending the final 12 months, and reduced an eight-year headline on another count to five years. Counsel for King argued the sentence was excessive and that consecutive sentencing was inappropriate. Counsel for the State contended the sentence reflected the gravity of the escalating abuse and breach of trust. The Court of Appeal, comprising Mr Justice Edwards, Mr Justice Birmingham, and Mr Justice McCarthy, noted the lack of guilty pleas and the significant age disparity. The court reserved its judgement in the matter.
A 32‑year‑old South African woman, Anele Ngwenya, was sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assisting the entry of a 16‑year‑old Congolese girl into Ireland on a fake passport. Ngwenya pleaded guilty to the offence of assisting the entry of another person at Terminal Two, Dublin Airport on 5 October 2023. She claimed she had agreed to escort the girl for €971 after being approached by members of her church in Johannesburg, describing the act as a "crime of desperation". The girl, who is now under Tusla's care, travelled from Paris with Ngwenya, who was questioned by immigration officers about her purpose of travel. Ngwenya had no prior convictions in Ireland or South Africa. The court accepted that there were no aggravating features and imposed a 16‑month custodial sentence, describing the offence as serious but not an insidious human trafficking case.
A 36‑year‑old woman, Christine Ward, was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison for her role in a violent robbery of a 79‑year‑old widower in Artane on 2 November 2018. Ward, who had previously called the victim for money, entered his home with her former partner Derek Bewley, who wielded a claw hammer. The victim was stabbed repeatedly, had his hearing aid shattered, and was robbed of €600, his phone, and his car. Ward pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and other counts, and the judge noted the offence was against a vulnerable elderly man. Ward's sentence of 10 years, with 18 months suspended, reflects the seriousness of the crime. Bewley, aged 48, is due to be sentenced later. The court also heard of a separate robbery of a visually impaired man on the same day, but Ward's sentence concerns the Artane incident.
Mark Kelly, 26, of Blanchardstown, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three and a half years in prison. Kelly pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply and possession of cash believed to be proceeds of crime, both alleged to have occurred at his home on June 29, 2022. The court heard that Gardaí found cocaine with an estimated street value of €285,000, along with €3,575 in cash, weighing scales, knives, and baggies during a warrant search. Kelly admitted to officers that he was holding the drugs to settle a €3,000 debt incurred through his own cocaine use, stating he had been threatened and was in debt for approximately six months. Defence counsel Tony McGillicuddy SC submitted that Kelly had no previous convictions, had lost his job, and immediately took responsibility for the drugs to protect others. Judge Martin Nolan acknowledged that Kelly acted at the lower end of the enterprise and had "got in over his head" due to addiction, but noted he was a "vital cog" in the supply chain. The judge jailed Kelly for three and a half years.
Nicolae Dulea, 36, of Tyrellstown, Dublin, was jailed for 18 months after pleading guilty to non‑payment of duty on 40,000 untaxed cigarettes and to keeping 60,600 cigarettes and 4.5 kg of fine‑cut tobacco without tax stamps. The cigarettes were discovered in a pallet that a detection dog flagged on 11 November 2021; the pallet, listed as children's playthings, contained two boxes of untaxed cigarettes totalling a €24,580 loss to the State. A separate search of a storage container rented to Prunesso Europe Ltd on the same day uncovered 60,600 cigarettes and 4.5 kg of tobacco, a €38,198.75 loss. The total loss to the State was €61,788. Dulea had two prior convictions, the most recent in 2013. He claimed to be a wholesaler of dried fruits and said he was collecting the boxes for a friend. He was cooperative, pleaded early, and his wife attended court.
The families of five special‑needs children have brought a High Court judicial review to investigate allegations made by a former staff member that the children were mentally and physically abused at their primary school. The whistle‑blower claims that two staff members—another teacher and a Special Needs Assistant—pulled and dragged the children, shouted at them, grabbed them by the neck and chin, forced them into sensory rooms, and made them complete work while distressed. She also alleges that the teacher rubbed soap over a child's mouth to stop "blowing bubbles with saliva", and that the SNA left a child in wet, soiled underwear, calling the child "dirty" and telling her to "leave some for Mammy." The whistle‑blower says the teacher and SNA told her to shout more at the children, and that they planned to make classroom changes to upset the children.
In the Central Criminal Court, Patrick McDonagh (52) is on trial for the murder of his neighbour Peter McDonald (73) on 25 July 2020. McDonagh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea the State has not accepted. He is charged with killing McDonald with a machete, resulting in head and neck wounds. The court heard that McDonagh, who has bipolar disorder, had not taken his medication for months before the attack, claiming it left him "defenceless against satan" and caused heart palpitations. Care worker Aaron Murtagh Casey testified that McDonagh was disorientated during a call with Gardaí, who later used a Taser to subdue him after a stand‑off. The jury is to decide whether McDonagh's mental state constitutes a diminished‑responsibility defence. The trial is before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath with a jury of nine men and three women.
In a case heard by the Workplace Relations Commission, a woman who had co‑founded a firm with her husband was made redundant in autumn 2022. The tribunal found that the breakdown of her marriage had a significant part to play in the decision to remove her as a director and signatory. The company argued that the marital issues were irrelevant and that the husband had no involvement in the redundancy process, but the adjudicator noted that the husband had been involved in previous redundancies and that the decision to dismiss had been made earlier than the formal redundancy process. The woman, an accounting technician with 20 years' experience, had a 50% shareholding and was left without income, forcing her to take supermarket shifts after the pandemic unemployment payment ceased. She had sought €72,000 in compensation but the WRC awarded her €25,000, allowing the company to deduct the statutory redundancy payment already made.
Charles McClean, aged 35, already serving 16.5 years for facilitating a criminal organisation and conspiracy to murder Wayne Whelan, pleaded guilty to impeding the apprehension of the person who murdered gangland figure Mark 'Guinea Pig' Desmond in Lucan on 2 December 2016. McClean admitted he knew or believed the murderer was guilty of an arrestable offence, namely Desmond's murder, and that he had impeded the investigation. He was originally charged with Desmond's murder on the same day. The case was heard before the Central Criminal Court, where Mr Justice Paul McDermott remanded McClean in custody until 6 February for a sentence hearing and directed the preparation of a victim impact report. The hearing was scheduled to last 40 minutes. McClean's earlier convictions include an eight‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for facilitating the fatal shooting of Thomas McCarthy in 2020 and an eight‑year sentence for conspiracy to murder Whelan in 2021.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 29 January 2024, the sentencing of a 46‑year‑old man for raping a teenage girl and sexually abusing another was interrupted when two men attacked him in the dock. The assault occurred while the prosecuting garda was giving evidence of the abuse. The men were restrained and removed by prison staff and gardai, and the defendant, bleeding, received medical attention. Judge Paul Burns described the incident as a serious breach of security and said it would be investigated by the Courts Service, with possible further steps to protect court safety. The defendant had been convicted in December of 11 counts of sexual abuse, including rape and exploitation, against a 15‑ to 16‑year‑old girl, and one count of causing a 14‑ to 15‑year‑old girl to watch pornography. The judge remanded him in custody and adjourned the sentencing to 26 February 2024.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 33‑year‑old Daragh Houlihan pleaded guilty to robbery for an incident on 4 May 2021 in which he attacked his pregnant girlfriend, wrestled with her over a knife, pushed and kicked her, and stole her phone. The judge described his conduct as "utterly reprehensible" and noted the victim's pregnancy and the relationship's end. Houlihan's addiction to cocaine and heroin was cited as a mitigating factor. The court imposed a headline sentence of three years, reduced to two years and three months, and suspended the entire term for three years on strict conditions, including no contact with the victim and notification of any new intimate relationship. Houlihan agreed to participate in programs addressing intimate partner violence, anger management, and offence‑focused intervention. The victim's impact statement highlighted her fear and emotional distress following the assault. The case concluded with a fully suspended sentence and no custodial time.
A 61-year-old former scout leader has been sentenced to six years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his guilty plea to three counts of sexual assault committed between 1991 and 2000. The man, whose identity is protected to safeguard victims' anonymity, abused three boys aged between 11 and 14 at a scouting den in Dublin and at locations in Waterford and Monaghan. The abuse included inappropriate touching, masturbation and oral sex. Judge Martin Nolan described the defendant's conduct as "very serious" and "very reprehensible," noting he had abused his position of trust and authority over vulnerable, impressionable children and their families. The court imposed three-year sentences on each count, with two to run consecutively. Three victim impact statements were presented, with victims describing long-term psychological harm, damaged trust and ongoing mental health difficulties. The defence highlighted the defendant's guilty plea, work history and psychological assessment indicating low re-offending risk, though the judge found these factors provided only limited mitigation.
In a Lisdoonvarna murder trial, the prosecution argued that 34‑year‑old Thomas Lorigan, known as 'Mossy', killed his 78‑year‑old uncle John O'Neill by stamping on his head with steel‑capped boots and delivering calculated kicks. Evidence included blood‑stained boots and jeans found at Lorigan's residence, DNA matching O'Neill's profile, CCTV footage of a man in long pants entering the B&B, and testimony from Walter Burke that Lorigan had a heated argument with his uncle that night. The prosecution claimed the assault was vicious, with no resistance from O'Neill, and that Lorigan left the scene carrying something, possibly alcohol. Lorigan pleaded not guilty, and the defence contended the evidence was circumstantial, questioning the reliability of witness testimony and CCTV identification. The trial was set to continue on Monday.
In a Central Criminal Court trial, a 49‑year‑old man was convicted of raping and sexually assaulting his partner's seven‑year‑old son between 1 May and 30 September 2016. The boy was in the shower when the man entered, claiming his mother had asked him to shower with him, and the man then sexually assaulted and raped the child. The conviction was upheld in a Court of Appeal hearing where the appellant argued that the trial was unfair because the boy had been given erroneous information that the accused had previously been in custody for raping a girl. The appellant's counsel claimed this information, presented on a DVD, could have influenced the boy's initial complaint and interview. The court reserved judgment on the appeal. The original sentencing, imposed by Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring, was eight years' imprisonment for rape and three years and six months for sexual assault, to run concurrently.
Debbie Paget, 56, of Knowth Court, Ballymun, Dublin, was convicted in May 2024 for dishonestly inducing James Byrne to give her €10,000 by claiming his deceased father had instructed her to receive the money, and for a lesser charge of inducing Maria Byrne to give €200. The jury found her guilty on the first count and not guilty on the second. She was jailed for one year by Judge Pauline Codd on 10 July. In the appeal, counsel argued that the trial judge erred by not directing a not‑guilty verdict at the close of the prosecution case, citing alleged inconsistencies in witness statements. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, affirming the jury's findings and the conviction. The case remains at the sentencing stage, with no further outcome reported in the article.
During a stand‑off at a Dublin house, Detective Garda Michael Hughes sprinkled himself and armed officers with holy water after the accused, Patrick McDonagh, claimed he was speaking to God and accused the Garda of being the devil. McDonagh, 52, had a history of mental health issues and was surrounded by armed Gardaí and negotiators. He was later subdued and arrested. The Central Criminal Court heard that McDonagh had murdered his neighbour, 73‑year‑old Peter McDonald, on 25 July 2020, using a machete. Forensic evidence from blood stains on the victim's home matched McDonald's DNA, indicating a violent assault. McDonagh pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter; the State has not accepted the plea. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath with a jury of nine men and three women.