In a murder trial, Brandon Gavin, aged 22, is accused of a planned and pre‑meditated stabbing of his 19‑year‑old friend Marius Mamaliga. Prosecutors argue Gavin entered the victim's car, stabbed him in the neck within eight seconds, and then disposed of the knife before returning home, citing his Google search for "prison sentence for murder in Ireland" and Tinder activity as evidence of pre‑planning. They describe the act as "murder – plain and simple" and dismiss his self‑defence claim as "self‑serving nonsense." Defence counsel counter that Gavin had made 47 calls that day trying to raise €2,000 owed for cocaine, and that he was in distress and fear, possibly acting in self‑preservation. They portray him as a young man spiralling out of control, not a cold‑blooded killer. The jury is instructed to weigh these conflicting accounts before delivering a verdict. Brandon Gavin pleaded not guilty.
A veteran criminal defence solicitor, Cahir O'Higgins (49), has pleaded not guilty to one count of stealing €400 in July 2016 and four counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice in December 2017. During a voluntary interview with gardai, O'Higgins stated he returned the €400 to his client, Raul Sanz Quilis, and described providing notes to gardai as a 'grave error of judgement' and 'bullshit notes'. The prosecution alleges that O'Higgins withdrew €600 from Sanz Quilis' bank account, kept €400, and paid €200 to the court to have the case against Sanz struck out. O'Higgins claims he had implied permission from Sanz Quilis to use the card and that he returned the €400. He also said he provided notes to gardai in December 2017, which he later admitted were inaccurate and not contemporaneous. O'Higgins acknowledged he represented Sanz Quilis without explicit instructions and admitted to providing misleading information to gardai.
Craig Coyle, 37, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to threatening to publish intimate images of a woman and to harassment from September to December 2023, plus two trespasses at her home in December 2023 and January 2024. The offences fall under Coco's Law, which allows fines or up to seven years' imprisonment. Judge Pauline Codd read several abusive emails, describing them as "grotesquely pornographic" and "debasing not only to this woman but all women in general." The woman, who had been a victim of a serious sexual assault, reported that Coyle's behaviour forced her to install a security alarm and cameras, and that she suffered severe mental distress, including nightmares and loss of self‑esteem. Coyle admitted to loitering around her home, sending abusive messages, and catfishing her. He was arrested on 30 January 2024 and admitted the harassment. The case was adjourned to 17 February pending a psychologist's report on his emotionally unstable personality disorder.
A 41‑year‑old Nigerian man was sentenced by the Central Criminal Court to 13 years' imprisonment for eight counts of rape, four counts of assault and two counts of threatening to kill or cause serious harm. The court heard that the defendant repeatedly raped and beat his wife, causing her to miscarry a child. He also applied chilli powder to her genitals after a rape. The man threatened to kill the woman and her sister when they tried to recover her bride price, and he planned to put the victim's brother's name on the birth certificate of a child she had with him to secure residency. He later came to Ireland to live with the woman and her baby. The judge noted the defendant denied all allegations and ordered post‑release supervision for two years. The sentence was imposed concurrently with four‑year terms for the assault and threat charges. The unnamed 41-year-old was found guilty.
A man from Monaghan has been sentenced to four years imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the rape of a teenager he had met for the first time. Shane McGovern, aged 31, approached the then 18-year-old outside a bar and offered him accommodation at his home. The victim later woke to find McGovern assaulting him. He feigned waking and left the property, reporting the incident to gardaí immediately. McGovern, of Mullaghmatt, Monaghan, pleaded guilty to anal rape on 20 May 2022. In sentencing, Mr Justice Paul McDermott acknowledged the victim's courage in reporting the crime and engaging with the justice system. The judge set a headline sentence of seven years and six months, applying significant mitigation for the early guilty plea. He imposed four years in prison with the final twelve months suspended, conditional on engagement with the Probation Service. A contact prohibition between McGovern and the victim was also imposed.
Patrick Byrne, 27, of Cloverhill Road, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two years and nine months in jail for assault causing harm. He pleaded guilty to one count of assaulting a 33-year-old man at Westmoreland Street, Dublin 2, on October 15 last year. Judge Orla Crowe described the unprovoked attack, in which Byrne allegedly struck the victim with a bike saddle, as senseless and brutal. The sentence was backdated to the date Byrne first entered custody. Byrne has a history of 36 previous offences, including a suspended six-and-a-half-year sentence for attempted robbery in 2020. Prosecution counsel sought leave to re-mention the case to address whether the offence was committed while Byrne was on that suspended sentence. The matter was adjourned to deal with this procedural issue. Defence counsel acknowledged the assault was vicious but argued it was a case of mistaken identity and noted Byrne's history of drug abuse. The victim stated he now avoids the city centre due to the trauma and visible scarring.
Tanya Kirwan, 40, of Killisk, The Ballagh, Co. Wexford, pleaded guilty to careless driving causing serious bodily harm on 22 February 2021, when she struck 88‑year‑old Laurence 'Larry' Leacy. The collision left Leacy with spinal fractures, a fractured tibia, a lacerated scalp and kidney failure, and he later died of a respiratory tract infection. Kirwan was initially sentenced by Judge James McCourt at Wexford Circuit Court on 7 July 2022 to a one‑year suspended sentence and a four‑year driving ban. The Court of Appeal, hearing on 11 November 2024, found the four‑year ban was a discretionary order mis‑interpreted as mandatory. It quashed the original ban and imposed a two‑year, four‑month disqualification, back‑dated to 7 July 2022, while keeping the one‑year suspended sentence. Kirwan's car was in good condition, she was not intoxicated, and she had returned to work after lunch before the incident.
Jason McDonagh, aged 31, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for assaulting his partner, her sister and her mother in a Dublin hotel. The attack, which took place on 16 February, involved McDonagh dragging his partner around the room, threatening to bite her ear, and punching all three women after they fled. CCTV footage showed him wearing a pyramid‑shaped ring that was described as a knuckle duster, which aggravated the injuries. The 65‑year‑old mother suffered severe head pain and eye problems, while the partner sustained lacerations to her head and ear and the sister had bumps and bruising. McDonagh pleaded guilty to three counts of assault causing harm, a charge punishable by up to 10 years. Judge Orla Crowe, noting his mental health issues and lack of prior convictions, imposed a two‑year sentence, suspended the final six months, and back‑dated it to his arrest.
Sinead White, 38, of Collins Place, Finglas, Dublin 11, who has 210 prior convictions including 158 thefts, pleaded guilty on 1 September 2023 to witness intimidation after sending threatening voice messages to a future witness. The messages were played in court and described as threatening, intimidating and wrong. White was intoxicated at the time and admitted the wrongdoing, expressing remorse and apologising. Judge Martin Nolan, noting the seriousness of the offence and its impact on the victim, imposed a 21‑month prison sentence, crediting only time already served on other matters. The court accepted that White had no history of violence or assault convictions and that she had no contact with the victim since the incident. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the victim expected to testify in a 2025 trial. The sentence reflects the judge's view that intimidation of witnesses must be punished, but that White was not an "insidious person.".
A man accused of assaulting a woman has been granted permission to challenge a decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions not to provide him with a statement the alleged victim made in a previously withdrawn complaint against him. The High Court heard that the man unsuccessfully sought disclosure of the statement before the District Court in April. He is also seeking a stay on proceedings, pending the outcome of his judicial review hearing. The man claims the District Court erred in denying his application for specific disclosure, relating to the previous withdrawn complaint made by the woman. The application arises from the prosecution of the man under Section 3 of the Non‑Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 regarding an alleged incident on January 19, 2023. The woman alleges that he struck her with a piece of glass, grabbed her by the neck and punched her in the face.
Anthony Ryan, an administrator of a child‑abuse messaging group, was found guilty of possessing and distributing child pornography. He pleaded guilty on 22 September 2020 and was sentenced by Judge James McCourt to a three‑year prison term suspended for four years. The State argued the sentence was too lenient, citing the 575 items seized – 326 images of girls, most under 12, and 159 videos of children in sexual activity – and Ryan's active role in the group. Ryan cooperated with Gardaí, supplied his phone PIN and pleaded guilty early, which the defence highlighted as mitigating factors. The Court of Appeal heard the case and the judge reserved judgment, noting the seriousness of the material and Ryan's organisational role in the abuse network. The case remains pending further determination.
A law professor, Diarmuid Phelan, 56, denies murdering an unarmed trespasser in a fatal shooting at his farm. He told Gardaí he was terrified when three men "exploded" out of bushes on his land, screaming and roaring, and threatened him about who had shot their dog. Phelan said he shouted at the men to stay back, but they kept coming and he believed they were coming to fulfil the threats they had made. He claimed he had taken powder from a first‑aid bag and put it on the back of the deceased's head to stop the bleeding, although none of the trespassers were members of the Travelling Community. Phelan has pleaded not guilty to murdering Keith Conlon, 36, at Hazelgrove Farm, Tallaght, on 24 February 2022. Evidence shows Phelan fired three shots from a Smith & Wesson revolver; the State alleges two shots were fired into the air and the third struck Conlon in the back of the head.
The Special Criminal Court heard eyewitness testimony from two sisters regarding the fatal shooting of Tristan Sherry at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown on Christmas Eve 2023. Adisa Ajredini and Amanda Ajredini described the terror as a masked attacker, whom they identified as holding a long firearm, entered the busy restaurant. Adisa stated she dragged her mother under a table after hearing what sounded like machine-gun fire, while Amanda fled to the kitchen believing the gunman intended to shoot everyone. The sisters testified that the restaurant was left wrecked and the attacker was found lying in blood. This evidence forms part of the ongoing trial of three men accused of murdering Sherry: Noah Musueni, David Amah, and Michael Andrecut. All three have pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. Additionally, Jonas Kabangu, Diarmuid O'Brien, and Brandon Hennessy are charged with violent disorder arising from the same incident; all have also pleaded not guilty. Prosecution counsel previously alleged that a group attacked the disarmed Sherry with savage violence. The trial continues before Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo, Judge Elma Sheahan, and Judge James Faughnan. No verdicts or sentences have been delivered, and the matter remains at the trial stage.
Eric O'Driscoll, aged 22, pleaded guilty before the Special Criminal Court to possession of a .223 calibre Remington AR‑15 semi‑automatic rifle at Ratoath Drive, Finglas, on 9 January 2022. The court found the circumstances reasonably inferred that the rifle was not held for a lawful purpose. O'Driscoll also faced four other firearms offences, but the Director of Public Prosecutions said the plea satisfied the case. The matter was adjourned for a later hearing, with trial scheduled later in the year.
A veteran criminal defence solicitor, Cahir O'Higgins, has told a trial that he believed someone in the gardai or the Director of Public Prosecutions' office wanted to 'stitch him up' because he had 'annoyed people'. O'Higgins, 49, is on trial for one count of theft of €400 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 was representing a Spanish national, Raul Sanz Quilis, who was charged with criminal damage. During the case, O'Higgins allegedly used Sanz Quilis's bank card to withdraw €600 from an ATM, with €400 allegedly taken into his possession. The case against Sanz was struck out after €200 was paid to the court. O'Higgins also provided gardai with notes he claimed to have made during the incident, but the prosecution alleges they contained false information. Cahir O'Higgins pleaded not guilty. Sanz Quilis pleaded not guilty.
Deji Oshinowo, 51, of Myrtle Square, Baldoyle, Dublin 13, was convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on three counts of possession of false passports. He had seven prior convictions, including for custody of false instruments, the most recent in 2012. An investigation by Gardaí on 21 June 2017 found three passports – two from the Republic of Benin and one from South Africa – in an upstairs room of his residence; none bore his picture and were later confirmed false. Oshinowo was arrested and interviewed, and the court noted his cooperation. Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to two and a half years, suspending the term under a number of conditions. Oshinowo, married with three children, is currently completing courses and has requested leniency, while his progress toward citizenship remains paused due to the criminal proceedings.
The court heard that a 15‑year‑old driver of a stolen car caused a garda's hand to break while she tried to remove him from the vehicle during a pursuit. The teenager, now 16, pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment, assault, unlawful use of a car, dangerous driving and damaging an official garda vehicle at locations along the M50 on 24 August 2023. Detective Garda Kate Gilligan described how the boy drove on the wrong side of the motorway, rammed a patrol car and repeatedly changed lanes, creating danger for himself and other road users. She said she would take a broken hand any day over the potential consequences. Judge Orla Crowe noted the boy's significant improvement and adjourned the case for six months to allow continued work, requesting an updated probation report. The boy apologized, cooperated with investigators, and has not reoffended since his release.
Robert Hanratty, 48, of Whiteacre Place, Ballymun, pleaded guilty to possession of zopiclone tablets at his home and a location in Ballymun for sale or supply on 6 January 2023. He held over €30,000 worth of sleeping tablets, claiming he did so to deter vandalism by local youths who had targeted his home. Hanratty, described as vulnerable and with a drink problem, had four minor prior convictions unrelated to drugs. Judge Orla Crowe noted the statutory minimum for the offence is 10 years but, citing his cooperation and lack of prior drug convictions, set a headline sentence of three years, reduced to two years and four months, and suspended the entire term. The court emphasized that a suspended sentence remains a real penalty and may be re‑entered if further issues arise. The case involved 15,680 tablets recovered, valued at €32,200, and a psychological report detailing Hanratty's mental health and alcohol use. No further convictions were reported.
Ms Nikita Hand, a hair colourist, testified at the High Court after four days in the witness box, claiming that Conor McGregor brutally raped and battered her in a Dublin hotel penthouse on 9 December 2018. She said she has no memory of being in a lift with James Lawrence, who denies the allegations and claims consensual sex with her. Hand described bruises and injuries she said were inflicted by McGregor, including choking and biting. She also recounted drinking and drug use during the period. McGregor and Lawrence deny the allegations. The civil damages case is ongoing before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury of twelve. The trial continues with no verdict yet.
During the trial of law professor Diarmuid Phelan, a ballistics expert explained that firing a warning shot carries inherent dangers because the projectile can travel and hit unintended targets. The expert noted that factors such as farm terrain, the trespassers' movement, and Phelan's state of mind on the day of the shooting would negatively affect his ability to aim and control the firearm. Evidence showed Phelan shouted at two unarmed trespassers to "get back" before firing three shots from his Smith & Wesson revolver. The State claimed two shots were fired into the air and the third struck Keith Conlon in the back of the head as he turned away. Phelan, 56, pleaded not guilty to murdering Conlon, 36, who died on 24 February 2022 at Hazelgrove Farm, Tallaght. The trial continues before a jury.
During a trial, Robert Murphy (42) told a garda that he wanted to kill Jamie Kavanagh (24) and that Kavanagh deserved to die. Murphy pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. He admitted stabbing Kavanagh, who lived in a bedsit on Harrington Street, Dublin 8, a hostel run by Crosscare. Garda Matthew O'Connor, on duty at Kevin Street Garda Station, heard Murphy say he had taken all the knives from Kavanagh's room and that he wanted to kill him. Murphy was found carrying a bag with two large knives, a balaclava, blood‑stained clothing and drug paraphernalia. State pathologist Dr Sally Anne Collis identified seven sharp‑object injuries on Kavanagh, with one stab wound to the trunk causing death. The case is before Justice Melanie Greally and a jury.
A Galway man was convicted on 30 November 2022 of five counts of indecent assault against two sisters‑in‑law and one brother‑in‑law, all of whom were children at the time of the alleged offences. The jury found him guilty on all counts except one directed acquittal. He was sentenced on 15 June 2023 to 23 months' imprisonment, with six months suspended on the first charge and six months suspended on the three charges against his brother‑in‑law. A €500 fine was imposed for the second sister‑in‑law's charge. The man, who pleaded not guilty, has appealed, arguing that the jury's verdict was "perverse" because the judge refused to sever the indictment and that the evidence contained inconsistencies. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment on the appeal. The case remains at the trial stage, with no further outcome reported.
Jackie Deevy, a care worker employed for 26 years at a residential home, won a compensation award of €11,023 after the HSE was found to have breached the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. Deevy had complained to the Workplace Relations Commission that she was never given a proper break, often only able to grab tea and a sandwich near a service user. The HSE had not kept working‑time records and claimed an exemption for healthcare workers, but the tribunal found the exemption did not apply because the HSE failed to record or provide adequate breaks. The tribunal awarded Deevy 10 weeks' pay and ordered the HSE to comply with the legislation and maintain a record of breaks. The case was heard by adjudicator Conor Stokes, who noted that breaks taken with residents did not constitute rest. The HSE's residential care location was not named to protect patient confidentiality.
The court heard that 22‑year‑old Brandon Gavin's phone was used 24 hours before he stabbed 19‑year‑old Marius Mamaliga to death. The phone searched for "prison sentence for murder in Ireland" and engaged with a woman on Tinder 20 minutes before the fatal stabbing. Texts show Mamaliga demanded money for drugs from Gavin, warning that "boys looking for that money" would be at his door. Gavin claimed he stabbed Mamaliga in self‑defence, fearing for his life because he owed money for drugs. The prosecution argued Gavin entered the back seat of a car behind Mamaliga and stabbed him in the neck with a knife. The case is set to close on Monday before Justice Eileen Creedon and the jury. Brandon Gavin pleaded not guilty.
A man who threatened to cut off his former partner's fingers with garden secateurs and repeatedly raped her has appealed his conviction, claiming the trial judge failed to adequately explain the defence case to the jury. He was convicted of two counts of rape, two of oral rape, two of sexual assault and two threats to kill or cause serious harm, and was jailed for ten years. The appeal argues the judge neglected to summarise the defence case and to properly charge the jury on the doctrine of recent complaint evidence, which the defence said was essential to show an honest belief of consent. The DPP's counsel said the judge had properly charged the jury. The court will reserve judgement. The victim, who fled her home after the attack, described living in fear and the lasting impact of the man's threats. The unnamed accused pleaded guilty.
Norma Burke, a photojournalist, brought a gender discrimination claim against Press Photographers Ireland CLG (PPI) to the Workplace Relations Commission, alleging the organisation's "jobs for boys" attitude and membership rules discriminated against women. Burke argued that PPI's requirement for members to be "full‑time" press photographers—earning 80% of their income from editorial work—indirectly discriminated against women who are more likely to work part‑time, study full‑time, or have childcare responsibilities. She also claimed direct discrimination through dismissive, gendered remarks in email exchanges. PPI, represented by Elaine Davern‑Wiseman BL, countered that it had no defined "full‑time" criteria and that it was exempt from equality legislation because it did not provide a public service. The tribunal found Burke had no standing to claim direct discrimination and that the membership criteria were not discriminatory, dismissing her claims as not well founded. The decision was issued by WRC adjudicator Kara Turner on 8 November 2024.
In the civil damages trial at the High Court, the jury informed Judge Alexander Owens that a member of the public gallery had pointed a mobile phone at them, raising concerns about potential recording or photography. Owens reminded all present that recording and photography are prohibited in the court area and warned that any breach would be treated as contempt of court. The case involves Ms Nikita Hand, who alleges that Conor McGregor and James Lawrence raped her in a Dublin hotel on 9 December 2018. Both defendants deny the allegations. The trial, presided over by Judge Owens, continues with a jury of eight women and four men and is expected to last two weeks.
The Special Criminal Court has ruled that Garda Dermot Sloane may narrate CCTV footage of the fatal shooting of Jason Hennessy Snr at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown on Christmas Eve 2023. Presiding Judge Kerida Naidoo determined that the garda, described as an "ad hoc expert" due to his familiarity with the footage, is entitled to provide a descriptive narrative to highlight relevant aspects, while emphasizing that the three-judge panel will determine the facts. The trial involves Noah Musueni, David Amah, and Michael Andrecut, who are accused of murdering gunman Tristan Sherry after he shot Mr Hennessy. All three pleaded not guilty. Wayne Deegan is also charged with murder but is awaiting a neuro-psychologist report for a later trial. Jonas Kabangu, Diarmuid O'Brien, and Brandon Hennessy are charged with violent disorder, all pleading not guilty. Jaures Kumbu previously pleaded guilty to removing the sub-machine gun used in the killing, which has not been retrieved. The court adjourned the trial to Monday to allow parties time to consider potential edits to the garda's narrative before it is heard.
The trial of criminal defence solicitor Cahir O'Higgins, who has pleaded not guilty to one count of theft and four counts of perverting the course of justice, continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. The prosecution alleges that on July 30, 2016, O'Higgins withdrew €600 from an ATM at a Londis shop on Parkgate Street using the bank card of applicant Raul Sanz Quilis, keeping €400 for himself after paying a €200 court fee. Sanz Quilis, who was charged with criminal damage, consented to the withdrawal solely to pay the fine. Evidence from Courts Service clerk Derek Bunyan confirmed the case was struck out after the payment. Additionally, the State alleges O'Higgins provided gardaí in December 2017 with notes he claimed were made on July 30, 2016, which the prosecution says contained untrue information. Natwest Group Fraud Control Manager Michael Wilson testified that records show three €200 withdrawals were made from the Spanish-issued card between 4pm and 5pm on that date. O'Higgins denies all allegations, maintaining he acted in good faith. The matter is currently at the trial stage and has not been finalised.
Kevin Ahmetay, a 26‑year‑old Albanian national with no fixed abode, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of unlawfully assisting a friend's entry into Ireland. The offence stemmed from an incident at Terminal One, Dublin Airport, where Ahmetay and his friend, both from Albania, were stopped after arriving from Italy. Gardaí discovered that the friend used a false name and a false Bulgarian passport, while Ahmetay had produced a genuine Bulgarian passport in his own name and claimed no connection to the other man. However, authorities linked the two men by their shared booking and sequential check‑in. Ahmetay admitted he had held his friend's genuine Albanian passport, which he intended to return after they entered Ireland for onward travel. He had a prior UK conviction for cannabis production, resulting in a suspended sentence.
In a High Court civil trial, Ms Nikita Hand, 45, presented a 45‑minute audio recording in which she describes being "brutally raped" by Conor McGregor at the Beacon hotel's penthouse on 9 December 2018. The recording shows Hand sobbing and telling her boyfriend she would be "killed" if she named her attacker. She also recounts going to a friend's house, having photos taken of her body, and describing injuries such as black‑and‑blue knuckles and leg bruises. Hand denies a defence claim that she followed McGregor into a bedroom and performed oral sex before consensual sex. McGregor and James Lawrence deny the allegations. The case is heard by a jury of eight women and four men, with the trial continuing tomorrow at the Four Courts.
Jurors in the murder trial of law professor Diarmuid Phelan have been invited to hold and pull the trigger of the Smith & Wesson revolver used in the fatal shooting of Mr Conlon on Phelan's farmland. The prosecution, led by John Byrne SC, explained the exercise to help jurors understand the five kilos of pressure required to pull the trigger. The judge, Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford, declined to participate, stating she would pass. Mr Phelan, 56, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Conlon, 36, on February 24, 2022. Detective Garda Seamus O'Donnell testified that the revolver had no manually activated safety mechanism and that it was considered very safe. He confirmed that the gun had been made safe for the exercise and that it could not fire if dropped. Eight of the 12 jurors opted to pull the trigger.
During a trial, Robert Murphy (42) pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Jamie Kavanagh (24) at a hostel on Harrington Street, Dublin 8, on 19 April 2023. The Central Criminal Court heard that Kavanagh lived in a bedsit run by a hostel and charity Crosscare, and that he was found with four stab wounds. Murphy, who lived next door, was stopped by Garda officers after the incident. He was discovered carrying a bag with two large knives, a balaclava and blood‑stained clothing, and he told the Garda that he had stabbed Kavanagh with his own weapons, hoping the victim was "taken out in coroners' bags." He also admitted that Kavanagh and his friends were using drugs in his room. The trial, set to continue before Ms Justice Melanie Greally, is expected to last six to seven days.
During the murder trial of Brandon Gavin, the State Pathologist Dr SallyAnn Collis testified that 19‑year‑old Marius Mamaliga suffered a fatal neck stab wound that caused severe blood loss, leading to cardiac arrest and hypoxic brain injury. The post‑mortem revealed a 9 cm wound 1.9 cm long and 7.5 cm deep, angled downwards from the left side of the neck, damaging the left common carotid artery, left jugular vein, and upper windpipe. The injury also caused diffuse haemorrhage on the right side and damage to the left side of the voice box and both sides of the esophagus. Dr Collis confirmed the knife recovered by Gardaí had a single cutting surface, 9.5 cm long, matching the wound tract. She described the force as moderate, noting no hilt wound. Brandon Gavin pleaded not guilty. SallyAnn Collis pleaded not guilty.
An editor who worked as an independent contractor for 11 years claimed she was left €238,000 worse off than permanently‑employed colleagues. The Workplace Relations Commission, hearing a dispute under the Industrial Relations Act 1969, decided the editor should be given more time to consider a retrospective benefits deal tabled by her employer. The tribunal noted that the employer had already offered a retrospection deal for about 100 workers, and that extending the offer could expose the employer to further claims. The editor had been offered a part‑time contract in 2019, increased in 2021, and a variable ex‑gratia lump sum of €10,500, but she declined the deal and brought a complaint in November 2022. The adjudicator recommended extending the payment of the lump sum for an additional 12 weeks. The decision allows the editor to review the retrospective benefits offer before a final determination is made.
The Special Criminal Court is currently hearing the trial of Noah Musueni, David Amah, and Michael Andrecut, who are charged with the murder of Tristan Sherry at Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown on December 24, 2023. All three accused pleaded not guilty. Wayne Deegan, also charged with murder, is awaiting a neuro-psychological report and will be tried later. Jonas Kabangu and Brandon Hennessy, the son of shooting victim Jason Hennessy Snr, are on trial for violent disorder arising from the same incident; both pleaded not guilty. Jaures Kumbu previously pleaded guilty to removing the sub-machine gun used in the killing, a weapon that has not been retrieved. During the trial, the court viewed CCTV footage allegedly showing Sherry being disarmed and beaten to death by a group. Prosecution counsel described the attack as involving savage violence, including kicking and striking with chairs. Defence counsel objected to the prosecution providing a narrative of the footage, arguing the visuals are self-evident. While five of the six accused accepted their identification in the footage, Brandon Hennessy's legal team raised an objection to his alleged identification. Garda witnesses testified to arriving at the scene to find a male with multiple injuries. The trial continues before a three-judge panel.
In the third day of evidence at a High Court civil trial, a woman named Nikita Hand testified that Conor McGregor and James Lawrence allegedly raped and battered her in a Dublin hotel on 8‑9 December 2018. Hand, who was intoxicated after a night of drinking and drug use, claimed she was pinned down and choked by McGregor in a penthouse suite at the Beacon hotel. She said she had been "brutally raped" and that a doctor later assessed her injuries as moderate to severe. Both McGregor and Lawrence denied the allegations. Hand's testimony included references to CCTV footage that she said contradicted her account, and she described her state as "drunk and very vulnerable." The case remains before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury.
Alan Harte, a career criminal serving a 30-year sentence for the kidnap and torture of Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney, appealed to the Court of Appeal regarding a refusal to grant him more time to seek a review of the State's decision to try him in the non-jury Special Criminal Court. Harte was convicted of falsely imprisoning and causing serious harm to Mr. Lunney at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, Co. Cavan, on 17 September 2019, contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. The High Court had previously refused an extension of time for Harte's judicial review application, holding it was brought outside the three-month limit. Harte's counsel, Michael O'Higgins SC, acknowledged that Harte would have lost the case had it proceeded but argued that access to court is a constitutional cornerstone, stating, "You're entitled to go to court and lose your case." Counsel for the State, David Fennelly SC, countered that the issue was moot and that access to courts is not an absolute right. The Court of Appeal, including Ms Justice Tara Burns and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, indicated it would first decide on the issue of mootness and reserved judgement, meaning the matter was adjourned.
Gerard Nevin, 41, of Grove Park, Rathmines, was sentenced to four years in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for sexually abusing his two step‑daughters, Catalina and Alexa Grancea, over an eight‑year period. Nevin pleaded guilty to 22 counts of sexual assault committed between 2012 and June 2020 at locations in Clondalkin, Lucan and Palmerstown. The abuse began when Catalina was aged eight to sixteen and Alexa was aged seven to fifteen. The court imposed a global sentence of six years, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions. The victims, who waived anonymity, reported the abuse to Gardaí in June 2020. Nevin was arrested in 2021 and had previously indicated he would plead guilty to avoid further trauma to the complainants. The case highlighted the prolonged nature of the abuse and its impact on the victims' mental health.
Trade unionist Brendan Ogle has filed a notice of appeal to the Labour Court following the Workplace Relations Commission's (WRC) rejection of his discrimination claim against Unite. Ogle alleged he was discriminated against as a cancer survivor and sidelined after returning to work in summer 2022. He claimed that Tom Fitzgerald, a senior official in Unite's Dublin office, directed him to write himself out of the union's strategic plan for Ireland. The WRC adjudicator, Elizabeth Spelman, dismissed these complaints under the Employment Equality Act 1998, finding Ogle's account of the meeting with Fitzgerald not plausible. She determined that Unite's shift from political to industrial matters was applied across the union and unconnected to Ogle's disability. The adjudicator also rejected the claim that Fitzgerald had assumed Ogle's political duties, noting that removed tasks were minor. Ogle's legal team argued his senior role was decimated, while Unite maintained the claims were artificial and that witness evidence held sway. The WRC decision was described by Unite as clear and unambiguous. Ogle stated the decision was not consistent with the evidence and not good law. The matter is now adjourned to the Labour Court for a de novo hearing, where the entire case will be heard afresh. Ogle also has separate defamation proceedings against former chairman Tony Woodhouse.
In a criminal trial, solicitor Cahir O'Higgins, aged 49, faces charges of theft and attempting to pervert the course of justice. He is accused of withdrawing €200 from a Spanish national's bank card to pay a court fine, then making additional withdrawals totalling €600 from an ATM and pocketing €400. The prosecution alleges he provided Garda Tao Yu with false notes and a prepared statement admitting the €600 withdrawal. O'Higgins recorded a conversation with Garda Yu in May 2020, unaware of the recording, in which he expressed concern that other Gardaí might influence the evidence. He denies all allegations. The case is before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury, with O'Higgins pleading not guilty to all counts. The trial continues.
Two men, a former Soviet fighter pilot and a former construction company owner, were sentenced to a combined 18 years in prison for smuggling 60 kg of heroin into Dublin. The pilot, Zoltan Nemeth, flew a Cessna 210 that landed at Weston Airport with 120 packages of heroin, each about half a kilo, valued at €8.4 million. Nemeth claimed he was unaware of the cargo, believing it to be prohibited metal for microchips, while the co‑accused, Aradi Ignac, admitted transporting the drugs and said he had fallen into debt to dangerous individuals. Ignac had ten prior convictions, including theft and fraud, and had been involved in planning the operation. The court imposed headline sentences of 13 years for Ignac (actual term ten years) and 10 years for Nemeth, with both sentences backdated to the day they were arrested. Both men have been in custody since December and are on 23‑hour lock‑up for their own protection. Aradi Ignac pleaded guilty. Zoltan Nemeth pleaded guilty.
Charles Darcy, aged 35, was sentenced to two years in prison for possession of .38 special calibre Sellier and Bellot ammunition and for criminal damage after throwing a fire extinguisher through the window of an Applegreen Service Station. The court heard that Darcy had 59 prior convictions, including attempted murder, robbery, assault, possession of a realistic firearm, violent disorder, public order, assault on a police officer, breach of bail and violent behaviour in a Garda station. He pleaded guilty to the ammunition offence on 26 May 2018 and to the fire extinguisher incident on 13 October 2018. The judge noted his long history of offending, his membership of the Travelling community, his mental health and drug‑addiction struggles, and that he is currently drug‑free and willing to undertake an intensive probation programme. The sentence was suspended for six months and back‑dated for time already served.
Wayne Fairhurst, a 33‑year‑old former teaching assistant from Warrington, was sentenced to four years in prison for acting as a 'drugs mule' by transporting €251,000 worth of cannabis from Los Angeles to Dublin. He was caught with 12.5 kg of cannabis in 28 plastic packages in his suitcase at Dublin Airport's Terminal 2. Fairhurst had been offered £10,000 to carry the drugs, after initially refusing £7,000, and accepted the offer after being told to book the trip himself and paying £1,400. He claimed he was threatened and felt compelled to comply. At the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court he pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs for sale or supply. The judge, citing his background of poverty, domestic abuse, ADHD, dyslexia and recent personal losses, imposed a five‑year sentence with the final year suspended, noting he would serve the term in another jurisdiction.
During the murder trial of law professor Diarmuid Phelan, a ballistics expert warned that mixing different types of ammunition in a Smith & Wesson revolver is extremely dangerous. Evidence showed that the revolver used to kill Keith Conlon contained three spent rounds, possibly hollow‑point or pest‑control bullets, and that the fatal bullet was a hollow‑point projectile. The prosecution argued that Phelan fired a third shot at Conlon's back, intending to kill or seriously injure him. Phelan, 56, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Conlon, 36, who died on 24 February 2022 at Tallaght University Hospital. The trial, presided over by Justice Siobhan Lankford, continues with a jury hearing the forensic and eyewitness evidence presented by the state and defence.
In a High Court damages case, Ms Nikita Hand, the complainant, testified that she cannot recall the CCTV footage from the Beacon hotel showing her and co‑defendant James Lawrence after the alleged rapes on 9 December 2018, and that she was "very drunk" at the time. The footage, shown to a jury, depicts Mr Conor McGregor, Ms Hand, and Ms Hand's friend exiting the hotel in a black BMW at 6.15 pm, with Ms Hand and Mr Lawrence remaining in the car park. Later, at 6.18 pm, the pair return, appearing inebriated and barefoot. The footage also shows them carrying drinks, hugging in the lift, and eventually leaving the hotel in a taxi. Ms Hand repeatedly stated she had no memory of these events. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Alexander Owens, continues with a jury of eight women and four men. The defendants deny the allegations.
The trial of 22‑year‑old Brandon Gavin, accused of murdering 19‑year‑old Marius Mamaliga, is ongoing. Gavin, who lives on Brookdale Road, Rivervalley, Swords, walked into Swords Garda Station with his father on 23 February 2023, where his father told officers that Gavin wanted to "hand himself in." Gavin told the garda that he had stabbed Mamaliga in the neck while sitting behind him in a car, claiming the deceased "came at" him and that he was in fear for his life because he owed €2,500 for drugs. He also said he had thrown the knife away after the incident. Garda David Durnin, who was on duty that day, gave evidence that Gavin had told him he was in panic after the stabbing. Detective Garda Conor Tumbleton reported that when Gavin was cautioned, he repeated that he had defended himself. Brandon Gavin pleaded not guilty.
Brian Meagher, a prison officer, was dismissed by the Irish Prison Service after he absented himself without permission to fight in the Ukrainian Foreign Legion. He was wounded in an ambush on 5 September 2022 and later gave a TV interview from his hospital bed. The Prison Service's HR directorate received rumours that he had gone to war and, after failing to contact him, considered his absence as AWOL. The absence management office sent a letter on 21 September 2022 stating his absence was unauthorised and recommended dismissal. The case was referred to the director‑general and the Department of Justice, which ultimately dismissed him in February 2023. Meagher has lodged an unfair dismissal claim under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, and the Workplace Relations Commission has adjourned the hearing to a future date.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Daljeet Singh, a 52‑year‑old British delivery driver from Oldbury, West Midlands, pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis herb for sale or supply at Dublin Port on 3 April 2021. Customs officers stopped his van after a routine search following a ferry from Holyhead. They found 50 brown cardboard boxes containing 55 kg of cannabis, valued at roughly €1 million, hidden in the back of the van. Singh had claimed he was transporting food and bottled water to Cork and had not inspected the van. During a series of seven Garda interviews, he eventually admitted knowing he was carrying cannabis, though he insisted he believed it was only one bag. He said he was to be paid £1,000 sterling to clear an overdraft and that he had been pressured by third parties. Singh has no prior convictions and lives with his elderly parents in the UK.
In a High Court civil damages trial, Ms Nikita Hand testified that on the early hours of 9 December 2018 she was at the Beacon Hotel in Dublin with Conor McGregor and James Lawrence. She alleged that McGregor pinned her to a bed, choked her, and then raped her, describing the assault as lasting a long time and leaving her physically bruised and emotionally devastated. Hand said she had been drinking and had taken cocaine that night, and that she had tried to fight back but was unable to move. She reported that McGregor had told her he had felt the same way in the Octagon, which she found odd. After the incident, Hand made a statement to Gardaí in January 2019, but the Director of Public Prosecutions decided not to prosecute McGregor or Lawrence, citing no reasonable prospect of conviction. The case is before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury of eight women and four men.