Steven Gillman, a 70‑year‑old software company owner, was found guilty of assault after he repeatedly punched a fellow member of the Royal St George Yacht Club during a billiards tournament in September 2023. The victim suffered a fractured eye socket, a dislocated eye lens, double vision, tinnitus and ongoing medical care. Gillman pleaded guilty to one count of assault causing harm and paid €15,000 as a token of remorse. He had no prior convictions and was described by his defence counsel as a "model citizen." Judge Elma Sheahan sentenced him to a headline term of three years, reduced to two years, and suspended the entire sentence on a number of conditions. Gillman has since resigned from the yacht club, which had been a significant part of his social life. The victim's impact statement highlighted lasting physical and psychological damage, and the assault's effect on his social and sporting activities.
Three former Randridge International Ltd employees – Margaret Boylan, Michelle Boyle and Caroline Nugent – secured pay orders from the Workplace Relations Commission for unpaid wages and severance. Boylan received €9,717.23, Boyle was awarded €103 after deductions, and Nugent €4,500. The orders cover back pay and other entitlements ranging from €4,500 to €9,000. The workers withdrew claims for statutory redundancy lump sums after the company said it had referred them to the national redundancy fund. Randridge, represented by Roberta Urbon, cited cash‑flow and financial difficulties as the reason for the unpaid amounts. The WRC decisions were published on 25 November 2024, and the company's position was that it could not pay the workers what they were owed due to trading difficulties. The cases illustrate the workers' successful pursuit of unpaid wages under the Payment of Wages Act 1991.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a 62‑year‑old man was sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment for 19 counts of rape of one sister between 1977 and 1984 and eight counts of rape and eight counts of indecent assault of a second sister between 1979 and 1984. The sisters, aged 12‑18 and 12‑17 at the time of the offences, testified that the abuse began when the accused was 12 and continued daily until he was 22. They described the violence as relentless, with the accused claiming no crime had been committed. The judge noted the victims' vulnerability, the prolonged nature of the abuse, and the significant harm inflicted. The sentence was imposed without any suspended portion, and the court ordered two years of post‑release supervision. The accused denied all allegations and expressed no remorse. The unnamed 62-year-old was convicted.
A jury of seven men and five women was sworn in by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon for the trial of Maurice Boland, 37, of Tallow, Waterford. Boland, who admits killing but denies murder, pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to manslaughter of Cian Gallagher, 26, on 10 November 2022. The trial will start Wednesday morning and is expected to last no more than two weeks.
Cahir O'Higgins, a Dublin criminal‑defence solicitor aged 49, was convicted in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of one count of theft and four counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice. He denied stealing €400 from a client on 30 July 2016 and denied providing incorrect notes to Gardaí in December 2017. The judge described the conduct as "deranged", "thuggish", "base" and "despicable". O'Higgins had earlier pleaded guilty to assault and harassment of a former employee, for which he received a 16‑month sentence in July. The new sentence, imposed by Judge Martin Nolan, was 27 months, back‑dated to 21 October, with the court noting the seriousness of the perverting‑justice charges and the impact on his reputation. O'Higgins expressed remorse and requested an apology to those affected. The court considered mitigating factors but extended his custodial term accordingly. The case remains at the sentencing stage, with no further verdicts announced.
Former rugby international Brendan Mullin, aged 61, was convicted in a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial of stealing just over €567,000 from Bank of Ireland Private Bank between 2011 and 2013. The jury found him guilty on 12 of 14 charges, including the theft of €500,000 that was transferred to Spice Holdings, a company registered in the British Virgin Islands. Mullin had arranged payments to McCann Fitzgerald solicitors, Beechwood accountants and Grant Thornton for work he performed personally or for his firm Quantum Investment Strategies, and had redirected invoices from his personal address to the private bank. He was acquitted of two charges relating to Beechwood Partners and a deception count. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to three years' imprisonment, noting his position of trust and the fact that the bank was fully repaid before the investigation began. Mullin accepted the verdict and expressed remorse. The sentence was handed down on the day of the hearing.
In a civil case heard over three weeks, a jury awarded Nikita Hand €250,000 in damages after she alleged that Conor McGregor had "brutally raped and battered" her in a Dublin hotel penthouse in December 2018. The court awarded her €60,000 in general damages and €188,000 in special damages, with the special damages agreed by both parties. The jury found that McGregor had assaulted Hand, while a second defendant, James Lawrence, was found not to have assaulted her. McGregor testified that his sexual encounter with Hand was consensual, describing it as "enthusiastic, athletic, prolonged and vigorous" in many positions. Both McGregor and Lawrence denied the allegations. The verdict was delivered after the jury deliberated for just under an hour the previous day and 6½ hours the following day. The case was heard in a Dublin court with Hand, McGregor, and their supporters present.
In a High Court civil trial, the jury resumed deliberations on the second day over allegations of rape involving Conor McGregor and James Lawrence. McGregor, accompanied by his fiancée Dee Devlin and family, denied the claims, asserting consensual sex with the complainant, Nikita Hand. Hand, a former hair colourist, alleges McGregor and Lawrence brutally raped her in a Dublin hotel penthouse on 9 December 2018. Lawrence also denies the allegations, claiming consensual sex with Hand after McGregor's departure. The jury is tasked with answering two yes/no questions: whether McGregor assaulted Hand and whether Lawrence assaulted Hand. Depending on the answers, the judge will direct the jury to assess damages under various headings, including general, special, aggravated, and exemplary damages, while noting that rape is a form of assault and that the standard of proof is the balance of probabilities.
During a sentencing hearing, Judge Pauline Codd described Temple Bar as a "violent, post‑apocalyptic no‑go area" after a 25‑year‑old defendant, Jordan Maguire, was jailed for three and a half years for a "barbaric" assault on an innocent bystander. Maguire, who had previously pleaded guilty to assault on Bedford Row and to producing a cider can during that assault, was captured on CCTV punching, kicking, stomping and beating the victim with a cider can. Garda Michael Walsh testified that a different man had initially assaulted the victim but that this was not recorded. Maguire was sleeping rough in Dublin City Centre, had more than 50 prior convictions, and was already serving a sentence for two other assaults. Judge Codd noted the violence was mindless and senseless, and that Maguire had left the scene and returned with a cider can to strike the victim's head.
A 29‑year‑old man was jailed for seven years after pleading guilty to two counts of assault causing harm and one count of rape. The assaults took place in October 2017 and May 2018 at a home in the southeast of the country. The victim, whose name is withheld, described repeated head‑butts, throat‑grabs and threats to kill before the rape. She reported the violence to the gardai in October 2017 and again in May 2018, but did not press charges until the court heard her statements. The man had a history of violent convictions and mental health difficulties, including paranoid schizophrenia and substance misuse. The judge imposed a sentence of five years and three months for the rape, three years and four months for each assault, and suspended the final 12 months of the total eight‑year and seven‑month term on strict conditions. The man has 19 prior convictions. The unnamed 29-year-old pleaded not guilty.
James Hawkins, 24, of Ellis Quay Hostel, pleaded guilty to a single robbery on 21 February 2023 at College Green, Dublin. He violently took a woman's purse after she withdrew €200 from an ATM at about 6.30 pm. The victim, an American student in her early 30s studying at Trinity College, was left with cuts to her knees and torn tights. CCTV from Grafton Street showed Hawkins running away; he was identified, arrested, and admitted the offence. Hawkins has 76 prior convictions, all District Court matters, and was homeless with heroin and crack addiction at the time. He cooperated, pleaded early, and apologized. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a three‑year custodial sentence, suspended the final six months for two years, and ordered 12 months of probation. Hawkins will be released on bond before being led away.
Alan McCrea, 48, of Porterstown, Dublin 15, was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison after pleading guilty to seven counts of possession of child pornography. The court heard that Gardaí seized 47 devices and a child mannequin in a school uniform from his home, revealing over 1.29 million images and videos of child sexual abuse. The material was evenly split between images and videos, depicting female children of all ages with adult males, including oral rape, masturbation, and visible anal and genital areas. McCrea admitted downloading the material during a Garda search and a phone call in May 2018, stating he knew he had "fucked up big time." The judge noted his early guilty plea, remorse, lack of distribution, and health issues, and imposed a sentence of three and a half years with the final nine months suspended for two years, subject to strict conditions, probation supervision, and alcohol treatment.
In the trial of Diarmuid Phelan, a 56‑year‑old law lecturer and farmer, the prosecution has finished presenting its evidence. Phelan denies murdering Keith Conlon, a 36‑year‑old father of four, who was shot on Phelan's farm in Tallaght on 24 February 2022. The prosecution's case, presented by Roisin Lacey SC, alleges that on the day in question three men – Conlon, Kallum Coleman and Robin Duggan – trespassed on a wooded area of Phelan's land while hunting. Phelan is said to have shouted at the trespassers to "get back" before firing three shots from a Smith & Wesson revolver. The defence has called firearms expert Curtis Marshall to testify about the revolver's characteristics and the effect of stress on shooting accuracy. The trial will continue tomorrow before Justice Siobhan Lankford and a jury of nine men and three women. Diarmuid Phelan pleaded not guilty.
The jury in the civil trial of Conor McGregor and James Lawrence over an alleged rape in a Dublin hotel in 2018 has begun deliberations. Mr Justice Alexander Owens instructed the jury to judge solely on evidence and disregard any "patently untruthful" statements. The jury deliberated for just under an hour before resuming tomorrow at 10am. McGregor testified that he had consensual sex with the complainant, Nikita Hand, describing it as "enthusiastic, athletic, prolonged and vigorous" in many positions. Hand alleges that McGregor "brutally raped and battered" her in the hotel's penthouse. Lawrence claims he had consensual sex with Hand after McGregor left, a claim Hand calls a lie. Both defendants deny the allegations. The jury must answer two yes‑or‑no questions: whether McGregor assaulted Hand and whether Lawrence assaulted Hand. If either answer is yes, the jury will assess damages under separate headings.
In the Central Criminal Court, Chief State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan testified that the death of Robert O'Connor, a Mountjoy prisoner, was caused by blunt‑force trauma that rotated his brain. She explained that the injuries could have resulted from punching, kicking or stamping, and that the resulting brain swelling, bleeding and lack of oxygen led to death. Dr Mulligan noted that O'Connor had suffered a first assault on 27 July with a bleeding nose and a fractured right pupil, and a second assault two days later that left him in a coma. He remained unresponsive for three days, was declared dead at 1.34 pm on 1 August, and his kidneys were donated. The pathologist confirmed no skull fractures and that the brain trauma was most likely sustained during the second alleged assault. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring, continues with a jury hearing further evidence.
A 68‑year‑old man was jailed for six counts of sexual assault against a teenage girl aged 12‑14, committed between September 1992 and September 1994. The offences involved touching her breasts and vagina and performing oral sex. He pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court. The judge, Ms Justice Karen O'Connor, imposed a global sentence of six years and nine months, with nine months suspended for one year on strict conditions, including no unsupervised access to children. The sentence was back‑dated to 7 October 2023. The judge noted the abuse was demeaning, humiliating and involved controlling behaviour, and that the offender had shown the victim pornography. The victim's impact statement described lasting anxiety, panic attacks and a loss of confidence, and she said she reported the abuse to protect her children. The defendant offered an apology and expressed remorse. The case was heard in the Central Criminal Court.
Brian O'Neill, a truck driver for Total Highway Maintenance Ltd, was dismissed after he left a load of concrete in a lorry overnight, causing it to harden and become unusable. O'Neill had been instructed to bring the concrete to Tallaght, but the customer only needed a third of the load. He returned to the Kilkenny depot with the excess concrete, claiming he was exhausted after 15 hours and intended to clean the lorry the next day. The company's manager, Mr L, terminated his employment the following evening, citing the incident as the final straw. O'Neill had previously received two formal warnings for speeding and safety concerns. A Workplace Relations Commission adjudicator found the dismissal procedurally lacking but concluded O'Neill should have known it could lead to dismissal. The tribunal awarded him €2,000 in compensation for unfair dismissal.
In 2024, a 76‑year‑old former Dublin man appealed a conviction for raping a 15‑year‑old babysitter in the 1980s. The trial, held at the Central Criminal Court, found him guilty of two counts of rape and three counts of indecent assault. He was sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended. The appeal argued that the judge should have warned the jury about the lack of corroborating evidence, citing inconsistencies between the victim's statements and those of her mother. The Director of Public Prosecutions maintained that such inconsistencies were for the jury to resolve. The case highlighted the victim's testimony of being forced into sexual acts, her fear during the assaults, and her subsequent pursuit of a career as a counsellor. The judge praised her bravery and determination in reporting the crimes and giving evidence.
Patrick Murphy, 52, was convicted of murder after stabbing his friend Joseph Brosnan, 52, three times in Brosnan's Abbey Court apartment. The jury rejected Murphy's claim of provocation, noting that he had been kicked out of the apartment and later returned armed with a large kitchen knife. Witnesses reported that Murphy had been drinking and taking tablets, and that a scuffle had escalated when he was slapped in the face by Kamil Lisowski. Murphy admitted to bringing a knife to the scene and to stabbing Brosnan, but denied intent to kill. The jury deliberated for two hours and two minutes, returning a unanimous verdict of murder. The case was adjourned to December 16 for victim impact statements and sentencing, with Murphy remanded in custody. Patrick Murphy pleaded not guilty.
Noel Ward, 59, of Ballymun, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for fraudulently claiming over €109,000 in social welfare benefits between May 2008 and August 2019. Ward pleaded guilty to two charges of using a false instrument, including a driving licence, and six counts of theft from the State. The court heard that Ward used the identity of his late friend, Patrick Rooney, to claim benefits such as Jobseekers' Allowance and Disability Benefit, while also working under Rooney's name to claim additional allowances in his own name. Judge Orla Crowe described the conduct as a deliberate and sophisticated fraud. Considering mitigating factors, including Ward's status as a sole carer and his repayment of all but €15,000 of the stolen funds, the judge set a headline sentence of five years. She imposed a term of three years, suspending the final 18 months. Ward is required to repay the remaining €15,000 to the State within four years. The matter was finalised with this custodial sentence and suspended portion.
Jonathon Fraiser, 38, of Drimnagh, Dublin, pleaded guilty to possession of a knife at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The court heard that on April 6, 2020, gardai attempted to stop Fraiser while he was cycling near Kylemore Road and Bluebell. He allegedly tried to escape, fell off his bike, and ran away before being apprehended. A search recovered a black-handled kitchen knife with a four-inch blade. Fraiser, who has 68 previous convictions, was remanded in custody on April 7, 2020, but was granted High Court bail in January 2021 to attend residential treatment. Prosecution Sergeant Mark Melbourne agreed with defense counsel John Gallagher BL that Fraiser's period of detention was suspended for a period due to his level of intoxication. It was accepted that he served approximately 10 months in custody during the pandemic. Judge Orla Crowe noted that possessing a knife in a public place is a serious matter and that his prior convictions were an aggravating factor. However, she acknowledged his guilty plea, apology, and efforts toward rehabilitation, including time spent in treatment for addiction. The judge imposed a 12-month sentence, fully suspended, on the condition that Fraiser keep the peace and be of good behaviour.
Gareth O'Neill, 25, of Cushlawn Park, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to threatening to "blow up" the homes of his ex‑partner's mother and grandmother on a November 2020 incident. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court where O'Neill's partner's mother intervened, leading to O'Neill's threat and subsequent apology. The victim feared the threat but did not give a victim impact statement. O'Neill has 11 prior convictions, mainly for traffic offences. His defence counsel, Sarah Jane O'Callaghan BL, presented evidence of remorse, an apology letter, and his stable employment. Judge Orla Crowe accepted mitigating factors, imposed a 12‑month sentence, and suspended it in full for two years under strict conditions, warning that any further offence would bring the case back before the courts.
In an appeal hearing, the case of Keith McCormick (23) of La Touche Drive, Bluebell, Dublin 12 and Riverview, Church Road, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15, who pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply on May 12, 2020, and other charges including burglary, unlawful use of a vehicle, possession of stolen property and driving without a licence or insurance between September 2020 and May 2021, was adjourned for finalisation on November 27. McCormick, also known as McCormick-Smith, has 44 previous convictions. In February, he was handed a three-year and two-month prison sentence with the final 12 months suspended for his role in a series of offences on January 23, 2022, during which a man died. Co-accused Adam Murphy (23) of Cherry Orchard Crescent, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was handed a 12-year sentence with the final two-and-a-half years suspended on strict conditions. The matter was adjourned for finalisation on November 27. The court heard that McCormick's earliest current release date is June 2027. Probation and psychological reports were handed to the court, and the defence asked the court to consider the principles of proportionality and totality when imposing sentence.
A law professor, Diarmuid Phelan, aged 56, is on trial for the murder of Keith Conlon, 36, who died from a gunshot wound to the head after an incident at Phelan's farm on 24 February 2022. Phelan, a barrister and farmer, claims he fired his revolver in the air over trespassers and was stunned when one man fell. He has pleaded not guilty. The trial has heard evidence that three men – Conlon, Kallum Coleman and Robin Duggan – were trespassing while hunting. Phelan's shooting record is cited: bronze medals in three pistol competitions (B class) and a gold in a bench‑rest rifle event between 2011 and 2013. The prosecution alleges the third shot was aimed at Conlon, who was shot in the back of the head. The case will continue tomorrow before Justice Siobhan Lankford and a jury. Diarmuid Phelan was convicted.
A Central Criminal Court jury has begun deliberations on the case of a 52‑year‑old man, Patrick Murphy, who says he was in fear and defending himself when he stabbed his friend and neighbour, Joseph Brosnan, with a knife after being kicked out of an apartment. Mr Murphy has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Mr Justice Paul Burns outlined evidence from residents, a waitress and a friend of the deceased, describing arguments, shouting, and a chaotic scene with a knife and a rock. Witnesses reported that Mr Murphy was beaten, that he had a knife, and that he later returned to the apartment and stabbed Mr Brosnan. Mr Murphy told Gardaí he was in fear, had the knife, and did not intend to kill.
Declan Donaghey, 28, pleaded guilty to arson, violent disorder and criminal damage after setting a Garda patrol car on fire and damaging a migrant centre during a riot in Dublin. The court found the offences to be of a very serious nature, noting the destruction of a patrol car valued at €20,000 and damage to a migrant accommodation centre, as well as the broader context of the riot that saw 60 locations damaged or looted. Judge Orla Crowe sentenced Donaghey to seven-and-a-half years, with the final year suspended on the arson charge, and imposed four-and-a-half years for violent disorder and three years for criminal damage, all to run concurrently. The judge took into account Donaghey's personal circumstances, including anxiety, depression and alcohol addiction, but did not consider his five prior convictions. The sentence was imposed in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 20 November 2024.
In a trial before the Special Criminal Court, Brandon Hennessy, aged 21, denies a charge of violent disorder linked to the December 24, 2023, shooting at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown. Hennessy, who was present at the restaurant with his father, claims he acted in self‑defence and was provoked by the gunman, Tristan Sherry, who fatally shot his father and was later beaten to death. Hennessy criticises Gardaí for their delayed response and alleges they failed to protect his family. He also accuses the police of not arresting the second gunman. The court heard CCTV footage and Hennessy's statements, but he maintains his innocence and has pleaded not guilty. The trial continues with other accused individuals also pleading not guilty.
Neil Molloy, former host of Galway Bay FM's breakfast show, lost his unfair dismissal claim at the Workplace Relations Commission. Molloy alleged unfair dismissal and breach of minimum notice and terms of employment. The station, represented by Ibec official Declan Thomas, submitted that Molloy subjected CEO Cormac O'Halloran and programme director John Divilly to a "verbal assault" on 1 June 2023. Thomas stated Molloy admitted his behaviour was inappropriate on 8 June but again raised his voice and insulted O'Halloran. Siptu official Marie O'Connor contended the dismissal was a "witch hunt" and disputed any threatening conduct. The tribunal heard Molloy was suspended in June and dismissed in September following a disciplinary hearing. Company chairman Peter Allen stated there was a "breach of trust" and that Molloy's anger during the apology indicated it was not a once-off incident. Adjudicator Janet Hughes found the initial incident might not have justified dismissal but ruled the second incident undermined Molloy's apology. She concluded the decision to dismiss was not unfair, though the finding of gross misconduct was excessive. The tribunal dismissed both statutory claims as not well founded. The matter is now being appealed to the Labour Court.
In a civil trial at the High Court, the judge warned the jury not to conduct independent investigations or rely on speculation, insisting that any verdict on liability must be based solely on the evidence presented. The case involves Conor McGregor, who testified that his sexual encounter with Ms Hand in a Dublin hotel penthouse was consensual, describing it as enthusiastic and vigorous. Ms Hand, a former hair colourist, alleges that McGregor raped and battered her on 9 December 2018 and that James Lawrence also had consensual sex with her after McGregor left. Both defendants deny the allegations. The judge emphasized that opinions are not evidence and urged the jury to evaluate CCTV footage for intoxication and possible flirting, and to consider the reliability of witnesses. He also outlined the principles for assessing compensatory, special, and aggravated damages if Ms Hand is awarded damages, stressing that any figure must be agreed upon by a majority of the jurors.
In a Workplace Relations Commission hearing, the head of the National College of Art and Design (NCAD) was called to give evidence about a dispute involving Ellie Dunne, a 25‑year‑old art student with Down Syndrome. Ms Dunne's mother, journalist Katy McGuinness, testified that the college had failed to provide reasonable accommodation during her daughter's first semester and that the college required her to re‑sit a failed module. Ms Dunne said she relied on her home support worker, Natalie Scherwatt, rather than an NCAD‑assigned support worker, and that she felt "scared" during a field trip to Meath Street. She also described the college's support staff and tutors as "nice" but identified director Sarah Glennie as "rude" to her mother. McGuinness claimed the college's relationship with the family broke down after a document allegedly bearing a forged signature was presented.
In a High Court hearing, counsel for a woman suing Conor McGregor for alleged rape described the MMA star as an "arrogant coward" and "not a man". The plaintiff, Nikita Hand, claims that McGregor, once the world's highest‑earning sportsperson, "brutally raped and battered" her in a Dublin hotel penthouse on 9 December 2018. She alleges that McGregor and James Lawrence denied the allegations, with Lawrence claiming consensual sex after McGregor's departure. McGregor testified that the encounter was consensual, describing it as "enthusiastic, athletic, prolonged and vigorous" in a hotel penthouse. Hand's counsel highlighted inconsistencies in McGregor's testimony, including a change in his story about a tampon and the presence of bruising. The case remains in the early trial stage, with the jury hearing evidence of alleged assault and disputed claims of consent.
A law professor, Mr Diarmuid Phelan, aged 56, denies murdering Keith Conlon, a 36‑year‑old father of four, who died from a gunshot wound to the head after a fatal shooting at Phelan's Hazelgrove Farm on 24 February 2022. Phelan, a barrister, lecturer and farmer, has pleaded not guilty. The Central Criminal Court heard that on 1 June 2016 Phelan was confronted by six trespassers on his land; he retreated to his jeep, but rocks were thrown, damaging the windscreen. Four intruders were charged with trespassing and criminal damage; three were convicted. In March 2017, after Phelan gave evidence, the three men banged on the courtroom exit, made threatening gestures—one mimicked a gun, another a throat cut, the third clenched a fist—and stoned Phelan. Phelan was terrified and feared further attack. The three men pleaded guilty to a breach of the peace; one received custodial time, the others received suspended sentences.
In a Mountjoy Prison murder trial, the prosecution presented evidence that David Dunne, 40, allegedly stamped and kicked the head of fellow inmate Robert O'Connor, 32, who died three days later. Officers Conor Kenny and Jonathan Deegan witnessed the assault on the C2 landing around 5.30 pm on 29 July 2022. O'Connor was found lifeless with blood on his face; he was taken to Mater Hospital where a CT scan revealed severe brain injury and he was declared dead on 1 August. A post‑mortem on 3 August confirmed blunt‑force trauma to the head as the cause of death. Dunne, arrested on 16 November 2022, claimed self‑defence, stating O'Connor had attacked him. The jury will decide if the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that Dunne committed murder. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
Luke McGann, 20, of St Catherine's Green, Rush, Co Dublin, was sentenced at the District Court after pleading guilty to 24 charges of theft. The court heard that McGann allegedly stole €14,886 from his grandmother's partner, who had won €87,000 in the lottery in April 2023. Prosecution evidence stated that after assisting the victim in setting up a bank account, McGann added the card details to his Apple Pay account and made 24 unauthorised transactions between June and July 2023. He admitted to being under financial pressure due to a drug debt and using the funds to pay off debts and purchase a motorcycle. The bank fully reimbursed the victim, who forgave McGann. Judge Orla Crowe described the acts as a significant breach of trust but noted McGann's immediate admissions, cooperation with the Gardaí, and lack of previous convictions. She reduced the headline sentence from 18 months to 12 months, which was suspended in full on strict conditions. The Judge commented that McGann, described by defence counsel as a young man with a bright future, deserves a chance to contribute to society. The matter was finalised with this suspended sentence.
In August 2022, Robert Carroll, a 39‑year‑old construction worker, fired two shots from a revolver into the air outside his Finglas home while experiencing psychosis and not taking his medication. Garda armed support and a negotiator were called after reports of the discharge. Carroll's behaviour was erratic; he threw items from windows and was incoherent when approached. He voluntarily left the house after 75 minutes, was arrested under the Mental Health Act, and taken to hospital where a medical report confirmed a transient psychotic episode with a background of cocaine use. He was later formally arrested, interviewed without admissions, and a search of his house revealed five bullet casings, a revolver, one live round, and €10,050 in cash. Carroll pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition in suspicious circumstances. He has 21 prior convictions, the most recent from 2019. Judge Sarah Berkeley remanded him in custody, with the case adjourned to 26 November for finalisation.
In a Dublin court hearing, Garda Michael Fox recounted the terror he felt when Michael Donoghue, a 21‑year‑old from Rathfarnham, brandished a double‑barrel shotgun at a patrol car. Fox said he believed he would be killed for doing his job and that his mother would never recover from his death. He described his life flashing before his eyes and crying for fifteen minutes after the incident. The court heard that Donoghue pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and making threats to kill, and that the shotgun was later found unloaded. The case was adjourned to 27 November for sentencing, with Donoghue remanded in custody until then. The hearing also included victim impact statements from three Gardaí, all of whom expressed profound fear and lasting trauma from the encounter. The statements highlighted the unexpected danger Gardaí face in the line of duty and the lasting psychological effects on the officers involved.
Kym Dunleavy, 50, of St Josephs Place, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to using a false medical prescription between November 2018 and April 2019. She had taken a prescription pad from Beaumont Hospital and forged prescriptions for sleeping tablets. Gardaí discovered the pad after a pharmacy raised concerns about a false prescription. CCTV footage identified Dunleavy, and a warrant led to the pad being found under a mattress at her home. The pharmacist confirmed the pad was legitimate but the prescriptions were forgeries. Dunleavy claimed she used the forged prescriptions to obtain more tablets to manage anxiety and nightmares. She has 71 prior convictions, mainly theft and fraud. The court remanded her on bail pending sentencing, with a Probation Service report due on 31 March. The judge noted her high risk of re‑offending and lack of engagement with psychiatric services.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, 18‑year‑old David Amah denied murdering Tristan Sherry, claiming he was frightened when Sherry entered a restaurant on Christmas Eve, pointed a gun at him and shot James Hennessy Senior. Amah said he still felt Sherry was a threat several minutes after being disarmed, describing his head as "f**ked" and noting that women and children were crying. He recorded Sherry lying on the ground with his phone, insisting the threat remained. 18‑year‑old Noah Musueni also denied the murder, stating he struck Sherry with a chair in self‑defence after seeing a gun pointed at him and that he feared Sherry could still harm him. Both men have no prior convictions and have pleaded not guilty. The trial continues tomorrow before three judges.
In a civil trial over an alleged rape, Conor McGregor's counsel, Remy Farrell SC, urged the jury to focus on evidence rather than emotion. He argued that the plaintiff, Nikita Hand, had lied before, during and after the alleged assault and questioned whether a person could remember being raped yet forget surrounding facts. Farrell highlighted that McGregor had testified that his encounter with Hand was consensual, describing it as enthusiastic and vigorous. Hand, a hair colourist, claims McGregor raped and battered her in a Dublin hotel penthouse on 9 December 2018, seeking damages from McGregor and James Lawrence. Lawrence, who denies the allegations, admits to consensual sex with Hand after McGregor's departure. Both parties deny the claims, and the case remains at the evidence‑review stage.
A 49‑year‑old woman from Aylward Green, Finglas, Dublin 11, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of David Ennis, 36, who was found dead in a Dublin apartment on 8 November 2022. The case was originally charged as murder at Claddagh Court, Ballyfermot, but the woman admitted manslaughter at her arraignment before the Central Criminal Court. Mr Justice Paul McDermott has scheduled sentencing for 4 February.
A jury heard "upsetting and difficult" animal‑attack videos taken from the phone of Keith Conlon, a trespasser shot dead on law professor Diarmuid Phelan's farm. The videos, shown to the jury, depict dogs – a lurcher and a terrier – fighting squirrels, mauling a badger, and shaking a dead fox. One clip shows a dog trained to attack a live kitten, with men encouraging the pup to bite. The footage was shared via WhatsApp among Conlon, Kallum Coleman and others. The prosecution argued the videos illustrate a pattern of violent hunting. Phelan, 56, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Conlon, 36, who died from a single gunshot wound to the head. The trial continues with the jury hearing evidence of the shooting and the alleged self‑defence claim. The case remains at the jury stage.
A 28‑year‑old man, Declan Donaghey, pleaded guilty to arson, violent disorder, criminal damage and rioting after setting a Garda car on fire and damaging a migrant centre during the Dublin riots. He said he was "caught up in it" because a close relative attended a school on Cavendish Row where earlier that day children and a care assistant were stabbed. Donaghey denied being a racist and claimed he felt bad for the child and teacher. He apologized to the government and everyone involved in a handwritten letter read to the court. Judge Orla Crowe remanded him in custody pending sentencing. The court heard that the riot was one of the gravest examples of public disorder in the State's history, with 60 locations damaged or looted, including an abandoned bus and Luas vehicles. Donaghey had five previous convictions, including two for public order offences, and was on medication for anxiety and depression.
Ellie Dunne, a 25‑year‑old art student with Down Syndrome, has lodged an equality complaint against the National College of Art and Design (NCAD) under the Equal Status Act 2000. She alleges the college failed to provide reasonable accommodation during her first semester, starting in September 2023, and that discrimination continued when NCAD required her to re‑sit an assessment on a module she was studying. Her mother, Katy McGuinness, told the Workplace Relations Commission that an educational support worker was initially available only two days a week and was unfamiliar with the studio techniques needed. A friend of Ellie's, who had supported her for 17 years, was initially planned to accompany her but was later excluded from support sessions. Internal correspondence revealed tutors' concerns that Ellie was not doing much work during class time, concerns that were not communicated to McGuinness. In October 2023, Ellie failed the module, prompting further correspondence and meetings.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, Patrick Murphy, 52, admitted to Gardaí that he had a knife and had stabbed Joseph Brosnan, a lifelong friend, during a fight. Murphy claimed he was "jabbing back" and did not intend to harm Brosnan. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. Garda James Fairbrother testified that Murphy first denied seeing a weapon, later stating he had been assaulted and then took a knife to defend himself. Murphy also admitted drinking Baileys and taking anxiety tablets before the scuffles. Witnesses described a chaotic scene at Brosnan's home, with a large kitchen knife used in a rapid attack. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Burns, continues the following day.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the trial of six men accused of offences arising from an incident at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown on December 24. Michael Andrecut, Noah Musueni, and David Amah are charged with the murder of Tristan Sherry, while Jonas Kabangu, Diarmuid O'Brien, and Brandon Hennessy face charges of violent disorder. All accused have pleaded not guilty. Prosecution witness Detective Sergeant Mark Murphy detailed Andrecut's arrest and his statements to gardai, in which he described Jason Hennessy Senior, who was fatally shot during the incident, as a father figure. Andrecut told detectives he reacted out of a "fight or flight" instinct when he saw Hennessy Senior wounded. The court also heard that gardai attempted to use a special provision to draw inferences from Andrecut's failure to answer questions regarding a black metal bar, a wooden chair, and knives allegedly used in the assault. Andrecut's counsel, Dominic McGinn SC, is expected to argue tomorrow that these inference interviews should not be admitted into evidence. The matter is currently at the charge or pre-trial stage, with the trial overseen by Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo, Judge Elma Sheahan, and Judge James Faughnan. No finalisation or sentencing has occurred, and the proceedings remain ongoing.
Martin O'Brien, 54, of Tuam, Co Galway, pleaded guilty to four charges of sexual assault committed between June 2012 and February 2014 against a teenage babysitter. The case is currently at the sentencing stage before Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo at the Central Criminal Court. The matter was previously adjourned in July to allow for the preparation of reports regarding sexual offender treatment O'Brien was undergoing. Today, the court heard mitigation from O'Brien's wife, Leonie O'Brien, who requested leniency citing his good character and family circumstances, including her own stage three breast cancer diagnosis. O'Brien also took the stand to express remorse and confirm he is attending therapy. A forensic psychologist report indicated he is at low-average risk of re-offending. The victim, who waived anonymity, described the assaults as relentless and grooming-based. Mr Justice Naidoo adjourned the case to December 16 for sentence. Separately, O'Brien has a previous conviction for sexual assault against a child, which is currently under appeal; he had contested that case, resulting in an eight-month suspended sentence and a €16,000 compensation order.
Mary O'Sullivan, 52, pleaded guilty to one count of deception, four counts of using a false instrument and four counts of false accounting for taking €16,024 from Leargas, a non‑profit, between 2016 and 2019. She oversaw the petty cash process, kept incomplete records and falsified receipts. A 2019 review uncovered irregularities, altered receipts and incomplete accounts. O'Sullivan delayed reconciliation, handed over receipts and the petty cash book only after being asked, and during interviews blamed colleagues, claimed budget reasons and said receipts were in storage. Garda searches found no evidence. Her employment ended after the review. She has no prior convictions, was working and supporting her parents, and pleaded remorse. The case was adjourned to 2 December for finalisation.
A jury of nine men and three women was sworn in today for the trial of a 40‑year‑old man, David Dunne, who denies murdering Robert O'Connor, 34, at Mountjoy Prison on 29 July 2022. Dunne pleaded not guilty and was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court. The trial will commence tomorrow before Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring and is expected to last two weeks.
Sean Dunne, 26, was jailed for two years after a vicious assault on a married American couple in a Dublin hotel elevator on 7 April 2023. He repeatedly punched the couple, threatened the wife with rape and murder, and struck the husband in the mouth. Garda Stephen Lawlor arrived after a call, found Dunne restrained on the corridor floor, and noted blood on the carpet. The couple, aged in their sixties, received on‑scene treatment and later returned to the United States. Dunne pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm. He has been in custody since April 2023, has a schizophrenia diagnosis, and has ten prior convictions. Judge Sarah Berkeley sentenced him to two‑and‑a‑half years, suspended the final six months, and ordered 18 months of post‑release supervision and probation engagement. The sentence was back‑dated to April 2023 for time already served.
Eimear Carroll, a 42‑year‑old primary school teacher from Hillside, Seffin, Birr, Offaly, was found guilty of one count of harassment and two counts of sending obscene, grossly offensive or menacing letters by post. Over a two‑year period she sent about 500 letters to the victim's family, friends, workplace and to HIQA, alleging abuse of patients and making repeated racial slurs, referring to the victim as a "knacker". The Court of Appeal heard that the harassment was continuous, involved personal details such as the victim's cousin's death, and caused the victim to sell her house and relocate. Judge Catherine Staines had sentenced Carroll in July to four years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended. Carroll appealed, arguing the sentence was too harsh, but the appeal was not decided in this hearing. The case was noted for its persistent, racially charged nature.