Two men have gone on trial at the Special Criminal Court, where they deny possessing 2.2 tonnes of cocaine for sale or supply on board the Panamanian cargo ship MV Matthew. Iranian Saeid Hassani (39) and Filipino Harold Estoesta (31) were arraigned and pleaded not guilty to all charges. They are alleged to have possessed controlled drugs, namely cocaine, for the purpose of selling or supplying them in contravention of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations, 2017 to 2023, on September 24, 2023, within the State's territorial sea. They are further charged with possessing cocaine for sale or supply to a value of €13,000 or more between September 24 and 26, 2023, at locations outside the State. Each man also faces a charge of participating in or contributing to the activity of a criminal organisation with knowledge of its existence, intending to facilitate a serious offence. The trial is due to begin before the non-jury Special Criminal Court, with Ms Justice Melanie Greally presiding over the three-judge court. Four co-accused – Ukrainians Mykhailo Gavryk (32) and Vitaliy Vlasoi (32), Iranian Soheil Jelveh (51), and Dutch national Cumali Ozgen (49) – last week pleaded guilty to similar offences connected to the seizure. The 2.25 tonnes of cocaine seized from the MV Matthew has an estimated value of more than €157 million. The ship was boarded in a dramatic operation by the Army Rangers in September 2023.
Nathan McDonnell, a former chief executive of Ballyseedy Garden Centre, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to importing methylamphetamine and directing a criminal organisation. The trial heard that McDonnell was to be paid €150,000 to store a machine containing 564kg of crystal meth, valued at €32.4 million, before its export to Australia. Prosecutors alleged the drugs were imported from Mexico via the Sinaloa Cartel. While the State asserted McDonnell facilitated the operation, it was noted that a different individual was charged with directing the criminal organisation. McDonnell admitted to storing the machine and arranging its shipment but claimed he was unaware of its contents. He has no previous convictions. Ms Justice Melanie Greally, presiding with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Grainne Malone, remanded McDonnell in custody. The court stated it hoped to finalise the case by the end of the month. Co-accused James Leen was also present. The matter was adjourned for sentencing.
A 17‑year‑old pleaded guilty to attempting to murder Defence Forces chaplain Fr Paul Murphy, who was stabbed on 15 August 2024 at Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa, Renmore Barracks, Galway. The teenager was 16 when the attack occurred and is not identified because of his age. Mr Justice Paul McDermott ordered a probation report from Oberstown Detention Centre and adjourned the case to 7 March for a sentencing hearing. Fr Murphy, aged in his 50s, will be invited to give a victim impact statement. He received treatment for multiple stab wounds at University Hospital Galway.
A Workplace Relations Commission adjudicator ordered West Wood Club CLG in Sandymount, Dublin 4, to pay €8,000 to Robert Flynn for disability discrimination and victimisation. The decision, published following an October 2024 hearing, found that the gym failed to provide reasonable accommodation for Flynn, who has a lower left leg amputation. Flynn alleged that after requesting a shower hose to wash his "bits and pieces," he was accused by staff of being vulgar and subsequently expelled. The club's general manager claimed Flynn asked to "wash his arse," a statement Flynn denied, stating he used the phrase "bits and pieces." The adjudicator noted that while some staff felt uncomfortable, Flynn was not rude or abusive, and no formal complaints were made until after his expulsion. The tribunal concluded Flynn was retaliated against for invoking his rights under the Equal Status Act 2000. The adjudicator ordered €5,000 for discrimination and €3,000 for victimisation. Additionally, a compliance direction was issued requiring the club to re-evaluate its shower facilities to ensure legislative compliance. Andrew Murnaghan of KM Solicitors LLP represented Flynn, arguing the club failed to investigate adaptation requests. The matter was concluded with this final adjudication and compensation order.
Andrew Sankey, aged 57, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexually assaulting a child between September 1996 and October 2000, when the victim was about eight or nine. The abuse occurred while the child's parents were on holiday; Sankey took the child and her brother to a B&B, then forced the child to touch his penis and later digitally penetrated her under the pretext of bathing her. Sankey had previously been convicted of indecent assault in the UK in 1989 and of possession of child abuse material in Ireland, for which he served six months. The complainant, now in her 30s, testified that the abuse had a deep, lifelong impact, causing anxiety, distrust and anger. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Sankey to two and a half years' imprisonment, a reduction from the headline sentence of three and a half years. The sentence reflects the maximum five‑year term for the offence.
Ganson Building and Civil Engineering Contractors, based in Balbriggan, pleaded guilty to two counts relating to the fatal June 2019 accident at St Oliver Plunkett National School, Malahide, where worker John Joe McAfee was crushed by a falling steel structure. The company admitted failure to protect employees from risk and to coordinate safe‑working procedures. The court noted that McAfee's steel frames were unstable and unanchored, and a site engineer had left early despite a contract to supervise. Ganson subcontracted the work, and the chain of subcontractors ultimately placed McAfee on a mobile platform that collapsed. The judge, considering guilty pleas and cooperation with the Health and Safety Authority, fined Ganson €250,000, payable within six months, and expressed deep sympathy for McAfee's family, who suffered ongoing grief and financial hardship after his death.
Kian Gill, 22, of Stillorgan, Co Dublin, appeared at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on appeal regarding an assault charge. He pleaded guilty to assaulting a teenager, causing him harm at Sutton Cross, Dublin, on July 18, 2022. Prosecution evidence, presented by Edward O'Mahony BL, described an unprovoked attack following a dispute in a takeaway restaurant. CCTV footage showed Gill kicking the victim in the head while the teenager lay on the ground, causing him to lose consciousness briefly and sustain a head cut requiring hospital treatment. Gill was identified as a person of interest following an appeal on RTE's Crimecall and was subsequently arrested. He made no admissions during his interview. Judge Martin Nolan had previously revoked Gill's bail and remanded him in custody for two days pending sentence. Today, the Judge handed down a sentence of two years, which was suspended on a number of conditions. The court noted that Gill would return to custody if he breached any of these conditions. Gill, who has no previous convictions, is currently living in a hostel and working as an apprentice carpenter. His defense counsel, Vanessa Frawley BL, attributed his actions to extreme immaturity and a turbulent living situation, while acknowledging he did not strike the first blow.
A hospital worker from Tallaght has received a fully suspended three-and-a-half-year sentence after pleading guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Daniel O'Neill, aged 40, admitted the offence relating to an incident on 12 November 2023 at Pinewood Park, Tallaght. The court heard that while hungover, O'Neill had given his cousin a lift to Cabra, where four suitcases containing €360,000 worth of cannabis and cocaine were placed in his vehicle. Upon detecting the smell of cannabis during the return journey to Tallaght, O'Neill realised what had occurred. Two suitcases were transferred to another car under garda surveillance, resulting in O'Neill's arrest within metres. The remaining cases were found to contain €138,568 of cocaine. His cousin and a third man, James Glynn of Claremorris, County Mayo, were also arrested. Judge Martin Nolan determined O'Neill did not merit imprisonment, considering he had been placed in an unfortunate position and had received no payment.
Alan McCabe, 26, pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply at a house in Ballymun. He was found with €9,886 of cannabis and drug paraphernalia, though he did not live there and was not responsible for other drugs seized. McCabe had no prior convictions and had quit drug use five years earlier, remaining drug‑free. He has spoken publicly about his negative drug experiences and has shown remorse, submitting an apology letter and a probation report indicating low reoffending risk. The court noted his rehabilitation efforts and the absence of a prior criminal record. Judge Pauline Codd imposed a headline sentence of four years but ultimately sentenced McCabe to two and a half years in prison, suspended in full for three years. The decision reflected the significant drug value and the mitigating factors of his rehabilitation.
Cezary Halicki, 22, of Balbriggan, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession and distribution of child pornography. In April and December 2022, he was found with 12 videos depicting children aged 10 to 14 engaged in sexual activities, and he had forwarded these videos to others on four occasions. Garda Stephen Murphy explained that the case began when the US National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children alerted authorities to a suspicious video, leading to an IP trace to Halicki's home and a warrant for a December search. The search seized a laptop and three mobile phones, revealing 16 videos and messages in which Halicki expressed a desire for younger victims. A psychological report concluded he is not attracted to children. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Halicki's lack of prior convictions, education, and remorse, sentenced him to two years' imprisonment suspended for two years, imposed one year of probation supervision, and ordered his placement on the sex offenders register.
Ryan Jennings, a 30‑year‑old British man from Durrow, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a controlled drug after a customs officer noticed him acting suspiciously at Terminal One, Dublin Airport, on 24 August 2024. He was found with a large black suitcase containing 32 vacuum‑sealed bags of cannabis valued at €320,100. Jennings admitted that the death of his son in 2022 had led him to heavy drinking and a £15,000 debt, and that he had burned out his work van to try to clear that debt. He claimed the job of transporting cannabis was a "foolish venture" to escape his financial troubles. The court heard his cooperation, early guilty plea, lack of prior convictions and the family tragedy as mitigating factors.
Thomas Greaney, a Galway City Council road sweeper driver, won €25,000 in compensation for disability discrimination after the council failed to make adequate workplace adjustments following his stress and anxiety caused by bullying. The bullying began when a supervisor transferred Greaney to the city's north‑west side in January 2021 and subsequently lodged a series of complaints accusing him of not performing tasks. Greaney reported the harassment and filed a formal grievance on 22 March 2021. An internal investigation in June 2021 upheld two of nine complaints, but the council delayed an independent investigation until April 2022, after the supervisor had returned to work. Greaney's case highlighted ongoing stress, GP visits, and prescribed anxiety medication. The Workplace Relations Commission adjudicator, Jim Dolan, found the council's handling "far too long" and ordered the €25,000 compensation for breach of the Employment Equality Act 1998.
A geologist has given evidence at the Central Criminal Court that a bloodied rock allegedly used in the murder of a pensioner near Sliabh Liag in Donegal was most likely transported to the scene by human activity rather than occurring naturally there. Dr Sophie O'Connor of the Geological Survey Ireland told the trial she used Google Street View to trace a rock matching the alleged murder weapon to a wall on Roshin Road between Sliabh Liag and Killybegs. The 3.5-kilogramme quartzite rock bore strong similarities in shape, size and lichen staining to the rock recovered by gardaí, she said. DNA evidence previously heard matched the rock to the deceased, Robert Robin' Wilkin, aged 66. Alan Vial of Drumanoo Head, Killybegs and Nikita Burns of Carrick both deny his murder on 25 June 2023. The prosecution case has now concluded, with closing speeches to begin on Monday. Alan Vial pleaded not guilty. Nikita Burns pleaded not guilty.
The jury that had been sworn to hear the murder trial of Brian McHugh, a 40‑year‑old accused of killing Lisa Thompson, was discharged by Justice Karen O'Connor after an issue arose. The jury, composed of eight men and four women, had been sworn in earlier this week and the case had opened the following day. Justice O'Connor thanked the jurors for their service and announced that a new panel would be sworn in at the Central Criminal Court on Monday. The trial remains ongoing. Brian McHugh pleaded not guilty.
Calvin Dunne, 24, was convicted of the manslaughter of Dylan McCarthy and violent disorder following a trial at the Central Criminal Court. The jury returned a 10-2 majority verdict for manslaughter and a unanimous guilty verdict for violent disorder, acquitting Dunne of murder. Dunne had pleaded not guilty to all charges, alleging self-defence during a melee outside a pub in Monasterevin on August 21-22, 2022. Co-accused Sean Kavanagh, 26, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on Eamon McCarthy, with a charge of violent disorder taken into consideration. Following a defence application, Ms Justice Biggs directed the jury to find Kavanagh not guilty of murder, a charge he had denied. After the verdicts, Ms Justice Biggs remanded Dunne in custody, rejecting his request to remain on bail. Kavanagh was permitted to continue on bail. The matter was adjourned to May 12 to allow time for the preparation of probation reports for both defendants, a Governor's report for Dunne, and Victim Impact Statements from the McCarthy family.
Eamon McCarthy, father of the deceased, testified that he and his son Dylan went to Monasterevin to celebrate a grandchild's birth. After leaving a pub, a melee outside the Bellyard pub escalated. The prosecution alleged that Sean Kavanagh punched Dylan and Calvin Dunne kicked Dylan's exposed head, causing Dylan's death. Both accused denied kicking Dylan and claimed they were defending themselves, asserting that Dylan and his father were the aggressors. The court heard Eamon's account of the fight, his injuries, and the subsequent ambulance transport. Witnesses described a chaotic scene with multiple punches and a kick. The prosecution's case focused on the alleged kick by Dunne as the fatal blow, while the defence argued uncertainty over which blow caused the fatal injury and the legitimacy of self‑defence. The trial concluded with the jury given options of murder, manslaughter or acquittal, but the article reports no verdict.
The murder trial of Brian McHugh, 40, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court before Justice Karen O'Connor and a jury. McHugh, of Ballymun, Dublin 11, has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Lisa Thompson, 52, at Sandyhill Gardens on May 9, 2022. Prosecution counsel Fiona Murphy SC outlined that Ms Thompson's body was found with multiple chest stab wounds and a window blind cord around her neck. A mixed DNA profile on the cord could not exclude McHugh as a minor contributor. Witness Sandra McMahon testified that Ms Thompson dealt prescription drugs, including Zimovane, from her home and had given a neighbour €20,000 to hold in case of a Garda raid. Chief State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan stated the cause of death was a combination of ligature strangulation and eleven stab wounds to the left chest, including six penetrating the heart. She noted it was impossible to determine which injury occurred first or if both were inflicted by the same person. Detective Garda Janette O'Neill reported the property was ransacked with no signs of forced entry. The trial continues tomorrow.
John O'Brien, aged 31, challenged a decision that denied him access to a State Claims Agency compensation scheme for the "slopping‑out" regime he endured while imprisoned in Cork between March 2013 and April 2014. He alleged that he was forced to urinate and defecate into a bucket in his cell, sometimes in front of other inmates, and then "slop out" the contents in the morning when the cell door opened. O'Brien claimed this practice breached Articles 3 and 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights and was unconstitutional under Irish law. He applied for compensation in November 2020 and formally in March 2021, but the respondents rejected his application in May 2021 as statute‑barred. In his judicial‑review application, Mr Justice Micheál O'Higgins rejected the claim, stating that O'Brien had not shown that the limitation period was contrary to his rights or that his exclusion was oppressive or unfair.
Martin Hayes, aged 34, was convicted of manslaughter for the 2017 death of Amadea McDermott, aged 27, after a domestic‑violence relationship. He was found not guilty of murder by a majority verdict in the Central Criminal Court. Hayes admitted using violence against McDermott and was sentenced to 12 years and six months' imprisonment. He appealed, arguing that evidence from a subsequent partner, Niamh Higgins, was highly prejudicial. Higgins had testified that Hayes had helped her stab herself and that she feared he might be released on bail. Hayes' counsel claimed this evidence should have led to a jury discharge, while the prosecution contended it was irrelevant and outweighed by other evidence. The Court of Appeal will decide the appeal at a later date.
At the Central Criminal Court, a witness told how he harboured growing concerns about his sister's wellbeing in the period preceding an alleged murder in Donegal. The brother of Nikita Burns said he was worried that she had ceased taking prescribed medication for her bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety, and that she appeared to be consuming alcohol during daylight hours. Burns and Alan Vial, both of Co Donegal, have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Robert Wilkin, a 66-year-old whose body was recovered from the sea beneath Sliabh Liag in June 2023. State Pathologist Dr Margot Bolster informed the jury that whilst the fall down the cliff complicated her assessment, she identified two depressed fractures to the back of the deceased's skull inconsistent with cliff-fall injuries and consistent with blunt force trauma. A rock recovered from the cliff top bearing blood and hair matching the deceased was presented as evidence. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
The jury in the trial of 24‑year‑old Calvin Dunne, charged with the murder of 29‑year‑old Dylan McCarthy outside the Bellyard pub in Monasterevin, has been informed that a majority verdict is now permissible. The case, heard at the Central Criminal Court, involves an incident on 22 August 2022 in which McCarthy was struck on the head by Dunne, who claims he was acting in self‑defence. Witnesses described a "loud thud" when McCarthy was hit, and the State alleges that Dunne delivered a punch and a "vicious kick" to the head. Dunne denies the murder charge and has pleaded not guilty to violent disorder on 21 August 2022. Justice Caroline Burns explained that the jury can now return a ten‑to‑two majority verdict if unanimity cannot be achieved, and the deliberations will continue for a further 30 minutes before the next day's session. The jury remains at its fourth day of deliberation.
An adjudicator ordered the Little Sisters of the Poor to pay Geraldine Baxter €70,560 after she was dismissed in 2023. The dismissal followed a series of allegations, including a false claim that she had falsified annual leave records and that she had worked from home without proper documentation. Baxter, who had worked for the order since 2006, argued that her work‑from‑home arrangements were an established practice and that she had always kept accurate records. The Workplace Relations Commission found that the allegations were based on the fading memory of a nun and that witness statements supporting Baxter's account were inexplicably disregarded. The adjudicator described the case as "extraordinary" and "one of the most egregious examples" of employee mistreatment. He awarded Baxter the maximum compensation under the Unfair Dismissals Act, 104 weeks' pay (€65,520) plus eight weeks' notice pay (€5,040), totaling €70,560. The order was issued in February 2025.
Eimear Carroll, a 42‑year‑old primary school teacher from Offaly, was found guilty of one count of harassment and two counts of sending obscene or menacing letters. She had written about 500 letters over two years, using racist slurs and false allegations that a care worker abused patients. The Court of Appeal dismissed her appeal against a six‑year sentence, confirming the trial judge's decision to impose a headline term of six years with two years suspended. The appeal was rejected because the Court found no error in the sentencing judge's assessment of aggravating factors, including the persistent, targeted nature of the harassment and the use of personal details. The Court also upheld the judge's recognition of mitigating factors such as Carroll's low risk of reoffending and her apology. The decision confirms the severity of the sentence as appropriate for the case.
In February 2025 the Court of Appeal increased the sentence of Paul Clarke, 42, who had previously been convicted 115 times. Clarke, who had been released on bail for a robbery, later robbed a Lidl on Malahide Road on 13 November 2019, firing a handgun into the ceiling and threatening the manager. The original six‑year term, set by Judge Orla Crowe in October 2023, was deemed too lenient. The appeal judge, Mr Justice Brian O'Moore, imposed a new headline term of nine and a half years, reduced to seven years and one month after mitigation. Five months of the effective sentence were suspended for four years to encourage Clarke to avoid drug use. The new term will run from the date of the original hearing. The decision was based on CCTV evidence of the shooting, the threat to staff, and Clarke's extensive criminal history.
Four men were remanded in custody until February 24 after pleading guilty to possessing 2.25 tonnes of cocaine for supply on the Panamanian-registered vessel MV Matthew. The defendants, Mykhailo Gavryk, Vitaliy Vlasoi, Soheil Jelveh, and Cumali Ozgen, appeared before the Special Criminal Court following the refusal of their application to dismiss charges. The seized cocaine, valued at over €157 million, represents the largest such seizure in Irish history. The court listed the case for mention on February 24 to fix a sentencing date. Separately, Vitaliy Lapa pleaded guilty to attempted possession of cocaine for supply and participation in a criminal organisation. He is scheduled to appear for sentencing later this year. UK national Jamie Harbron also pleaded guilty to attempted possession of cocaine for sale or supply and will appear for a sentencing hearing later this year. Two other defendants, Saeid Hassani and Harold Estoesta, are set to stand trial on Monday before the Special Criminal Court. The court noted that the guilty pleas were acceptable to the Director of Public Prosecutions on a full facts basis.
Stephen Geoghegan, 35, of Neilstown Park, Clondalkin, was jailed for money laundering after a search of his home revealed €85,520 in cash, a jet ski, a van, a luxury watch, sterling, and a bag of €63,000 wrapped in cling film. He pleaded guilty to possession of the cash on November 1, 2023, claiming ignorance of its source. Geoghegan, who receives social welfare and has no prior convictions, cooperated with Gardaí and admitted the money was his, though he would not disclose its origin. The Gardaí had confidential information that led to the search. Judge Martin Nolan accepted Geoghegan's lack of previous convictions and his cooperation, but noted he held the money on behalf of a criminal organisation. He imposed a headline sentence of five years, reduced to a custodial term of two and a half years, and forfeited the seized items to the State. The case remains at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
The body of Lisa Thompson, aged 52, was discovered inside her home in Sandyhill Gardens, Ballymun, with multiple stab wounds to the chest and a window blind cord wrapped around her neck. A mixed DNA profile was found on the cord, indicating that Thompson could not be excluded as a major contributor and the accused, Brian McHugh, could not be excluded as a minor contributor. Gardai recovered jewellery linked to Thompson from McHugh's home and found her medication and house keys during a search of the wasteland. CCTV footage shows a Hyundai Tucson, owned by a named woman, arriving at the scene, with McHugh exiting the vehicle and later returning to refuel it. The prosecution will present evidence of a neighbour's testimony, CCTV, DNA, and forensic findings, while McHugh has pleaded not guilty to Thompson's murder. The trial is set to continue before Justice Karen O'Connor and a jury.
The jury in the Central Criminal Court trial of Calvin Dunne, 24, has continued its deliberations for a third day. Dunne, of Monasterevin, Co Kildare, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Dylan McCarthy, 29, on or about August 22, 2022, and to violent disorder on August 21, 2022, at Dublin Road, Monasterevin. The State alleges Dunne punched and kicked McCarthy in the head while he was on the ground. Dunne maintains he acted in self-defence, claiming he lightly kicked McCarthy in the chest. Eyewitness David O'Neill testified that he heard a loud thud and saw McCarthy's eyes roll back after being struck in the head, though he admitted being highly intoxicated and acknowledged it was possible Dunne hit the chest. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs directed the jury that they could find Dunne guilty of murder, guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. In a separate matter, co-accused Sean Kavanagh, 26, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on Eamon McCarthy, the deceased's father, at the same location and date. A charge of violent disorder was taken into consideration. Kavanagh had previously denied a charge of murder, to which Ms Justice Biggs directed the jury to find him not guilty. The jury, comprising ten men and two women, was requested to review the transcript of O'Neill's evidence and will continue deliberating tomorrow.
Irene Cahill, aged 69, was sentenced to 15 months in prison after pleading guilty to three counts of possession of large quantities of cannabis. The drugs, valued at about €68,800, were found under her bed in her Clondalkin home during a Garda raid on 16 June 2023. Cahill admitted she had taken small portions and handed them out, claiming she was holding the cannabis for a family member who owed a drug debt of €7,000. She said she had been in possession for about four weeks and that this was her first offence. Cahill has no prior convictions but has a long history of drug addiction, having been on methadone since 1990. The judge noted her age and lack of previous convictions, and considered her cooperation with the investigation, before imposing the 15‑month sentence.
Osama Sarhan, 27, of Belvedere Place, Dublin, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and assault on two women on 11 February 2024, and to two further burglaries on 14 February 2024. He broke into a woman's apartment while she and her roommate slept, entered the bedroom armed with a knife, and struck one woman, who was taken to hospital with severe hand injuries. The knife was later found discarded under a car. Sarhan was arrested three days later after smashing a window with a tree branch at another burglary scene. He also broke into the Cassidy Hotel, smashing a window and stealing a till worth €300. In court, the judge accepted his guilty plea and mitigating circumstances, including drug use and a difficult period, and imposed a five‑year prison sentence with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions for rehabilitation.
Raymond McGuire, 40, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, criminal damage and harassment after breaking into his former partner's home in July 2018. He entered the house, attacked the woman in her bedroom, threatened her, and later returned to smash a front‑door pane and punch her. He also sent 54 abusive WhatsApp messages. The court heard that McGuire had been drinking and was in a heightened emotional state. A victim impact report was submitted but not read. Judge Martin Nolan found the incidents a severe lapse in judgment, imposed a two‑year custodial sentence, but suspended it in full and ordered McGuire to pay €4,000 to the victim. The judge stated that the payment would serve as punishment, concluding McGuire did not deserve imprisonment. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
Emma Keane, a Simon Community manager, claimed that her employer, Midlands Simon Communities CLG, breached the Organisation of Working Time Act 2005 by allowing her to work beyond the legal maximum weekly hours and by failing to pay accrued annual leave. Keane had agreed in October 2020 to a 48‑hour week, which she argued was not temporary and continued until her resignation in July 2023. She described how her role required her to travel to centres for out‑of‑hours emergencies, often multiple times a week, which she said pushed her beyond the statutory limit. The employer defended the arrangement as unavoidable due to funding and service demand. The Workplace Relations Commission found the employer in breach, awarding Keane €2,500 for the excessive hours and €2,039.99 for unpaid annual leave, plus €500 compensation, totaling €5,000.
Three men—Anthony Hickey (39), Fabio Vicente (42) and Matin Zolfaghari (34)—were found guilty of rape, oral rape and sexual assault against a woman who was recorded repeatedly saying "no" during the attack. The offences took place on 31 August 2019 at an unknown location in a car and in a Dublin house. The jury, after 13 hours of deliberation, returned guilty verdicts on six of the seven charges. Hickey was convicted of rape, oral rape and sexual assault; Vicente of two counts of rape; and Zolfaghari of oral rape. The men pleaded not guilty to the remaining counts. The judge remanded all three men in custody, adjourned the case for sentencing to 10 March and directed the preparation of a victim impact statement. The complainant was present at the verdicts and the court heard her testimony of being drugged, of memory gaps and of being raped twice in a car and once in a house.
A judge has warned that the governor of the Midlands Prison will be summoned to the Central Criminal Court to explain why a psychiatrist hired by defence lawyers was denied access to a prisoner awaiting a murder trial on two separate occasions. The prisoner, who is in custody, is seeking a psychiatric assessment to determine whether he qualifies for a defence under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act, which allows a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity or manslaughter due to diminished responsibility. Mr Justice Paul McDermott has repeatedly highlighted that the lack of psychiatric services in Ireland forces lawyers to seek experts abroad, causing significant trial delays and increasing trauma for victims' families. The defence team, represented by Morgan Shelley BL, secured a UK psychiatrist who was scheduled to meet the prisoner twice, only to have the meetings cancelled by the prison without explanation.
A migrant chef employed at a takeaway in Ballyjamesduff, County Cavan, worked up to 73 hours weekly for approximately €25 daily while servicing an illegal recruitment debt of €30,000, the Workplace Relations Commission heard on Tuesday. Xiaofeng Gao, who held a valid employment permit stipulating €16.76 hourly as chef de partie, received only €150 per week. His passport was retained by the employer from November 2023 until gardaí intervened. Mr Gao seeks nearly €200,000 in back pay and compensation for alleged breaches spanning August 2022 to August 2024 at Eskimo Pizza, Main Street. Claims include minimum wage violations, unlawful wage deductions, unpaid leave entitlements, and alleged racial discrimination under employment equality legislation. The company operator and its director did not appear before adjudicator Shay Henry, who directed the respondent be afforded opportunity to respond before determination.
A Workplace Relations Commission adjudicator ruled that a multimedia journalist, earning €84,630 a year plus a chief subeditor allowance, was already well compensated and could not be promoted to newscaster or assistant editor. The journalist had claimed entitlement to higher pay and additional compensation for a project he had worked on since 2010, citing verbal promises from the broadcaster's director of news in 2009. The broadcaster denied any promises and argued the project was a team effort, noting that pensionable allowances had increased the journalist's pension pot by about €100,000. The adjudicator described the journalist as having an extraordinary sense of entitlement and concluded that the €100,000 pension benefit made him more than adequately compensated for the project. The decision rejected all aspects of the industrial dispute under the Industrial Relations Act 1969. The case was heard privately, with the broadcaster represented by Barry Walsh of Fieldfisher LLP and the journalist by Frank Drumm BL.
Liudmyla Budash, 46, a Ukrainian refugee, was found with €500,000 in cash and pleaded guilty to money laundering at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in July 2024. Judge Elva Duffy originally sentenced her to 15 months, reduced to two years, with nine months suspended. The Court of Appeal quashed the original term and, on 5 February 2025, Mr Justice Patrick MacGrath resentenced her to four and a half years in prison. He noted her active, premeditated role in moving large sums, her lack of prior convictions, and her status as a mother of three. The headline sentence was set at seven years before a two‑and‑a‑half‑year reduction, resulting in the final term. The case involved a Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau operation that seized the cash in Temple Bar on 12 April 2024. The appeal argued the initial sentence was too lenient, citing the seriousness of the offence and the amount involved.
Kyle Lawrence, aged 19, was jailed for three and a half years after taking part in the Dublin riots on the day he turned 18. He pleaded guilty to two counts of violent disorder and one count of trespass and theft at Arnotts. CCTV footage showed him throwing items at Garda units, damaging an abandoned Garda car and a Dublin Bus, and looting several shops, including Asics, Footlocker, Arnotts, Penneys, Lifestyle Sports and JD Sports. He admitted to following the crowds and having no reason for the violence, describing it as an adrenaline rush. The judge accepted that he was not an instigator and reduced the headline sentence of seven and a half years to four and a half years, suspending one year on conditions including probation supervision. The sentence reflects his youth, immaturity and cooperation.
The jury in the trial of three men accused of raping and sexually assaulting a woman they met at a Dublin nightclub is set to continue deliberations for a fourth day. The defendants, aged 39, 42 and 34, have pleaded not guilty to a total of seven counts, including rape, oral rape and sexual assault at an unknown location, in a car and in a Dublin house on 31 August 2019. After about three and a half hours of discussion, Justice Paul Burns instructed the jury to pause and resume the next day. He also read evidence from a Garda to whom the victim first reported the incident and clarified the legal definitions of rape and consent. The case remains at the deliberation stage, with no verdict yet reached.
Three men have been sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following a violent home invasion in Monkstown, Co Dublin on August 21st, 2023. Michael Royal, Thomas Dwyer and Patrick Fitzgerald pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary and false imprisonment. The court heard that four men, one of whom remains unidentified, forced their way into the family home in the early morning, restraining a man in his 70s with cable ties and removing his wife, daughter and six-year-old grandchild from their beds. During the attack, the homeowner was struck on the head with a metal bar, requiring 13 staples, and his daughter was dragged by her hair when attempting to escape. The intruders demanded information related to a bank where the victim had worked two decades earlier. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a headline sentence of ten and a half years, sentencing Royal and Fitzgerald to seven and a half years each and Dwyer to five and a half years, taking account of his comparative youth and lesser criminal history.
Stephen Kavanagh, 50, was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 240 hours of community service instead of prison for stealing alcohol worth €21,000 while on bail for a similar offence. He pleaded guilty to the theft on 20 September 2023, having 29 prior convictions including a 2022 theft. The judge accepted his guilty plea and noted he had not attracted Garda attention since. A headline sentence of two years was reduced to 18 months, but the court imposed community service within two years. Kavanagh, who had been a successful businessman whose firm had liquidated, claimed financial necessity and debt to "serious individuals" as motive. He had no addiction issues, and his defence highlighted his health difficulties and loss of his mother. The case was adjourned earlier to prepare a Probation Service report to assess suitability for community service.
A 50-year-old woman, November Phelan, was remanded in custody until March 3, when she will be sentenced, following a sentence hearing at the Central Criminal Court. Phelan pleaded guilty to manslaughter when she was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court, admitting to the charge of manslaughter when she fatally stabbed her partner, David Ennis (36), in a Dublin apartment. The court heard that Phelan used excessive force in self-defence, claiming she was in 'total fear' and did not intend to kill him. The incident occurred in the early hours of November 8, 2022, at Claddagh Court in Ballyfermot. The court was informed that Phelan and Ennis had been in a relationship for two to three years, during which drugs were a significant factor. The deceased had a history of drug use and had suffered a fall from a balcony a few days before the incident. CCTV footage showed Ennis arriving at Claddagh Court at 11.30pm on November 7, and Phelan arriving around 1.20am on the morning of November 8. The court heard that Phelan had a history of 26 previous convictions, mostly for public order offences and non-appearance before court. The matter was adjourned and will be finalised on March 3, when the sentence will be determined.
Brian McHugh, aged 40, is set to stand trial for the murder of Lisa Thompson, aged 52, who was found dead in Sandyhill Gardens, Ballymun, Dublin 11, on 9 May 2022. He was arraigned at the Central Criminal Court and pleaded not guilty. Mr Justice Paul Burns has convened a jury of eight men and four women, and the trial is scheduled to commence tomorrow and is expected to last three weeks.
Three men who were convicted of a vigilante attack on security personnel at a repossessed farmhouse in Roscommon appeared before the Court of Appeal on 4 February to challenge the severity of their sentences. Martin O'Toole, aged 60, from Claremorris, County Mayo, discharged his legal representation and walked out of court after being refused permission to read a statement into the record, effectively withdrawing his appeal. Paul Beirne, aged 58, from Boyle, County Roscommon, subsequently indicated he would not continue with his appeal. PJ Sweeney, aged 59, from Ramelton, County Donegal, proceeded with his appeal, with counsel arguing the 15-year sentence was excessive and disproportionate, citing mitigating factors and good character. The Director of Public Prosecutions contended the sentence was appropriate given the serious and violent nature of the December 2018 attack at Strokestown. The court reserved judgement.
Alan Vial, aged 39, of Drumanoo Head, Killybegs, County Donegal, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Robert Robin Wilkin, a 66-year-old pensioner, on 25 June 2023 in Donegal. Mr Wilkin's body was recovered eight days later in the sea below Sliabh Liag cliffs. During interview at Ballyshannon Garda Station, Mr Vial acknowledged a physical altercation at the cliff-top location but maintained that Mr Wilkin was alive and breathing when he last saw him. He denied striking the deceased with a rock or throwing him from the cliff, though he acknowledged placing Mr Wilkin over a fence approximately four metres from the cliff edge. Nikita Burns, aged 23, of Carrick, County Donegal, has also pleaded not guilty to the charge. The trial is proceeding before the Central Criminal Court.
In February 2025, Brendan Burke, a senior project manager at Bretland Contracting Ltd, won €4,159 from the Workplace Relations Commission after a dispute over his dismissal. Burke had sent a mass email on 14 November 2023 to 41 colleagues, praising a new senior manager for dismissing a pregnant employee during probation. The company claimed the email was insubordination, harassment and a disregard for hierarchy. Burke denied prior warnings, noting none were on file. He testified that he was summoned to a meeting on 15 November, where he was told a disciplinary process was underway and that leaving without signing two letters would result in dismissal. Burke said he left the room, was shouted at, and then chased through the office, stripped of his keys, phone, laptop and jacket.
Sharif Kelly, 54, of Balbriggan, Co Dublin, has failed in his bid to pursue a conviction appeal before the Supreme Court regarding the 2013 murder of dissident Republican Peter Butterly. Kelly, who pleaded not guilty, was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court in April 2017. The court heard that Dean Evans, who pleaded guilty to the murder, fired the three fatal shots into Butterly at the Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, Co Meath, while Kelly was the getaway driver. Kelly's earlier Court of Appeal challenge in April 2022 was dismissed, with judges unimpressed by his objections to the evidence of protected witness David Cullen. Cullen, who turned State's witness, had previously pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol at the scene and was sentenced in July 2014 to seven years in prison, with three and a half years suspended. Kelly's lawyers also sought to introduce fresh evidence concerning Garda Joseph Doyle, who was later jailed for corruption and deception offences. The Supreme Court refused leave to appeal, determining that issues regarding the admissibility of accomplice-type evidence are primarily for the trial court to analyse and that the Court of Appeal correctly applied established principles governing fresh evidence.
The Special Criminal Court has refused an application by six men to dismiss charges related to the seizure of 2.25 tonnes of cocaine from the MV Matthew, the largest such seizure in Irish history. The defendants, including Ukrainians Mykhailo Gavryk and Vitaliy Vlasoi, Iranians Soheil Jelveh and Saeid Hassani, Dutch national Cumali Ozgen, and Filipino Harold Estoesta, are charged with drug trafficking offences at sea. The court, presided over by Ms Justice Melanie Greally, delivered its judgment under Section 4E of the Criminal Justice Act 1999, which prohibits reporting of the evidence and arguments. Following the decision, Ms Justice Greally adjourned the matter until tomorrow to allow time for the defence to assimilate the ruling. Separately, Ukrainian national Vitaliy Lapa pleaded guilty to attempting to possess cocaine for sale or supply, with a market value of at least €13,000. He also faces a charge of participating in a criminal organisation, though his status regarding this specific allegation remains contested. UK national Jamie Harbron previously pleaded guilty to an offence arising from the seizure and is scheduled to appear for sentencing later this year. The source text does not specify sentences or finalisations for Lapa or Harbron, nor does it detail the outcome for the six men beyond the refusal of their dismissal application and the subsequent adjournment.
Edmund O'Sullivan, 32, was sentenced to 15 years in prison with an eight‑year post‑release supervision order after the Central Criminal Court heard that he had stabbed and raped a woman in her bedroom just ten days after his release from a three‑year sentence for a knife attack. The court noted O'Sullivan's 108 previous convictions, including four for assaults on women, and that his prior partly suspended sentences had failed to change his behaviour. The judge emphasised the need for close monitoring and protection of society, particularly women, and highlighted the victim's traumatic impact statement. O'Sullivan pleaded guilty to rape, anal rape and threats to kill, and the court set a headline sentence of 23 years before imposing 16 years, suspending the final year on strict conditions. The case was placed in the 15‑years‑to‑life category.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, aged 27, pleaded guilty last year to perverting the course of justice by attempting to destroy a mobile phone linked to a SIM card in Malahide on 27 May 2020, and to corruptly offering a gift to Lauryn McCann to influence her employment. He was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, with the final three months suspended, by Judge Martin Nolan. Fitzpatrick's appeal against the severity of the sentence was dismissed by the Court of Appeal. The court rejected the argument that he should be treated more leniently than the civilian employee who received a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for providing the intelligence. The judge noted Fitzpatrick's conduct was corrupt and highly aggravated, including the destruction of evidence and absconding from justice, and that the sentence was well within the sentencing judge's margin of appreciation. Fitzpatrick had 30 previous convictions and had fled Ireland after the raid, later being extradited to face the charges.