Yannick Kamina, 38, of Rathmines, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of child pornography after admitting he sent a 54‑second video of a child engaging in a sexual act with an adult male to a group of acquaintances as a warning. The court found his explanation to Gardaí implausible and noted that such a video was unnecessary to raise awareness of the dangers of child sexual abuse. Kamina had no prior convictions and was fully cooperative, providing passwords and accepting that he should not have sent the video. Judge Orla Crowe refused a request to apply the Probation Act, deeming the offence too serious, and imposed an 18‑month sentence, which she suspended in full. The case stemmed from Gardaí receiving information about the video in February 2018, tracing it to an IP address in Rathmines and Kamina's Facebook account, and securing a warrant to search his home.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 19 May 2025, Frienna Rockett, 29, pleaded guilty to careless driving causing serious bodily harm after she broke a red light at a pedestrian crossing on St Peter's Road, Crumlin, and struck an 81‑year‑old woman who was walking her dog. The victim suffered a brain bleed, fractures to her legs, pelvis and clavicle, and a dislocated shoulder, requiring intensive care and rehabilitation. She now lives with constant pain, uses a walking aid and mobility scooter, and relies on her son for care. Rockett, who had no prior convictions, was driving a Volkswagen Golf at about 12:30 pm, did not speed, tested negative for alcohol, and had valid insurance. CCTV and dashcam footage showed the red‑light violation; Rockett claimed she was looking for her sister's house.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Christopher Dooris, aged 38, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, after pleading guilty to possession of a controlled drug for sale or supply. The case stemmed from a July 27, 2022 Garda search of his Rathmines apartment, where investigators found €18,084 of ketamine and over €7,200 in cash, along with his passport. Dooris was not present during the search, and no evidence was obtained from his interview. He has 36 prior convictions, including drugs, public order and road traffic offences, and a previous conviction for cocaine possession for sale or supply, for which he had been ordered to carry out community service. The judge cited his guilty plea, efforts at drug counselling and mental‑health support, and his stable family situation as mitigating factors, reducing the headline six‑year sentence to four years. The suspended portion is subject to conditions set by the court.
In the trial of Richard Satchwell, the defence counsel challenged the Gardaí's claim that the accused was paraded before the press after being charged with murdering his wife. The Garda detective denied that a "perp walk" occurred, stating that Satchwell was handcuffed and escorted to Cashel District Court by five officers, but that this was not a public parade. The defence also questioned whether the Gardaí had over‑compensated for a 2017 investigative failure, to which the detective admitted he could only speak of his involvement from 2021. The trial heard that Satchwell, aged 58, was charged in October 2023 after an invasive search of the home uncovered his wife's decomposed remains. The case continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
A 48‑year‑old woman, Olesja Hertova of Hastings Lawn, Balbriggan, admitted to unlawfully killing her partner, James Ryan, in North County Dublin last year. She pleaded guilty to manslaughter on 11 August 2024 and was arraigned today at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. She began crying when the charge was read and pleaded guilty. Her barrister, Bernard Condon SC, requested the earliest sentencing date. Judge Orla Crowe remanded her in custody for sentencing on 3 July 2025.
The trial has commenced at the Central Criminal Court for four individuals accused of impeding the investigation into the murder of Ashling Murphy. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs swore a jury to hear the case, which is expected to last up to five weeks. The defendants are Jozef Puska's brothers, Marek and Lubomir Puska, and their respective wives, Jozefina Grundzova and Viera Gaziova. All four have pleaded not guilty. The brothers are charged under the Offences Against the State, Amendment Act 1988 with withholding information. It is alleged they failed to tell An Garda Síochána that Jozef Puska returned home to Mucklagh on the night of January 12, 2022, with visible injuries and admitted to "cutting" a female with a knife. They are also alleged to have known he travelled to Dublin that night. Marek Puska is further alleged to have been aware of an arrangement to burn clothing worn by Jozef Puska. The women are charged under the Criminal Law Act 1997 with assisting in burning clothing between January 12 and 14, intending to impede the apprehension or prosecution of Jozef Puska. The prosecution alleges the defendants knew or believed the withheld information or actions might assist in securing the conviction of Jozef Puska for a serious offence. Jozef Puska was previously tried and convicted of Ms Murphy's murder. The trial will begin with an opening statement by the prosecution.
Bahaalddin Alshwawrah, 46, was sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering his wife, Zeinat Bashabsheh, 42, on Christmas Eve 2021. Alshwawrah stabbed her 14 times with a single‑edged blade, causing fatal chest wounds. He recorded the incident on his mobile phone, shouting "I hope she dies," and sent the footage to another man. The court heard that Alshwawrah had previously claimed his wife had an affair and that he was a victim of her violence, but no evidence supported these allegations. He had two prior convictions in Jordan for simple injury. The victim impact statement described Zeinat as a devoted mother whose death left a profound void. Alshwawrah apologized, admitting he could never forgive himself. Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed the mandatory life sentence.
A 24‑year‑old man, Brian Ibe, was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of 65‑year‑old Peter Kennedy, a retired probation officer who had taken Ibe and his mother into his home after learning of their homelessness. The Central Criminal Court jury rejected Ibe's defence of not guilty by reason of insanity and convicted him of both the murder and an assault on Garda Brendan O'Donnell. Ibe was found to have schizophrenia by two psychiatrists, though a prosecution psychiatrist disagreed. The jury deliberated for just under seven hours and returned a unanimous guilty verdict. Justice Melanie Greally imposed a mandatory life sentence for the murder, back‑dated to Ibe's custody on 29 April 2020, and a 12‑month prison term for the assault on the Garda. The victim's sister delivered a moving impact statement describing Kennedy as a thoughtful, charitable and generous man who suffered a cruel and terrifying end.
Rachel Redmond was sentenced to four years in prison at the Central Criminal Court for attempting to impede the apprehension of Wayne Cooney, who was convicted of the 2019 murder of Jordan Davis. A jury had previously found Redmond guilty of two counts of assisting Cooney to avoid capture by driving him from the scene and paying for a hotel room. Mr Justice Paul Burns noted that while the maximum penalty is ten years, Redmond's actions fell in the "upper end of middle range." He set a headline sentence of six years on each count, reduced to five years to run concurrently, and suspended the final year for three years. Redmond, who had pleaded not guilty, stated she would be home soon. The court also noted that Robert Redmond, Rachel's brother, pleaded guilty in April 2024 to conspiring with Cooney to murder Davis and was sentenced to seven years. Cooney was convicted of the murder in 2022. The judge rejected defence arguments that Redmond was merely "blinded by the relationship," stating she deliberately assisted Cooney to "lie low" after the execution-style killing in Darndale.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 47‑year‑old builder Francis Halpin pleaded guilty to three offences stemming from a garden shed dispute. He admitted producing a Samurai‑style sword and causing criminal damage at the neighbour's house on 20 November 2021, and to abusive behaviour in a public place after waving a hammer on 7 July 2021. The incidents involved verbal and racial abuse, a threat of violence, damage to a front door and a van windscreen costing €200. Halpin, who suffers from a rare back condition and uses a wheelchair, had no prior convictions except two minor traffic offences. The judge, citing mitigating medical circumstances, imposed a two‑year sentence suspended in full, noting the behaviour was irrational and threatening but not warranting imprisonment. The victims have since moved house.
Dean Howard, 33, of Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to assault causing harm to a male victim on July 10 and 11, 2022. The court heard that Howard entered his ex-girlfriend's home uninvited and assaulted her new partner while they were in bed. He also brandished a pint glass, used abusive language, and followed the victims in his car. Although initially facing additional charges including harassment, the DPP accepted a guilty plea to assault causing harm on a full facts basis. Judge Orla Crowe noted the severe impact on the victims and described Howard's behavior as abusive and disrespectful. Considering mitigation, including Howard's lack of previous convictions, his remorse, and personal circumstances, the judge imposed an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for three years. Howard was also directed to have no contact with the female victim for three years and ordered to pay €2,500 to a women's refuge in Dublin. The matter was finalized with this sentence.
An appeal has been heard in relation to the convictions of Andrew Noonan and Keith Quinn for their roles in a €2.769 million heroin importation enterprise. Andrew Noonan, a former football manager and League of Ireland player, was convicted of three drugs offences in relation to the possession, sale and supply of heroin at Rosemount Business Park, Dublin 11, on August 5, 2020. He was also convicted of possession of a phone with an encrypted application, Enigma, giving rise to a reasonable inference that it was to be used in connection with a drug trafficking offence. He was acquitted of possession of a signal blocker. Noonan denied any role in the drugs and claimed he was facilitating a friend in relation to storage of equipment for a sick child. Keith Quinn, a former professional footballer, pleaded guilty in relation to his own role and received a seven and a half year sentence with the final three and a half years suspended in 2021. This was later increased by the Court of Appeal to eight years imprisonment with 18 months suspended. Quinn gave defence evidence during Noonan's trial that Noonan had no responsibility for the drugs and that he had lied to Noonan about the parcel contents when he asked to use the office for storage. Quinn's sentence hearing heard how he became involved in the offence due to gambling debt, that he was under pressure and was carrying out the offence to get himself out of debt. The matter was adjourned.
Judge James O'Donohoe criticised Gardaí for repeatedly failing to appear in court, calling the non‑appearances "just embarrassing" and noting that cases could not proceed when prosecuting officers were absent. He addressed the officers at the District Court Appeals Court after several hearings were halted earlier in the week. Gardaí explained their absences, citing lack of notification or unfollowed emails. The judge urged them to simply attend or, if unable, to give notice.
In a case heard in the District Court Appeals Court, a woman who had breached a safety order by locking her then‑partner out of their home and using threatening language was found guilty of violating the Domestic Violence Act 2018. She had originally received a two‑month custodial sentence. On appeal, Judge James O'Donohoe suspended that sentence for two years, ordering the woman to maintain peace and attend an alcohol treatment centre recommended by the probation service. The defendant, whose name is withheld, pleaded guilty and has struggled with alcohol addiction.
A District Court judge in Tallaght refused jurisdiction over a case involving Abbie Kinsella, a 20‑year‑old from The Green, Earl's Court, Kill, Co. Kildare, who was charged with a phone scam that allegedly defrauded a man of more than €16,000. Kinsella was living in Dublin at the time of the alleged offence and was arrested and charged there. Garda O'Connor explained that the victim received a text message purporting to be from the Eir mobile network, warning that his phone service would be cancelled unless he paid an outstanding bill. Believing the message to be genuine, the man provided his banking details, and later discovered that more than €16,400 had been withdrawn from his account. Garda O'Connor stated that €4,900 was allegedly transferred into Ms Kinsella's Revolut account. Ms Kinsella is charged with an offence under Section 7(1) of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010.
Ian Barry, 44, of Dublin 14, pleaded guilty to coercive control covering 2019‑2022. He verbally abused his wife, calling her names such as 'Adolf' and 'liar', and physically assaulted her by throwing objects, including a toilet roll, a TV remote, an office chair and a finger jab. Barry also exercised financial control, demanding she account for every penny, limiting her spending on a bank card, and insisting she use her part‑time income for groceries. He monitored her movements, using a Ring doorbell camera 32 times in one day after their separation, and observed her from a window while she worked from home. The court heard that he sometimes offered apologies but resumed abusive behaviour. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to a three‑year suspended term, citing mitigating factors and his good record, and warned that future harassment would lead to court action. The sentence was suspended on conditions. The victim's impact statement was not read aloud.
In the Central Criminal Court, jurors are deliberating a murder case involving Viorel Doroscan (23) and Otniel Richardo Clejan (24), who deny killing 22‑year‑old Mahamud Ilyas on 9 December 2022. The State alleges the men sold drugs and beat Ilyas after a dispute over a stolen cannabis bag, while the accused claim self‑defence after Ilyas entered an apartment with a weapon. Ilyas's body, found at Belgree Lane, Co Meath, shows blunt‑force head trauma typical of hammer blows. The jury, consisting of seven men and five women, has spent five hours and 35 minutes over three days and will resume on Tuesday. The judge explained that a verdict of murder requires proof of a joint enterprise to cause serious harm, while manslaughter could result if the death was due to unlawful assault without intent. The case also involves co‑accused Lorenzo Cantaragiu, who faces charges of impeding the prosecution and has pleaded not guilty.
David Tyrell, a disabled driver exempt from tolls under the Disability Toll Exemption Scheme, filed a discrimination claim after being delayed for 1.47 minutes at a toll bridge on the M1 motorway when a camera misread his number plate. He argued that the operator's questioning of his registration and remarks about his status constituted discrimination. The operator, Louise McMullen, explained that she could only see the plate on a screen, could not see his exemption disc, and had to verify the number, which she said took a minute. She denied making any discriminatory remarks and claimed she had not told Tyrell to be "smart." The Workplace Relations Commission, after hearing the evidence, found no prohibited conduct and rejected Tyrell's Equal Status Act complaint, concluding that the delay was due to a technical issue rather than discrimination. The case remains at the tribunal stage with no further action taken.
In May 2025 the Court of Appeal sentenced Susan McGovern, 44, to three years' imprisonment after quashing her fully suspended four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence from Waterford Circuit Criminal Court. McGovern had been convicted of robbery under the Criminal Justice Theft and Fraud Offences Act 2001 and a Section 3 assault for luring a man to her apartment and attacking him with a knife. The appeal judge, Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, found the earlier full suspension too lenient, citing McGovern's 19 prior convictions, including theft, knife possession and child abduction, and her history of drug addiction. The new sentence retained the four‑and‑a‑half‑year term with 18 months suspended, and the court noted that the knife caused facial injury to the victim, who required stitches. McGovern had previously been jailed for five years in 2001 for abducting a newborn from a Cork maternity hospital. Susan McGovern pleaded guilty.
Amy McAuley, 35, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to using a false instrument by submitting a false death notification form to Wexford County Council on January 19, 2023. She also admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice on January 23, 2023, and forging a medical report on November 23, 2022. The court heard that McAuley faked her death to avoid attending trial for prior theft and fraud offences. Judge Orla Crowe described the matter as complex and directed Probation Services to prepare a risk assessment report. The case was adjourned to October for finalisation. Defence counsel Rebecca Smith BL noted McAuley is now living in Dublin and successfully applied to change the Garda station where she must sign on twice weekly. Judge Crowe granted this application and remanded McAuley on continuing bail. The court also noted that the Director of Public Prosecutions had previously appealed a 2015 sentence of two years, suspended for ten years, for theft of nearly €111,000, citing undue leniency. The Court of Appeal declined to alter that sentence but extended the repayment period to seven-and-a-half years, with the balance still outstanding.
In May 2025 the Workplace Relations Commission ruled that Integrity360 Europe Ltd had breached Irish law by dismissing 67‑year‑old Helen Holland, a part‑time sales executive, after she refused an ultimatum to retire or return to full‑time work. The tribunal found the dismissal was a flagrant breach of the Protection of Employees (Part‑Time Work) Act 2001 and that age discrimination had been a factor, awarding Holland €88,800 for the breach and an additional €35,000 for discrimination, totalling €123,800. Holland had worked for the company since 2017, promoted in 2020, and had lived and worked mainly in Germany, receiving salary and taxes there. The company argued that German law applied, but the adjudicator held that Holland had chosen Irish jurisdiction and that the contract was ambiguous, so the case was heard in Ireland. The award was made on 16 May 2025.
Connor Manning, 29, a repeat offender, had his eight‑month jail sentence replaced with a fully suspended term after an appeal. He had pleaded guilty to 15 offences, including robbery, theft, assault and public order. In August 2022 he assaulted a garda with a hurley, knocking her to the ground and lifting a nail from her nail bed, and later kicked a garda patrol vehicle's number plate before being arrested. In January 2023 he threatened to kill staff at a Circle K shop on Nassau Street if they pressed the panic alarm, stole alcohol and cigarettes on several occasions, and was also charged with punching a man in Temple Bar. In August 2024 he was racially abusive and threw a pack of cider at a worker in a Tesco store on Fleet Street.
A 46‑year‑old serial offender, Stepan Pavlov, who had 93 prior convictions, had a 15‑month jail sentence for burglary in three separate incidents at Dublin restaurants replaced by a fully suspended term on appeal. The District Court had found him guilty of burglary under the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001, for stealing more than €1,000 from staff lockers at Murray's Bar on O'Connell Street on 14 July 2023, a wallet and laptop worth over €1,600 from Chequer Lane on 10 March 2023, and a purse worth €200 from a restaurant on Molesworth Street on 10 October 2023. The appeal court, hearing on 14 July 2023, granted a two‑year suspended sentence on the condition that Pavlov keep the peace, provide monthly urine analysis and stay out of the city centre without just cause. The decision was based on his rehabilitation efforts for drug addiction, as presented by his defence counsel.
Nigel Canavan, 39, was convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court of murdering his mother, Angela Canavan, at her home in St John's Terrace, Co Sligo, on May 1, 2023. Canavan had pleaded not guilty, claiming he acted in self-defence after his ailing mother attacked him, and suggested she provoked him into losing control. The jury rejected both the self-defence claim and the suggestion that he was guilty of manslaughter due to provocation. Pathological evidence indicated Ms Canavan suffered strangulation, smothering, broken ribs, and other injuries consistent with a struggle. Canavan had previously pleaded guilty to drunk driving and assault arising from a separate incident in February 2023. Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo remanded Canavan in custody. The matter is not yet finalised; the judge will impose the mandatory term of life imprisonment at a sentencing hearing scheduled for June 3. At that hearing, Ms Canavan's other son, Keith Canavan, will make a statement to the court.
A jury at the Central Criminal Court will resume deliberations tomorrow in the trial of Nigel Canavan, aged 39, who denies murdering his mother. The accused, with an address in Crossmolina, County Mayo, is charged with the death of Angela Canavan at her home in County Sligo on 1 May 2023. The jury has already spent more than four hours over two days considering their verdict. Mr Canavan has pleaded not guilty to murder but the jury has been directed they may return verdicts of guilty of murder, not guilty, or not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. The defence case rests on claims of self-defence and provocation. State pathologist evidence outlined multiple injuries to the deceased, including bruising to the face, neck, torso and limbs, fractured ribs, and stab wounds to both thighs. The cause of death was established as asphyxiation due to smothering and strangling.
Dylan Pennie, a 34-year-old air conditioning engineer from Clonshaugh, Coolock, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for drug-related offences. He pleaded guilty to the possession of €575,000 worth of drugs at his parents' address on May 5, 2024, and to laundering €52,320, the proceeds of criminal conduct, on the same occasion. Gardaí discovered the drugs, which included cannabis, cocaine, ketamine, MDMA, and benzodiazepine, primarily in the eaves of a converted attic, along with the cash. Pennie admitted he was holding the items to settle a €4,000 drug debt under pressure. Defence counsel Paul Murray SC highlighted Pennie's lack of prior convictions, his remorse, and his engagement with rehabilitation, requesting a departure from the mandatory minimum sentence. Judge Martina Baxter acknowledged the request for a fully suspended sentence but stated that consequences were necessary. However, she accepted that exceptional circumstances allowed her to depart from the standard minimum. She imposed a sentence of four years, suspending the final two years on specific conditions. Pennie is therefore required to serve two years of effective custody. The matter was finalised with this sentencing.
A long‑serving Aer Lingus pilot, Declan McCabe, was demoted from captain to first officer after the airline said he tried to cover up an alleged error during a training flight on 8 June 2023. McCabe claims the demotion was whistleblower penalisation and is challenging the sanction under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and the Payment of Wages Act 1997. He alleges that the airline's operating procedures did not require a mandatory safety report to Air Nav Ireland for the incident, which involved a non‑intercept between aircraft and ground navigation systems. McCabe's lawyers argue that any disclosure he made was protected, while Aer Lingus contends the matter is still under investigation. The Workplace Relations Commission will hold hearings in autumn, with a preliminary hearing convened today and a possible resumption in September or October. The case remains at the disciplinary stage, with no final outcome yet.
Richard Satchwell, who pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of his 45-year-old wife, Tina Satchwell, between March 19 and 20, 2017, is currently on trial at the Central Criminal Court. The matter is at the trial stage, with evidence presented regarding the defendant's statements and forensic findings. GP Patrick Burke testified that Satchwell claimed his wife assaulted him on multiple occasions, a history never mentioned in their 18 years of medical consultations. Burke noted the couple typically attended appointments together, making Satchwell's solo visit on March 30, 2017, unusual. In a fourth interview with gardai, Satchwell stated he would not view photographs of his wife's body, saying he wanted to remember her "the way she was, not the way I made her." Detectives challenged his account, stating his "second story" had "come apart" and did not match the evidence. Witness Sarah Dobson described Satchwell selling Tina's belongings, including a handbag, while claiming she was ill in England. Forensic expert Dr. Brian Gorey testified that 15 glass fragments found on Tina's scalp and torso likely originated from a single source and transferred to the remains shortly before burial. The trial continues with further evidence to be presented.
A judge dismissed the charges against Jamie Shannon, 30, and Edel Doherty, 51, who were accused of identifying the teenage boys who murdered 14‑year‑old Ana Kriégel. The charges were brought under the Children Act 2001, which prohibits the identification of children who appear before the courts. The defendants applied to have the charges dismissed under the Criminal Procedure Act, specifically Section 4E of the Criminal Justice Act 1999, which bars reporting of the hearing, any evidence, and arguments. The judge, Martin Nolan, delivered the decision after a hearing that began the day before. The court's ruling can only be reported as the fact that a case was taken and the decision made, due to the reporting restrictions. The two teenage boys, aged 13 and 14 at the time, had been convicted of Ana Kriégel's murder in June 2019 and were referred to as 'Boy A' and 'Boy B' in that trial.
Richard Treacy, 36, of Downey St, Garryowen, Limerick, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to a money‑laundering offence under the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010. He admitted that between 1 January 2014 and 12 January 2021 he concealed the true source of funds used for renovation work at his home, knowing or being reckless that the money was the proceeds of criminal conduct. The case, originally scheduled for a two‑week trial, was adjourned to 21 July for sentencing by Justice Karen O'Connor.
Richard Satchwell, aged 58, told detectives he would not look at photographs of his wife Tina's body, saying he wanted to remember her as she was, not as he had made her. He claimed his wife, aged 45, had attacked him with a chisel, that he had fallen backwards, and that he had held her bathrobe belt at her neck until she became heavier. Gardaí questioned him about marks on plasterboard he said were left by a chisel, but he could not confirm their location. He also said the marks were not visible. Gardaí noted inconsistencies in his story and that his second account was starting to fall apart. The trial heard that Tina's body was found in a grave under the stairs of the couple's home in October 2023, after she had been reported missing in May 2017. Satchwell pleaded not guilty to her murder, which is alleged to have occurred between 19 and 20 March 2017.
Michael Fitzpatrick, 47, of Tallaght, was remanded on bail pending sentencing in July after pleading guilty to possessing drugs for sale or supply. Gardaí stopped him on July 25, 2024, after spotting him driving in the middle of the road. He appeared nervous and, when told they intended to search his car, handed over a silver package he claimed was cocaine, saying he had been asked to move it for a friend. He admitted to transporting the drugs and that he would be paid €50 for moving them from point A to point B. A subsequent search of his home found no drugs or paraphernalia. The drugs were estimated to have a street value of just over €34,500. Fitzpatrick had no prior convictions and was not known to the Gardaí. He was taken into custody, remanded on continuing bail, and the case was adjourned for sentencing on July 14.
Nko Mpase, 62, of Rush, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to smuggling a Congolese national into Ireland. On 16 May 2020 she and the woman arrived at Terminal One on a Ryanair flight from Paris Beauvais, used the same immigration booth, and the woman presented a travel document that did not match her appearance. Garda Sean McGlynn noted that WhatsApp messages and a ticket photo on Mpase's phone linked the two women, and CCTV showed them together on the plane. Mpase admitted travelling with the woman from Paris but made no further admissions. She had two prior convictions for minor traffic offences and one for threatening behaviour. The court heard she had no financial gain and had visited family in Paris for five days. The maximum sentence for the offence is 10 years imprisonment. Judge Patricia Ryan adjourned sentencing to 25 July and ordered a probation report and further documentation of Mpase's educational and work history.
A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court heard closing arguments on Wednesday concerning the death of Angela Canavan, aged fifty-eight, at her home in St John's Terrace, Sligo on May 1st, 2023. The accused, Nigel Canavan, aged thirty-nine, with an address at Erris Gardens, Crossmolina, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to her murder. The prosecution submitted that the accused's account of self-defence or provocation should be rejected as implausible, noting he initially denied presence at the scene before later claiming either provocation or self-defence at trial. State Pathologist evidence established the deceased died from asphyxiation due to strangulation and smothering, with additional injuries including rib fractures and stab wounds. The defence argued the accused demonstrated sustained care and affection toward his mother, suggesting provocation arising from verbal abuse during a heated altercation. The jury of ten women and two men retired to consider their verdict on Wednesday afternoon and will deliver their decision Thursday.
Graham Kinsella, 21, of Clondalkin, Dublin 2, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for assault causing harm. He pleaded guilty to an incident on May 19, 2024, where he allegedly kicked a teenager off an e-scooter on Liffey Street and punched him. Judge Elva Duffy described the CCTV footage as "poor and shocking viewing" and noted the attack involved a "level of lawlessness which was hard to watch." The judge characterized the act as an unprovoked "revenge mission" focused on the scooter rather than the individual. Kinsella was handed a sentence of two years, with the final six months suspended on strict conditions. Judge Duffy stated that an immediate custodial sentence was required despite mitigating factors, including Kinsella's lack of previous convictions, his guilty plea, and his efforts to address drug issues. The court noted Kinsella was not responsible for puncture wounds sustained by the victim, who was stabbed by a co-accused still before the courts. The victim made a full recovery. Defense counsel Marc Thompson-Grolimund BL highlighted Kinsella's remorse and his status as a "work in progress." The matter was finalized with this sentence.
Seán Keogh, 34, of Emmet Crescent, Inchicore, pleaded guilty to burglary at Morehampton Road, Donnybrook, on 26 December 2023. The break‑in, which took place at about 3 pm, involved the theft of a PlayStation 5, a laptop and a phone, with a total value exceeding €5,000. Keogh was charged under Section 12(1)(b) and (3) of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001. Garda Conor McCarthy testified that he was stopped shortly after the incident. Keogh has 88 prior convictions, including burglary, theft, criminal damage, public order offences, violent behaviour in a Garda station, and 31 road‑traffic offences. He had a five‑month suspended sentence for a July 2024 driving‑without‑insurance offence. Judge Anne Watkin imposed a six‑month custodial sentence, recognising €500 in the event of an appeal, bringing his total convictions to 89.
In Tallaght District Court, Melissa O'Shea, 44, pleaded guilty to a series of thefts from Dublin retailers, including clothing, alcohol, cosmetics and household goods. She admitted to stealing €103 worth of clothing from Dunnes Stores, €150 worth of cosmetics, €41 worth of alcohol, vodka from Tesco, and €68 worth of goods, among other offences. O'Shea has 47 prior convictions, 38 for theft, and is currently serving a custodial sentence that will not end until June 2026. Judge Patricia McNamara imposed an additional 10‑month prison term to run consecutively with her existing sentence, with no portion suspended. The judge noted O'Shea's extensive offending history but also her positive engagement in prison, including drug‑free status and participation in support services. The court heard she had been remanded on bail in October 2024 before being committed to custody later that month.
Dean McAuley, 34, a repeat offender with 17 prior convictions, pleaded guilty in the District Court to using threatening and abusive language and being intoxicated in a public place contrary to the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994, after drunkenly threatening and abusing staff at a Dublin Macari's chipper on 13 July 2024. He was sentenced to two months in custody, with the last month suspended. On appeal, Judge James O'Donohoe fully suspended the custodial sentence, leaving McAuley free while the suspended portion remains in effect.
In May 2023, Rebecca Conlon and her daughter Rachel O'Reilly were dismissed from Forenaghts Stud Farm Ltd after a verbal altercation over the euthanasia of two mares. The dispute began on 24 May when the women, who had worked there since September 2019, challenged the decision to euthanise the horses. The farm's manager, Caoimhe Doherty, had consulted a vet and other professionals before deciding to put the animals down. Conlon and O'Reilly reacted angrily, using profanity and making allegations of incompetence. The farm suspended them on 29 May and, after an external investigation, terminated their employment on 19 June, citing misconduct. The Workplace Relations Commission found the dismissals unfair, awarding each woman 16 weeks' wages (€9,000 for Conlon, €5,500 for O'Reilly), an additional €3,500 for a breach of the Organisation of Working Time Act in Conlon's case, and €100 for technical breaches of the Terms of Employment (Information) Act. The total compensation exceeded €18,000.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, Gardaí told Richard Satchwell that his description of his wife Tina's death was "most likely a physical impossibility" and "didn't make sense". Satchwell, aged 58, said he had tried to explain the events of March 19‑20, 2017, when Tina, aged 45, disappeared and was later found buried under their stairs in a grave dug in October 2023. He claimed he had held her by the belt of her bathrobe, that the belt may have strangled her, and that he had buried her in a "final goodbye" after lifting her body into the hole. Gardaí questioned the plausibility of his account, noting no evidence of a belt around her neck and that the scene did not match his narrative. Satchwell stated he would plead guilty and that there would be no jury. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of five men and seven women. Richard Satchwell pleaded not guilty.
A pharmacist, Marwan Al Rahbi, has lodged a complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977, claiming he was constructively dismissed from his €112,000-a-year role as a senior support pharmacist at Rathgar Pharmacy Ltd., a business owned by former TD Kate O'Connell and her husband. Al Rahbi alleges that the O'Connells subjected him to a hostile work environment, describing their treatment as "working him to the death" and citing health and mental‑health concerns as reasons for his resignation. He says he raised a formal grievance in May 2024 over several incidents, but the pharmacy denied the complaints and did not address the issues. Al Rahbi also claims that the O'Connells denied him a verbal warning, instead shouting at him and refusing to allow him to speak during a review meeting.
Richard Satchwell, aged 58, told Gardaí that he buried his wife Tina's body under the stairs of their Cork home to keep her with him. He said he wanted her to know the hand that killed her was also the hand that loved her. Satchwell claimed the incident occurred on or about 19 March 2017, after a dispute at a car boot sale. He described a sudden violent episode in which Tina "flew" at him, leading to her death. He said he then placed her in a chest freezer, later dug a hole under the stairs, wrapped her in black plastic, added flowers, and covered her with cement. A forensic anthropologist testified that no injuries were found on Tina's bones, including her hyoid bone. Satchwell pleaded not guilty to her murder. The trial is set to continue.
James Gilleran, 70, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to five counts of indecent assault committed between 1983 and 1987. The court heard that Gilleran, a former scout leader, abused three boys aged 11 to 13 while in a position of trust. The offences were brought to light after one survivor recognised Gilleran on the Late Late Show in 2021, prompting formal complaints to the Garda. Judge Orla Crowe described the conduct as a gross violation of the children's bodily integrity and innocence, noting predatory behaviour including the exposure of victims to alcohol and pornography. Although Gilleran had a previous conviction for sexual assault in 1997, the judge considered mitigating factors, including his early guilty plea, good work history, and health issues, before imposing the two-year custodial sentence. The three injured parties waived their anonymity and provided impact statements detailing the lifelong psychological effects of the abuse. Gilleran's defence counsel highlighted his 30 years of offending-free life and his desire to atone. The matter was finalised with the imposition of the sentence.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Kevin Geraghty, 31, was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison, with the final nine months suspended, for an unprovoked assault on a 25‑year‑old Spanish student. The victim, studying English in Ireland, was punched in the face after Geraghty and another man shouted homophobic slurs while he waited outside a bar on Cuffe Street in the early hours of 19 September 2024. The attack left the student with a broken jaw that required surgery. Geraghty, who has 70 prior convictions, denied shouting the slurs. The court noted the assault's homophobic overtones and the victim's financial impact. The sentence was imposed by Judge Orla Crowe, who highlighted the attack's unprovoked nature and the defendant's criminal record. Kevin Geraghty pleaded guilty.
A 39-year-old man has testified at the Central Criminal Court that his mother died during a struggle in which he was defending himself from her attack. Nigel Canavan, from Crossmolina, County Mayo, is charged with the murder of Angela Canavan at her home in Sligo on 1 May 2023. He has pleaded not guilty. Mr Canavan told the court his mother attacked him with a knife and struck at him with her hands and feet during a heated argument. He admitted applying pressure to her neck with his forearm during the incident, but stated this was in self-defence and that he did not intend to cause her death. Under cross-examination, he accepted that he had initially denied to gardaí that he was present when his mother suffered fatal injuries, attributing this to distress at the time. The State Pathologist concluded that Ms Canavan died from asphyxiation by smothering and manual strangulation. The trial continues before Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo and a jury.
Michael Lynn, a former solicitor aged 56, was sentenced to five‑and‑a‑half years in prison for stealing €18.1 million from six banks during the Celtic Tiger era. The Court of Appeal, led by Mr Justice John Edwards, upheld the sentence but reduced the credit for time served in Ireland by three months, leaving a final term of five years and nine months to run concurrently from 20 December 2023. Edwards noted Lynn's crimes were "cynical, knowingly and intentionally" and that his professional status was abused. He found no evidence of sincere remorse or a guilty plea, and criticised Lynn for relocating to Brazil to avoid extradition. The appeal rejected arguments that mitigating factors, including PTSD and asset recovery, had been insufficiently considered. The sentence remains unchanged if the full three‑month credit is applied.
Richard Satchwell, aged 58, was re‑arrested on 12 October 2023 on suspicion of murdering his wife Tina Satchwell, aged 45, at their home on Grattan Street, Youghal, between 19 and 20 March 2017. In a statement to Gardaí he claimed that after Tina tried to stab him with a chisel, he fell and held her weight with the belt of her bathrobe until she became heavier, after which she died in his arms. He also said he buried her under the stairs because the area was not concreted and he was panicked. Gardaí discovered her decomposed remains in a grave dug beneath the stairs during an invasive search in October 2023. The trial is proceeding in the Central Criminal Court, with Mr Satchwell pleading not guilty to the murder charge.
Keith Carter, a 32‑year‑old amateur boxer and comedian with thousands of social media followers, appeared before the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 12 May 2025. He pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine and heroin for sale or supply at his Ballymun home on 19 September 2023 and to laundering €1,055, the proceeds of that offence. Garda Máire Ruddy reported that a search of his home uncovered €5,371 worth of drugs, including a small amount of cannabis and ecstasy for personal use. Carter admitted a cocaine addiction and that he held the drugs to pay a debt. He had five prior drug convictions in 2021, including two for sale and supply. Defence counsel Oisín Clarke highlighted Carter's family responsibilities, his work for his brother, and his role as a single father. He also noted Carter's boxing career, his knee injury, and his upcoming charity fights.
A 23‑year‑old man who raped a teenage friend and sexually assaulted two other teenagers has appealed his conviction, claiming the joint trial deprived him of a fair trial. He was found guilty of one rape and one sexual assault by a Central Criminal Court jury; he pleaded guilty to a second sexual assault before trial. The offences occurred in the northeast between July 2017 and September 2018, when he was 16. In March 2024 Justice Caroline Biggs sentenced him to three years and nine months for the rape, eleven months for the first sexual assault (concurrent), and two years and three months for the second sexual assault (consecutive), giving a total of six years. At the Court of Appeal, counsel Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha argued that the rape was "significantly different" from the other charges, citing evidence of force and refusal, and that missing phone metadata deprived the defence of a crucial line of defence.
The High Court has granted leave for judicial review to an unnamed 18-year-old accused of violent disorder and assault causing harm in Dublin. The applicant, represented by James B Dwyer SC, seeks an injunction against his prosecution at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, alleging a three-year delay that prevented his access to juvenile diversion. The alleged offences occurred in February 2022 on Henry Street, Dublin 1, where the teen, then 15, is accused of participating in an altercation with a Polish man who rebuked a group of teenagers for allegedly throwing eggs at a homeless man. The applicant denied the allegations during a voluntary interview, admitting only to his presence at the scene. In April 2024, he was deemed unsuitable for juvenile diversion because he had turned 17, resulting in his referral for trial. Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty granted the application, stating there were "certainly arguable grounds" for review. The matter remains at the pre-trial stage, with the applicant due for arraignment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court later this month. No plea, finding, or sentence has been recorded, and the prosecution has not been concluded.