In November 2024, the Workplace Relations Commission ordered Swissport to pay €44,000 to Nicholas Collins, a compliance manager with nearly twenty years of service, after finding his dismissal unfair. Collins was terminated in December 2023 following a failed security inspection by the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA). The inspection, conducted on 3 October 2023, revealed issues with eight employees' security clearances. Swissport halted cargo dispatch on 4 October to comply with IAA regulations, but a subsequent inspection on 6 October confirmed compliance. Collins claimed he had no knowledge of cargo being sent during the unvalidated period and that he was not informed of any investigation. He was not given a written statement of terms and conditions when promoted in 2018. The tribunal found Swissport breached the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977 and the Terms of Employment (Information) Act 1994, awarding Collins €40,000 plus €4,443.60 for the missing statement.
Patrick Murphy, 52, who has no fixed abode, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of Joseph Brosnan at Abbey Court, Tralee, on 22 May 2022. According to the Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel, Murphy had been invited to Brosnan's home around 3 pm, where a drinking session led to an insult between Brosnan's friend Kamil Lisowski and Murphy. After Lisowski slapped Murphy, the situation calmed but later escalated. Murphy was asked to leave, returned around 6:45 pm, and was pushed out of the apartment. He then entered the front door, armed with a large kitchen knife, and stabbed Brosnan. Lisowski testified that Murphy did not hesitate and stabbed Brosnan "like rapid fire" to "revenge" for being hit. The jury heard that the knife was a black‑handled kitchen knife, 20.5 cm long, with blood traces matching both Murphy's and Brosnan's DNA. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Burns.
A judge will decide on 16 December whether Richard Satchwell, 57, accused of murdering his wife Tina, can have his trial moved from Cork to Dublin or Limerick. The trial is scheduled for April next year. Brendan Grehan SC applied for the transfer, while the Director of Public Prosecutions, represented by Gerardine Small SC, opposed it. Mr Satchwell is charged with the murder of Tina Satchwell, 45, who was reported missing on 24 March 2017 and whose skeletal remains were found in October 2023 at their shared home on Grattan Street, Youghal.
Geunter Lohse, aged 63, has been sentenced to twelve years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for unlawfully killing his mother Ruth by arson. The offence occurred on April 12, 2022, at their shared residence in Coolvoy, Doochary, County Donegal. Lohse pleaded guilty to manslaughter after the State accepted his plea on a charge of murder. Ms Justice Melanie Greally imposed a headline sentence of eighteen years, reduced to thirteen years with the final twelve months suspended, taking into account mitigating factors including his early guilty plea and lack of previous convictions. The court heard that Ruth Lohse, aged 88, died from smoke inhalation after Lohse set three fires in the house using matches. The judge noted the victim, who had dedicated her life to caring for her son, was elderly, vulnerable, and had no opportunity to escape. Lohse claimed he intended only to destroy the property, not to harm his mother, but evidence indicated he made no credible effort to assist her.
A 29‑year‑old man was jailed for a second conviction of raping a friend. The Court of Appeal overturned his earlier seven‑year sentence, which had three‑and‑a‑half years suspended, and ordered a retrial. The retrial, held earlier this year, resulted in a guilty verdict by a jury for a single count of rape committed on 7 November 2018 at the victim's home. The man had no prior convictions and had been in custody from November 2021 until January 2024, after which he was released on bail pending the appeal. Mr Justice Patrick McGrath imposed a headline sentence of seven years imprisonment, suspended the final three‑and‑a‑half years, and set conditions including compliance with probation recommendations and assessment for sex‑offender and alcohol treatment programmes. All time already spent in custody was taken into account. The victim, whose identity is protected, stated that the crime had profoundly altered her life.
A 43‑year‑old drug dealer, Toma Dani, was caught by Gardaí attempting to dispose of part of an almost €474,000 cannabis stash in a carpark bin when a search warrant was executed at his home. Dani, who claimed he was trying to pay off a €100,000 gambling debt, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply on September 10, 2023. Gardaí recovered €6,370, identified as proceeds from drug sales, along with drug paraphernalia such as bagging and scales. He had no prior convictions and had reduced his gambling debt to €70,000 over the previous year. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, hearing his back injury and lack of a drug problem, imposed a four‑year and six‑month sentence, following a headline of six years, citing mitigating circumstances and his remorse. The court noted his apology letters and the impact of drugs on society.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced three members of the Wall family for a burglary in Killiney, south Dublin, on February 19, 2021, where they stole €19,800 in gold jewellery from an elderly couple. Edward Wall (52), Martin Wall (45), and Patrick Wall (21) pleaded guilty to the offence. The court heard the men used a modified vehicle to aid the crime, with Edward and Martin acting as lookouts while Patrick and an accomplice entered the home. All property was returned. Judge Elva Duffy jailed Edward and Martin for four years each, finding them active participants in a joint enterprise. Patrick was sentenced to three-and-a-half years, with the final 12 months suspended. The judge declined to apply compensation, stating it would not restore the victims' peace of mind. Patrick Wall had previously pleaded guilty to possession of stolen property after gardaí captured him digging up almost €80,000 buried in coffee jars in a suburban Dublin field. The defendants have extensive criminal records, including prior convictions for burglary and possession of stolen property. Counsel for the defendants cited personal hardships and the benefit of guilty pleas, but the judge imposed custodial sentences reflecting the pre-planned nature of the offence and the defendants' histories.
Lee Conlon, 46, of Meath Place, Dublin, was convicted of aggravated burglary with a large kitchen knife at an apartment on Montague Street on 22 November 2022. He was also found guilty of armed robbery of Capital Credit on St Luke's Avenue on 16 January 2023, during which he threatened to kill or seriously harm two customers, one aged 83. In the burglary, he entered a sleeping couple's home, was tackled by the infant's father, and fled with items worth almost €600, leaving a large kitchen knife behind. In the credit‑union robbery, he entered with a handgun, threatened customers, demanded cash, and stole €1,200 before escaping. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to five and a half years for the burglary and four and a half years for the robbery, to be served concurrently with his existing seven‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, with the final four‑and‑a‑half‑year term suspended under conditions.
Paul Bissett, 38, pleaded guilty to robbery and criminal damage on 22 December 2023. He held up a cash‑in‑transit guard armed with a hammer, demanded a cash box, and fled with it. He attempted to open the €17,200 box by dropping it from the first and second floors of a stairwell, but failed. The attempt triggered an alarm and released dye that stained the area and his clothes. Garda Zoe Johnston reported that Bissett was later found hiding on a roof, where he cooperated with the Garda Armed Support Unit and left with them. The court noted his 68 prior convictions, including assault and robbery, and his history of drug addiction. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a four‑year sentence, crediting any time already served, and highlighted the need for Bissett to rehabilitate on his own. The decision was based on the threats made but no violence was committed.
David McCullagh, an IT manager dismissed by Ballyseedy Restaurant Ltd, has been awarded €77,848 by the Workplace Relations Commission for unfair dismissal and employment rights breaches. The company, linked to the Ballyseedy Garden Centre, ceased trading in February following the arrest of its chief executive, Nathan McDonnell. Mr McDonnell pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court in September to drug importation and facilitating an organised crime gang, and is due to be sentenced in December. McCullagh alleged he was forced out after raising a grievance over unconsented pay cuts and short-time working. The adjudicator found his dismissal unfair, noting that his job search may have been curtailed by the company's collapse and the association with the criminal case. The award includes €50,000 for unfair dismissal, €24,000 for unpaid leave and wages, and €3,848 for the absence of a written contract. Ballyseedy Restaurant Ltd was placed into liquidation by the High Court this month. The court report confirms the procedural stage for McDonnell is sentence, with his guilty plea to the specified charges admitted.
Evidence in the civil trial of Conor McGregor and James Lawrence over alleged rape of hairdresser Nikita Hand at a Dublin hotel in 2018 has finished at the High Court after eight days. The jury will return on Tuesday for closing speeches while legal discussion continues in their absence. McGregor testified that he had consensual sex with Hand in the hotel penthouse, describing it as enthusiastic, athletic, prolonged and vigorous, and in a multitude of positions. Hand alleges that McGregor brutally raped and battered her. She seeks damages from both men for the events of December 9, 2018 at the Beacon hotel. Lawrence claims he had consensual sex with Hand twice after McGregor left, a claim Hand calls a lie. Both men deny the allegations. Clinical forensic physician Professor Basil John Farnan gave evidence on bruising, describing it as a discoloration caused by blunt trauma and noting that bruises can appear delayed and in various colours.
Cahir O'Higgins, a former criminal‑defence solicitor, was found guilty of theft and perverting the course of justice. The court allowed the previously imposed reporting ban on his earlier harassment and assault case to be lifted. O'Higgins had been convicted of assaulting fellow solicitor Stephen O'Mahony, including a 2021 incident in which he broke O'Mahony's nose. He was sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment, with the sentence deferred until September to allow him to close his practice. The judge described his conduct as "deranged", "thuggish", "base" and "despicable", noting the harassment stemmed from a professional rivalry. O'Higgins was granted leave to travel to Spain and to compete in the World Cycling Championships before his custodial term began. The case highlights the court's decision to lift the reporting restriction once the theft and perverting the course of justice trial concluded.
During a party at Browne's Steakhouse on Main Street, Blanchardstown, on Christmas Eve 2023, gunman Tristan Sherry was shot in the shoulder and stabbed 16 times before being beaten to death. State Pathologist Dr. Heidi Okkers testified that Sherry's death was caused by traumatic blunt‑force injuries combined with 27 sharp‑force injuries, including 16 stab wounds and 11 incised wounds. The single gunshot entered his left shoulder and exited the back, causing only superficial damage and not contributing to his death. Sherry had recently used cocaine and cannabis, but drug use did not contribute to his death. Three men—Noah Musueni, David Amah and Michael Andrecut—are charged with Sherry's murder, while Jonas Kabangu, Diarmuid O'Brien and Brandon Hennessy are charged with violent disorder. All accused plead not guilty.
Cahir O'Higgins, a prominent criminal defence solicitor, was found guilty by a jury of stealing €400 and attempting to pervert the course of justice on four counts. O'Higgins, 49, had pleaded not guilty to the charges, which related to events in 2016 and 2017. The trial heard that O'Higgins withdrew €600 from the bank account of Spanish national Raul Sanz Quilis, who had admitted to criminal damage in a Dublin District Court case. O'Higgins claimed he had permission to use Quilis's bank card and that he returned €400 to the defendant. However, Quilis testified that he was not aware of the withdrawal and that O'Higgins did not return the money. The jury found O'Higgins guilty on all five counts after deliberating for nearly five hours. Judge Martin Nolan remanded O'Higgins in custody and adjourned the case for sentencing on November 25. Cahir O'Higgins had the case struck out.
Tom Ronan, a civilian driver for An Garda Siochána, was forced into retirement at 70, leaving him with a weekly income of less than €400 from a small occupational pension and state entitlements. He brought an age‑discrimination complaint under the Employment Equality Act 1998 to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). The tribunal found that the mandatory retirement age was not reasonable or proportionate because it would cause Ronan financial hardship, as his total annual pension income of €20,600 would be insufficient. The WRC ordered An Garda Siochána to re‑engage Ronan as a driver within four weeks and to extend his employment for three years, with the new service counted in his pension calculations. The decision was based on the tribunal's assessment that Ronan's pension was relatively low and that his chances of finding alternative work at age 70 were significantly less than those of younger candidates.
During the seventh day of a civil damages trial in the High Court, James Lawrence, a co‑defendant of Conor McGregor, testified that he heard McGregor and a woman, Nikita Hand, in a hotel penthouse where there was "nothing but moaning and sex" and that Hand was "enjoying it." Lawrence said he saw Hand naked and on top of McGregor, and that he and Hand had sex three times in an hour after condoms were obtained from staff. He claimed Hand was "putting it on him" in front of a McGregor staff driver and that she had tried to kiss him while he was in a car. Hand, a hair colourist, alleges McGregor raped and battered her in the same penthouse six years ago and is seeking damages. Both McGregor and Lawrence deny the allegations and maintain that any sex was consensual. The trial is ongoing and no verdict has been reached.
The murder trial of Diarmuid Phelan, 56, continues before Justice Siobhan Lankford and a jury. Phelan, a barrister and farmer, has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Keith Conlon, 36, at Hazelgrove Farm in Tallaght, Dublin 24, on February 24, 2022. The State alleges that Phelan shot Conlon in the back of the head with a Smith & Wesson revolver as Conlon turned away to leave, intending to kill or cause serious injury. Conversely, the defence asserts the shooting was an accidental result of a legitimate act of self-defence. State pathologist Dr Heidi Okkers testified that Conlon died from a single gunshot wound to the head, with no contributory factors. She agreed with defence counsel that the bullet's track alone cannot determine the victim's position relative to the shooter, as head movement could account for the wound's location. She also noted that an uncontrolled fall of 3.2 metres could explain Conlon's clavicle fracture. Defence counsel presented evidence of prior incidents at the farm, including arson and trespass, to contextualise the accused's concerns. The prosecution maintains that Phelan fired three shots, two into the air and one at Conlon. The trial is ongoing and has not been finalised.
Sandile Hlatshwayo, 43, of Riverwood Hall, Castleknock, pleaded guilty to endangerment after striking a three‑year‑old on a bike while speeding on 31 October 2020. He also pleaded guilty to failing to remain at the scene, refusing a drug test and driving without a licence. The child was taken to hospital with fractures and required emergency surgery. Hlatshwayo, who has 26 prior convictions, mainly for road offences including four drink‑driving convictions, was sentenced by Judge Elma Duffy to three years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended, and banned from driving for 15 years. He was also ordered to keep the peace and exhibit good behaviour for 12 months upon release. The judge described his aggressive conduct as "incomprehensible" and noted the severe impact on the child's family. The sentence was imposed to encourage Hlatshwayo's return to work and community contribution.
A 43-year-old cabinet maker from Boyle, Co Roscommon, has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following his guilty plea to drug offences. Justin McCormack pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis worth €3.9 million for sale or supply at a business unit in Fairview and in a white transit van on 11 and 12 October 2023. Gardaí stopped McCormack while driving the van on the evening of 11 October and discovered a substantial quantity of cannabis. A subsequent search of the business unit, which McCormack had been using for his kitchen manufacturing trade, uncovered a further 1,174 kilograms of cannabis. Judge Orla Crowe imposed concurrent sentences of nine years on each count, suspending the final twelve months. The judge acknowledged McCormack's financial difficulties but stated that financial hardship alone does not justify criminal involvement. She noted his active role in transporting and storing the drugs constituted significant aggravating factors. The sentence was backdated to October 2023 when McCormack entered custody.
Adrian Mah Yew Beng, a 40-year-old Malaysian national, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possessing cannabis herb valued at €560,000 for sale or supply on February 28. Beng pleaded guilty to the charge. Judge Martin Nolan noted that while drug transportation is serious, Beng operated at the lowest level of the trade. The judge set a headline sentence of eight years, which was reduced to an effective custodial term of four and a half years, backdated to February 28. Prosecution evidence indicated Beng arrived at Dublin Airport with two locked suitcases containing 30kg of cannabis in 56 vacuum-sealed packages. He claimed he did not pack the luggage, believed it contained cigarettes, and was to be paid approximately €600. Defense counsel John Byrne SC described Beng as a "Joe Soap from Malaysia" who took a chance for small money. The court heard Beng has no previous convictions, is cooperative, and is willing to leave Ireland and not return upon completing his sentence. He has two children and cares for his mother. The matter was finalized with the imposition of the custodial sentence.
Robert Redmond, a career criminal serving life imprisonment for the murder of Barry Wolverson in Swords, Co Dublin, on January 17, 2020, appealed his conviction at the Court of Appeal. Redmond, of Kilbarrack, Dublin 5, had denied the charge. His counsel argued that a North Face jacket containing gunshot residue, central to the prosecution, should have been excluded due to improper storage by gardaí, which raised contamination risks. The appeal also challenged the forensic expert's opinion on who fired the weapon, alleging it assumed Redmond's guilt. The DPP countered that CCTV and witness evidence established an unbroken chain of custody and Redmond's presence at the scene. Redmond's co-accused, Bernard Fogarty, was also sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder. At the Special Criminal Court, Redmond received a life sentence for the murder, five years for assault causing harm on Gerard Wildman, and 12 years for possession of firearms and ammunition. He is also serving a consecutive seven-year sentence for the murder of Jordan Davis. The court reserved its judgment, meaning the matter was adjourned and not concluded.
Robert Murphy, aged 42, was convicted of murder after a Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty of killing 24‑year‑old Jamie Kavanagh in a hostel on Harrington Street, Dublin, on 19 April 2023. Murphy entered Kavanagh's room wearing a balaclava and armed with a knife, telling Gardaí he wanted to kill the victim "stone dead". He claimed he had only entered to frighten Kavanagh, but the jury rejected this defence. The trial heard that Kavanagh was stabbed with multiple sharp‑object wounds, the fatal 13‑cm wound on his left flank caused by one of Kavanagh's own knives. Murphy was found guilty of murder and was remanded in custody pending sentencing. The case was adjourned to 16 December for victim impact statements and sentencing. Robert Murphy pleaded not guilty.
Reverend Liam Cuffe, chaplain at St Vincent's University Hospital since 1999, won a claim for unpaid Sunday premium pay. The Workplace Relations Commission found the hospital breached the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 by failing to pay a Sunday premium, despite the chaplain's contract requiring weekend work. Cuffe's trade union argued that the contract was silent on Sunday premium, and that HSE guidance entitled employees working a 5‑over‑7 roster to receive single‑time extra for Sunday hours. The hospital claimed it had paid the premium from 6 November 2023 in good faith, but the adjudicator ruled that the hospital had no pre‑existing contractual entitlement and that the email confirming double‑time from that date was unequivocal. The tribunal ordered the hospital to pay Cuffe €2,627 for the breach, covering his economic loss up to 6 November 2023. The decision highlighted the employer's duty to ensure statutory and contractual entitlements are met.
In a civil trial at the Beacon hotel case, Conor McGregor denied that his co‑defendant James Lawrence was a "Patsy" set to take the fall. McGregor told the court he paid for Lawrence's legal fees because Lawrence could not afford them. He claimed the allegations of rape and assault by hairdresser Nikita Hand were false, describing the encounter as consensual, enthusiastic and in multiple positions. McGregor said he was shocked and frightened by social media chatter and that he had given a statement to Gardaí after legal advice. Hand alleges McGregor raped and battered her in 2018, while Lawrence says he had consensual sex with her after McGregor left. Both defendants deny the allegations and are represented by the same law firm. The trial continues with the parties presenting their evidence.
The jury in the trial of Cahir O'Higgins, a criminal defence solicitor accused of stealing €400 and attempting to pervert the course of justice, has begun deliberating at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. O'Higgins, 49, has pleaded not guilty to one count of theft in July 2016 and four counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice in December 2017. He denies the allegations. The court heard that O'Higgins is a criminal defence solicitor with over 20 years of experience. The jury retired shortly after 11am this morning after being charged by Judge Martin Nolan, who instructed them to be neutral and impartial and not to consider O'Higgins's profession in their deliberations. After deliberating for about 90 minutes, the jury asked if theft can be said to have occurred when an owner is temporarily deprived of their property.
A 16‑year‑old boy was sanctioned by a secondary school for wearing a single ear piercing, which the school's principal said required the boy to either remove the stud or have both ears pierced. The boy's solicitor argued that the school's stance forced the child to submit to a particular identity, citing local customs that associate one ear with heterosexuality and the other with gay identity. The school denied the claim, stating that its rules simply limit the number of studs per ear and apply equally to all students. The mother testified that the piercing had not healed and bled when removed, and that the school's assistant principal had told the boy to leave school because of the stud. The case is pending before the Workplace Relations Commission, with a hearing scheduled for the new year. The school's identity is protected to safeguard the minor's privacy.
A veteran criminal defence solicitor, Cahir O'Higgins, is accused of fabricating notes and lying to gardai in connection with the theft of €400 from a client in 2016. Prosecuting counsel told the jury that the defendant's notes presented to gardai in 2017 were fabricated and that his claims during a 2020 recording with a garda that people were 'out to get him' were 'nonsense'. O'Higgins, who has pleaded not guilty to theft and four counts of perverting the course of public justice, is represented by senior counsel who argued that his client's actions were not intended to pervert justice but to address potential regulatory concerns. Defence counsel suggested that the client may have returned the €400 to his client, who may not have realized he had received it. The trial continues with the jury considering the evidence presented.
A Dubliner, Noel Ward, 59, used the PPS number of a friend who had moved to Thailand to fraudulently claim €109,235 in social welfare benefits over a decade. Ward, who was homeless when the scheme began, claimed benefits such as Jobseekers' Benefit, Disability Benefit, Jobseekers' Allowance, Basic Supplementary Welfare Allowance and Rent Allowance, and transferred about €64,000 into his friend Patrick Rooney's AIB account. He pleaded guilty to two counts of using a false instrument, including a false driving licence, and six counts of theft from the State between May 2008 and August 2019. Ward has been repaying the State since 2017, including a €20,000 lump sum, and is expected to clear the remaining €15,000 debt within four years. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the hearing adjourned for finalisation on November 20.
A 40‑year‑old Lithuanian man, Donatas Koncevicius, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for possessing cannabis herb worth €258,224 in a lead‑lined compartment in his car. Gardaí stopped his vehicle at Junction 4 of the M3 after he had travelled from Dublin to Cherbourg, France, on a ferry. The car's elaborate concealment, located between the back passenger seat and the boot, was accessed by a switch under the driver's seat and required over an hour of forced entry. Koncevicius pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply and to possessing a concealed compartment to facilitate drug trafficking on 2 March 2024. He had no prior convictions, was married with two daughters, and had been in Ireland for 20 years.
During a routine customs search at Dublin Port, delivery driver Daljeet Singh, 52, was found transporting 55 kg of cannabis concealed in 50 brown cardboard bags, valued at about €1 million. Singh claimed he had not packed the van and was unaware of the drugs, but a photo from his phone later confirmed he knew of the cannabis. He pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis for sale or supply. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a headline sentence of nine years, but after considering mitigating factors, sentenced Singh to six years, suspending the final six months and backdating the term to the date of the offence. Singh has no prior convictions, lives with his elderly parents in the UK, and has five daughters and several grandchildren. The case highlighted alleged pressure from third parties and Singh's financial difficulties. The sentence was delivered at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
In a murder trial at Tallaght, State Pathologist Dr Heidi Okkers testified that a deformed lead projectile measuring 0.8 cm was recovered from the head of Keith Conlon, a 36‑year‑old father of four who died on 24 February 2022 after being shot on the farm of barrister Diarmuid Phelan. Okkers described the bullet's trajectory, noting it entered 3 cm behind Conlon's right ear and 5 cm above it, and that the entry wound was 1.64 cm above the unshod heel. She reported no soot or powder tattooing around the wound, indicating a distance of more than one metre between shooter and victim. The pathologist also detailed a CT scan showing a complete fracture of the right parietal bone and multiple metallic fragments in the brain. Phelan, 56, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Conlon, who was shot in the back of the head while turning away to leave.
Mark Davis, 35, with 207 prior convictions and a 20‑year driving ban, pleaded guilty to stealing a DPD delivery van in Jobstown on 4 December 2023 and to stealing 66 packages worth €901 and driving without a licence on the same day. During a court hearing, the judge heard that Davis, while driving past the victim, told him, "I'll leave the van 'round in that estate," and that the van was later found parked with its engine running and most of the packages missing. Davis also admitted to driving without a licence, hit‑and‑runs, dangerous driving and other offences. He was remanded on continuing bail, with the judge expressing concern that imprisonment would disrupt the progress he has made and that he would be exposed to drugs in custody. The case is set to resume on 10 March.
During the sixth day of a civil trial, Conor McGregor took the stand to defend himself against a claim that he had brutally raped and battered Nikita Hand in a Dublin hotel. McGregor denied the allegations, stating that he and Hand had consensual sex, describing it as enthusiastic, athletic and vigorous, and that no bruising or distress was evident. He recounted being shocked by social media chatter after the incident and warned the judge to restrain his comments when he made a vulgar remark about Hand. The judge cautioned him to restrain his remarks. Hand, a hair colourist, is seeking damages from McGregor and James Lawrence, who also denies the allegations. The trial will continue the following day before a jury and the judge.
Robert Murphy, 42, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of Jamie Kavanagh, 24, at a Dublin 8 hostel on 19 April 2023. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan argued that Murphy entered Kavanagh's room wearing a balaclava and armed only with a butter knife to frighten, not kill. They claimed Murphy admitted stabbing Kavanagh but that the fatal wound was caused by one of Kavanagh's own longer knives. Grehan highlighted that Murphy had no intention to kill, citing his statements about wanting to clean the hostel and that he would have used more lethal weapons if he had intended to kill. The prosecution, led by Paul Greene, countered that Murphy's admissions to Gardaí and the removal of blood‑stained clothing indicated intent to kill. The trial is ongoing before Justice Melanie Greally and a jury of twelve.
A 22‑year‑old man, Brandon Gavin, was found guilty of murder by a jury at the Central Criminal Court after he stabbed his former friend, 19‑year‑old Marius Mamaliga, in the neck on 23 February 2023. The jury, after nearly five hours of deliberation, rejected Gavin's self‑defence claim, describing it as "self‑serving nonsense." Evidence showed Gavin entered Mamaliga's car, took a knife, and stabbed him within about 14 seconds. DNA on the knife matched Gavin, and blood from the victim was found on a penknife nearby. Witnesses testified that Gavin owed Mamaliga €2,500 for drugs and that the victim had sold drugs in the past. Gavin had also searched online for "prison sentence for murder in Ireland" and was active on Tinder minutes before the incident. The verdict was delivered on 13 November 2024, and Gavin remains remanded in custody awaiting sentencing. The unnamed 22-year-old pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence regarding the December 24, 2023, shooting of Tristan Sherry at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown. Three men—Noah Musueni, David Amah, and Michael Andrecut—are on trial for his alleged murder, while Jonas Kabangu, Diarmuid O'Brien, and Brandon Hennessy face charges of violent disorder. All accused have pleaded not guilty. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo and two other judges, continues. Prosecution witness Det Gda Dermot Sloan testified that CCTV footage showed O'Brien hiding under a table during the initial gunfire before emerging to strike in Sherry's direction. Hennessy, the victim's son, was also described as using a dustpan and brush to strike at Sherry after the gunman was disarmed. Defense lawyers indicated they would challenge the accuracy of this evidence. The matter remains at the trial stage with no final determination reached.
In a civil damages trial, a jury heard that DNA from semen samples taken from a woman who alleges she was raped by Conor McGregor matched the celebrity fighter's DNA. The jury also heard that damage to the plaintiff's clothing on the night of the alleged assault was not normal wear and tear but appeared ripped. Nikita Hand, a hair colourist, is seeking damages from McGregor and James Lawrence, who claims he had consensual sex with Hand after McGregor left the hotel. Both McGregor and Lawrence deny the allegations. Dr Charlotte Murphy of Forensic Science Ireland presented the DNA evidence, noting a full male profile from the high vaginal area and a mixed DNA profile that excluded Lawrence. The trial is before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury of eight women and four men.
A jury will return to the Central Criminal Court tomorrow to continue deliberating the verdict in the trial of 22‑year‑old Brandon Gavin, who denies murdering 19‑year‑old Marius Mamaliga over a drug debt. The prosecution alleges Gavin entered the back seat of a car behind Mamaliga and stabbed him in the neck with a knife, intending to kill or seriously injure him. In Garda interviews, Gavin claimed he stabbed Mamaliga in self‑defence, fearing for his life because he owed money for drugs. Witnesses testified that Mamaliga had sold cannabis and that Gavin owed him €2,000 for cocaine. The jury, consisting of seven men and five women, began deliberations after 2 pm and will return tomorrow morning. The judge explained that the jury has three possible verdicts: guilty of murder, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty.
In the murder trial of law professor Diarmuid Phelan, the jury heard that 23‑year‑old Kallum Coleman, who had agreed to testify, booked a one‑way ticket to Spain and was hiding in a hotel when a bench warrant was issued. Gardaí attempted to locate him at his family address and other acquaintances' addresses but found no trace. They later identified him in Marbella, where he was "holing up." While Gardaí were stopping for refreshments en route to the airport, Coleman exited the car and fled, refusing to cooperate with the courts. The defence counsel, Michael Bowman, described Coleman's "change of heart" and his decision to "leg it." The trial also covered Phelan's 2017 trespassing case, where threats were made against him in court, and the circumstances of the 2022 shooting that killed Keith Conlon. The case continues before Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford and a jury. Diarmuid Phelan pleaded not guilty.
Five family members from Cabra, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to violent disorder committed on November 5, 2018. Judge Orla Crowe accepted that Eoin Maughan Senior, Ann Maughan, Patrick Maughan, Stephen Maughan, and Eoin Maughan Jnr acted out of profound concerns for a relative, but ruled that engaging in violent disorder was unlawful. The court heard the defendants attempted to remove the woman from a patrol car and became aggressive toward gardaí during the confrontation. Judge Crowe imposed an 18-month sentence on Eoin Maughan Senior, Ann Maughan, Patrick Maughan, and Eoin Maughan Jnr, which was suspended in full on strict conditions requiring them to engage with the Probation Service for 12 months. Stephen Maughan, who has no previous convictions, received a different disposal. Judge Crowe imposed a section 100 order under the Criminal Justice Act, meaning he will not have a criminal conviction if he keeps the peace and is of good behaviour until May 2025. His case was adjourned to April 2025, by which time he must also pay a €100 fine to the garda benevolent fund. The matter for Stephen Maughan was adjourned and not concluded at this stage.
A 35‑year‑old Dublin man was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for choking his then‑fiancée in front of their three small children in February 2019, an act that left her unconscious and with bruises, scratches and lasting psychological harm. He also pleaded guilty to criminal damage to the back‑door handles of her home in July 2020 when he tried to gain entry. The court noted the woman was pregnant, had to move house to avoid him, and that he had 42 prior convictions, including knife possession, theft, criminal damage and traffic offences. In mitigation, the judge considered his guilty pleas, current drug and alcohol abstinence, employment and volunteer work, and a probation assessment placing him at moderate risk of re‑offending. Consecutive sentences of three and two years were imposed, with the final two years suspended on conditions such as attending a violent offender course while in custody.
Lucas Matley, a 19‑year‑old from Manchester, was caught at Dublin Airport with 12.8 kg of vacuum‑packed cannabis worth about €257,860. He had travelled to Las Vegas for five days to pick up the suitcase and then flew to Ireland, claiming he was paid £5,000 to transport the drugs. Matley pleaded guilty to having the drugs for sale or supply at the airport on 10 March 2024. Judge Orla Crowe noted his lack of prior convictions and cooperation with Gardaí, and considered mitigating factors such as letters from his former school. She imposed a headline sentence of four years but reduced it to three years, suspending the final six months for one year. The sentence was imposed at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after a Garda investigation that found 28 vacuum‑packed packages in his luggage.
A 30‑year‑old Dublin man who claimed he was suffering from sexsomnia when he raped a co‑worker was convicted on 9 February 2018 and sentenced to eight years, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions. He appealed, arguing that the prosecution's closing address unfairly spotlighted his failure to give evidence and scorned a sleep‑disorder expert's testimony. The Court of Appeal rejected all grounds of appeal, finding no unfair or prejudicial remarks and that the judge had not erred in refusing the expert to give evidence. The appeal also failed on the grounds that evidence of a co‑worker's prior interest in the victim was permissible, and that a pre‑trial ruling allowing video‑link testimony was within the judge's discretion. The appeal was dismissed, leaving the conviction and sentence intact. The case involved the victim waking to the man's sexual act, DNA evidence, and prior sexual comments made by the accused. The unnamed 30-year-old pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence from Detective Garda Dermot Sloan regarding the murder of Tristan Sherry at Browne's Steakhouse on December 24, 2023. Sloan presented CCTV footage detailing alleged attacks by Michael Andrecut (22), David Amah (18), and Noah Musueni (18), all of whom deny the murder charge. The detective described Andrecut stamping on Sherry, striking him with glasses, a bar, and a chair, and holding a phone over his head before a final kick. Amah was alleged to have stamped, kicked, and struck Sherry with a chair. Musueni was described as stamping on Sherry's head, delivering jabbing motions, and throwing a chair that hit him. Jonas Kabangu (18), charged with violent disorder, allegedly ran to the carpark, returned to kick Sherry twice, and helped remove the victim's body. Brandon Hennessy (21) and Diarmuid O'Brien (18) are also charged with violent disorder. All accused have pleaded not guilty. The trial is ongoing before Justice Kerida Naidoo, Judge Elma Sheahan, and Judge James Faughnan, with Sloan's evidence scheduled to continue.
Patrick Murphy, aged 52 and without a fixed abode, was tried for the murder of Joseph Brosnan in Tralee on 22 May 2022. The prosecution, represented by Senior Counsel Patrick Gageby, argued that Murphy unlawfully killed Brosnan and that the intent to kill or cause serious injury was clear. The case centred on an evening in late afternoon when Murphy, who had been pushed out of Brosnan's apartment, returned and allegedly used a large kitchen knife to stab Brosnan twice – once in the hand and once in the back. The second wound penetrated the pericardial sac, causing fatal bleeding. Murphy had previously claimed to be a "peacemaker" and denied knowing who stabbed the deceased, but the prosecution contended he brought the knife to the scene. The trial was set to continue before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury of eight men and four women. Patrick Murphy pleaded not guilty.
A jury heard that law professor Diarmuid Phelan, 56, denied murdering Keith Conlon, 36, on his farm in Tallaght. Phelan said he was terrified when three men appeared on his land and that he fired his revolver in self‑defence, claiming the shots were aimed at the men, not at Conlon. He described the men as threatening him and said he had tried to retreat but was forced to shoot. Phelan also alleged that his farm had been subject to burglary, drug use, armed men and arson, and that Gardaí had not responded promptly to earlier incidents. He said he had given the revolver to Gardaí and that he was under immense stress. The trial is ongoing before Justice Siobhan Lankford and a jury. Diarmuid Phelan pleaded not guilty.
In a civil trial at the High Court, a paramedic, Eithne Scully, testified that she had seen a woman, Nikita Hand, who is suing Conor McGregor and James Lawrence, with extensive bruising and injuries after an alleged rape in a Dublin hotel penthouse on 9 December 2018. Scully described Hand's bruises around the neck, thighs, chest and lower leg, and noted a cut on her chin and breast injury. She also reported Hand's agitation, fear of a tampon being pushed too far, and a panic attack during transport to the Rotunda hospital. The paramedic's evidence was supplemented by CCTV footage of the ambulance and by statements from other paramedics who observed Hand's distress. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Owens, continues with a jury of eight women and four men. The defendants deny the allegations. The case focuses on the alleged assault and the injuries sustained by Hand.
A jury of six men and six women was sworn in by Mr Justice Tony Hunt for the trial of 28‑year‑old Cailean Crawford, who denies murdering Thomas McCarthy on 27 July 2020 at Croftwood Park, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10. Crawford was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court today. The trial will commence this afternoon and is expected to last three to four weeks. Thomas McCarthy pleaded not guilty.
An autistic cinema manager, Dylan O'Riordan, resigned after Omniplex Cork Ltd failed to give him two consecutive days off, a requirement identified in an occupational health assessment. He had reported severe mental‑health difficulties and requested consistent scheduling and rest periods. The Workplace Relations Commission found the employer discriminated under the Employment Equality Act 1998 by not providing reasonable accommodation, despite arranging suitable shifts for students and pregnant workers. The tribunal noted the manager's alleged remark that autism was a "superpower," which the manager denied. O'Riordan's statutory complaint, filed in April, led to a tribunal decision in January 2024. The commission ordered Omniplex to pay €12,000 in compensation and to conduct awareness training for staff with neurological conditions. The award was made after the employer's failure to address O'Riordan's accommodation needs.
Patrick Murphy, 52, who lives without a fixed address, has been arraigned in the Central Criminal Court for the killing of Joseph Brosnan in an apartment complex in County Kerry on 22 May 2022. He admits manslaughter but denies murder. A jury of eight men and four women has been sworn in, and the trial will commence this afternoon before Mr Justice Paul Burns, expected to last six days. Patrick Murphy pleaded not guilty.