A 37‑year‑old man, Edward Sweeney of Arundel Drive, Glasgow, was remanded on continuing bail after appearing before Judge Conor Fottrell at Dún Laoghaire District Court. He faces eight charges under the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998. Six charges allege possession of child pornography on various electronic devices seized at a Monkstown address. On 13 March 2019, a MacBook Pro was alleged to contain 7,343 images and 2,108 videos; three USB devices were alleged to hold 16,545 images and 690 videos, 141 images and 548 videos, and 2,474 images and 2,076 videos. Two further possession charges involve a black OnePlus phone with 23,217 images and 832 videos, and a grey Dell laptop with 21 images and 30 videos, both seized at an Alma Road address on 21 July 2023.
Cashel Mulgrew, a courier who had worked for Napier Couriers Ltd (trading as Nügo and Fastway) for about a year and a half, won a claim for unpaid wages after the company docked €305 from his pay for a garage‑door incident. The incident occurred during a delivery to a Co. Mayo property in severe weather, when Mulgrew accidentally removed the door's roller while trying to keep it open. He denied any malicious intent and said the damage should have been covered by the company's insurance. After resigning in September 2025, he discovered the deduction had been made without written notice or supporting receipts. The tribunal, hearing the case under the Payment of Wages Act 1991, found the deduction unlawful and awarded him €305 in unpaid wages.
Tony Corrigan, a former by‑election candidate and solicitor who worked for Identity Digital Ltd, has lodged complaints with the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) alleging unfair dismissal under the Unfair Dismissals Act 2014. He claims he was sacked on 7 March 2025 after raising a protected disclosure on 19 June 2024, being placed on a performance improvement plan on 10 September 2024 and facing a disciplinary process the following day. Corrigan also complains that the company failed to pay his salary between November 2024 and February 2025, stating that December 2024 was "pure vindictiveness" and that he received no pay that month. The WRC hearing focused on whether the statutory complaints under the Unfair Dismissals Act, the Payment of Wages Act and the Employment Equality Act were properly before the Commission. Owen Keany BL, representing Identity Digital, dismissed Corrigan's allegations as "complete fantasy" and argued that the non‑payment of wages complaint was time‑barred.
A veteran Bus Éireann employee, George Moloney, who was blocked from seeking medical retirement due to an ongoing personal injury case, has won €40,000 in compensation from the company. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) ruled that Moloney was penalized in breach of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005. Moloney, who has worked for the company for over 40 years, was diagnosed with a hand condition attributed to prolonged exposure to vibrating tools. Despite the company agreeing to consider his medical retirement, they refused to proceed independently of the personal injury claim. The WRC found that this refusal caused Moloney significant financial detriment and ordered the company to process his medical retirement application without regard to the ongoing civil proceedings.
Paul Agbons, a 25-year veteran of the Mater Hospital in Dublin, has secured €10,000 in compensation for racial discrimination after being wrongly accused of sexually interfering with a patient. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) found that a manager, FH, made an unconscious bias-based decision to suspend Agbons based on his race and nationality, despite no evidence linking him to the allegations. Agbons, a black Irish citizen, was suspended for six days before the hospital concluded he had no case to answer. The WRC adjudicator noted that the manager's actions had a clear racial overtone and ruled that the suspension was direct discrimination. The compensation was awarded considering the short duration of the suspension and the hospital's need to balance two difficult situations.
A senior manager at a major Indian IT firm has denied that his company lied to a client about the position of a former Irish employee on a project team. Derek Canning, a former IT project manager at HCL Ireland Information Systems Ltd, is challenging his alleged redundancy under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) heard that HCL Ireland let go all seven of its staff and contractors in 2024, following a €1 million discount on a major IT project for WestRock due to delays. Canning claims he was hired as a commercial project manager for the ERP system in Ireland and the UK, while HCL argues his role was limited to Ireland and later shifted to a UK-based manager. Canning presented screenshots of organisational charts showing his role, which HCL's representative, Ram Samant, claimed were shown to the client for confidence but not the final structure. Canning accused HCL of lying, while Samant stated they were positioning, not lying. The case has been adjourned for a future hearing.
Daniel Kinahan appeared before the Special Criminal Court without legal representation after being extradited from the UAE. He was charged with directing the activities of a criminal organisation between 18 October 2015 and 6 April 2017, a period covered by section 71A of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. The court, presided over by Justice Patrick McGrath, remanded Kinahan in custody until the next sitting of the Special Criminal Court in October. Kinahan stated that he did not expect to obtain bail and thanked the court for the opportunity to apply. The prosecution was led by Dean Kelly SC and Tessa White BL. The hearing was conducted in an out‑of‑hours sitting, with Kinahan arriving under armed escort from Casement Aerodrome after an Irish Government jet transferred him from Dubai. The court set no trial date at this stage. The case is pending further proceedings. The unnamed accused pleaded guilty.
Garda Joseph Joyce, who was ordered back on the beat during the winter 2022 Covid-19 surge despite having severe asthma, was found to have been discriminated against but was too late to recover compensation. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) dismissed his equality complaint against the Commissioner of An Garda Siochána because too much time had passed between the withdrawal of his work-from-home arrangement and the filing of the complaint. Joyce, who had been granted special leave due to his medical condition, was ordered back to work in person despite local Garda management's disregard for his condition. The WRC ruled that the force had discriminated against him but had no jurisdiction to award compensation as the complaint was filed more than six months after the events.
A leading classical musician, John Finucane, is challenging the mandatory retirement age of 70 at the Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM) on grounds of age discrimination. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) has agreed to proceed with a full hearing into the claim, dismissing RIAM's argument that it had no jurisdiction to hear the case. Finucane, who has taught at RIAM since 1995 and has been a professor of clarinet for over three decades, was informed in late 2024 that the academy was following a policy mandating a retirement age of 70. He and his solicitors objected to this policy, arguing that he had not agreed to a retirement age of 70 and that colleagues had worked well into their 80s and 90s. Finucane filed an equality complaint in June 2025, and following discussions, he signed a fixed-term contract under time pressure. The adjudication officer ruled that the Employment Equality Act protects workers from future discrimination and that the matter should proceed to an investigation.
A letting agent, Morgan Kierans, was ordered to pay €14,750 for extreme discrimination against an alleged domestic violence victim who was refused a new rent aid form and claimed she had abandoned her tenancy by fleeing to a women's refuge. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) ruled that Kierans' belief that the tenant had vacated the property was lacking in credibility. The tenant, who had left the property temporarily for a refuge, was faced with mounting rent arrears when the letting agent refused to sign a new HAP application. The WRC adjudicator criticized Louth County Council for terminating housing assistance payments when the tenant's ex-partner quit the property, noting the catastrophic consequences for the family. Kierans was ordered to pay compensation and complete the HAP form if it was still outstanding.
In a ruling by the Workplace Relations Commission, Agnieszka Nowakowska, a social housing tenant at a Dublin apartment complex, was awarded €2,500 for discrimination after being denied access to the on‑site gym. Ms Nowakowska had moved into the complex in July 2025 and discovered that residents in Block 5, the social housing block, were not allowed to use the gym. She sought clarification from the property manager, Dillon Marshall Property Consultants, but received no response to her emails or registered letter. The tribunal found that the company had failed to respond to her correspondence and had denied her gym access solely because she lived in the social housing block, constituting discrimination under the Equal Status Act 2000. The adjudication officer, Niamh O'Carroll, ruled the complaint well‑founded and directed the payment of €2,500 in compensation for the breach of the Act.
Stephen Loughran, a production operator at Almac Pharma Services Ltd, has won his job back after being sacked for a punch-up with a takeaway driver in March 2025. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) ruled that his dismissal was unfair on both procedural and substantive grounds. Loughran was involved in a physical altercation with a driver after a late food delivery, which led to his sacking. The WRC found that the disciplinary panel had made errors in the process, including the concentration of functions in the site manager and the failure to investigate inconsistencies in witness statements. The adjudicator ruled that Loughran should be re-employed as a production operator or in an equivalent post, with the period since his dismissal treated as unpaid suspension.
A 77-year-old man with 470 previous convictions has been sentenced to two months in jail for threatening and abusive behaviour towards Luas staff. Paddy McCann, who was released on bail but failed to appear in court, was arrested for being intoxicated in a public place and failing to appear in court while on bail. He pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to two months in prison, to run concurrently with his existing three-month sentence for theft and public-order offences. His solicitor, Andrew Vallely, argued that McCann suffers from various medical issues and was more cogent when sober. Judge Anne Watkin noted that McCann had initially pleaded not guilty before changing his plea, which did not help his case. She sentenced him to two months in prison, taking into account his medical conditions and the fact that he was already serving another sentence.
Fergus Clarke, a driver who collided head-on with another vehicle on his morning commute, had his conviction reduced from dangerous driving to careless driving on appeal. The court heard that Clarke, who was not on his mobile phone and had no prior convictions, had a momentary lapse of concentration that led to the collision. The judge, Christopher Callan, noted that the collision was not intentional and that Clarke had no prior history of dangerous driving. He reduced the conviction to careless driving and set aside the disqualification from driving. The judge also reduced the fine from €500 to €100, noting that Clarke had no previous convictions and was in gainful employment. Clarke was ordered to pay €500 to the National Rehabilitation Centre, which he confirmed had been paid.
Ibrahim Ahmed Gharib, an Egyptian national, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for raping a woman in Dublin just a year after his release from a previous 10-year sentence for a similar crime. The Central Criminal Court heard that Gharib, who had a prior conviction for rape, was found guilty of raping Christina Foley in a builders' shed on Poolbeg Street. During the trial, the victim described the incident, stating that she did not consent to the attack and was in a distressed state when she tried to report it to the Garda Station. Mr Justice Sean Gillane noted the severity of the crime and the victim's impact statement, which highlighted the victim's despair and exacerbated anxiety. Gharib, who claimed the victim was a liar, was placed on the sex offenders' register and had his sentence backdated. The court also heard that the victim had been consuming drugs and was homeless at the time of the attack. The judge reduced the headline sentence from 12 years to 11 years, considering Gharib's isolation and lack of prior violent offenses.
Bruna Da Silveira, the partner of the head of an international crime gang, has been sentenced to three years in jail for her role in running a brothel-keeping organisation in Dublin. The court heard that Da Silveira, who arrived in Ireland on a student visa, was involved in managing the brothels and facilitating the movement of nearly 30 young Brazilian sex workers. She was found to have €737,000 in proceeds from prostitution passing through her accounts between 2024 and 2025. The court heard that the women were subjected to poor working conditions and were only allowed one day off a month. Da Silveira pleaded guilty to participating in the activities of a criminal organisation and was sentenced to three years in prison. Judge Elma Sheahan noted that Da Silveira's involvement in the criminal organisation and the trans-national movement of money were aggravating factors. She reduced the headline sentence of five years to three and a half years, taking into account mitigating factors such as Da Silveira's guilty plea and cooperation with gardaí.
Barry Wheeler, a 49-year-old rickshaw operator formerly of Cabra Drive, Dublin 7, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for the anal and oral rape of a teenage boy. Wheeler pleaded guilty to these charges, which occurred between August and October 2001 when the victim was aged 14 to 15 and working for Wheeler's business. Mr Justice Tony Hunt noted that Wheeler abused a position of trust and authority, causing profound and lasting effects on the complainant's adult life. Although the court set a headline sentence of 12 years, it reduced this to nine years in mitigation for Wheeler's guilty pleas and cooperation with the investigation. The judge suspended the final year of the sentence on strict conditions, specifically requiring that Wheeler have no contact with the injured party. During sentencing, defense counsel Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC highlighted Wheeler's background and stated that if any part of the sentence was suspended, Wheeler intended to return to the United Kingdom, where he has recently resided. The court commended the injured party's fortitude in reporting the abuse, noting that the conclusion of the case would allow the victim to move forward. Wheeler had previously denied involvement to gardai, claiming the allegations were born of malice, but his guilty plea at trial resolved the matter.
The State must pay a couple's costs in their successful application to have their wrongful conviction for female genital mutilation (FGM) of their one-year-old daughter declared a miscarriage of justice. The couple, who were the first in Ireland to be convicted of FGM, spent two years in prison before their convictions were quashed on appeal in 2021. A miscarriage of justice certificate was granted by the Court of Appeal, and the case was put back for a costs hearing. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy noted that newly discovered facts in expert reports showed a miscarriage of justice. The court ruled that costs should follow the event, and the couple's legal teams had facilitated the efficient progress of the case. The couple had been convicted in 2019 but their convictions were overturned due to serious inaccuracies in the translation of their testimony to the jury.
A 72-year-old man who admitted to raping his 14-year-old stepdaughter and sexually assaulting her on multiple occasions between December 2020 and January 2021 has been sentenced to eight years in prison. The victim, now 20, described the severe emotional and psychological impact of the abuse, including anxiety, stress, and fear, which led her to leave home and abandon her education. The judge noted the significant age disparity, breach of trust, and the fact that the abuse occurred in the family home. The man pleaded guilty and expressed remorse, which the court considered as mitigating factors. However, the judge emphasized the severity of the crime and the long-term harm caused to the victim. The sentence was reduced from a headline of 12 years due to the man's age and lack of prior convictions. The man will also be under post-release probation supervision.
The High Court has refused to surrender a Limerick man to Greek authorities, where he is wanted on human trafficking charges, after his lawyers objected to extradition on the basis of conditions in the Greek prison system. Jeremiah O'Brien is alleged to have facilitated the smuggling of 66 Middle Eastern people to Italy by speedboat. His lawyers argued that overcrowding in Greek prisons, with one prison at 164% capacity, was a concern. The court heard that the boat used was for pleasure purposes and had no life jackets, putting the occupants in danger. Mr Justice Seán Gillane agreed to send a letter to the Greek authorities to address the concerns about prison conditions. He ruled that the extradition should be refused, citing the conditions in Greek prisons as a reason.
Paul Rowland, a man who attempted to strangle his partner in her own home, has been jailed for six years. Rowland, who had denied the charges, was convicted of intentionally or recklessly strangling his partner on January 29, 2025. The court heard that the victim had asked Rowland to leave the property but he refused, and the incident occurred in the presence of their infant child. Judge Mary Morrissey noted the high moral culpability in the case and the fact that Rowland had been drinking and was physically and emotionally abusive towards his partner. She set a headline sentence of six and a half years but reduced it to six years, taking into account Rowland's homelessness, his time in custody, and his lack of remorse. The victim's impact statement highlighted the lasting trauma she experienced, including chronic pain and the impact on her children.
A man in his 20s who threatened to throw acid in his wife's face, called her a 'fat bitch,' and punched her in the stomach while she was pregnant has been jailed for three and a half years for sexual assault and coercive control. The Central Criminal Court heard that the man had a history of abusive behavior, including kicking and punching his wife before they married. During their marriage, he continued to use derogatory language and physically abused her, even threatening her life. The woman described the emotional and psychological toll of the abuse, including feelings of betrayal and the lasting emotional scars. The man was found guilty of one count of sexual assault and coercive control. The judge noted the severity of the abuse and the impact on the victim's life, but also considered the man's early guilty plea and cooperation with the gardai. The sentence was backdated to April 23 of this year.
A 51-year-old man from Offaly has been jailed for 11 years for sexually assaulting a five-year-old girl over a 12-month period. The abuse occurred while the girl and her family were living with her grandparents. The girl disclosed the abuse to her mother when she was eight, and the man was later convicted of 12 counts of oral rape. The court heard that the man had an intellectual disability due to a traumatic brain injury sustained in childhood, but the judge ruled that this did not affect his culpability. The victim's parents expressed their support for their daughter and emphasized that the abuse was not her fault. The judge noted the breach of trust, the girl's age, and the prolonged nature of the abuse as aggravating factors. The man was sentenced to 11 years, with five years of post-release supervision. The judge expressed hope that the girl would be able to move forward with the support of her family.
Fabio De Oliveira Monteiro, a 28-year-old man from Carlow, has pleaded guilty to allowing his bank account to be used to launder €9,650 stolen from a woman through a phishing scam. The victim was tricked into deleting her banking app by a caller posing as her bank, resulting in €19,300 being stolen from her account. Monteiro admitted to providing his account details in exchange for €400, as he was in financial difficulty due to his mother's medical bills and a small drug debt. The court heard that Monteiro has nine previous convictions for road traffic offences and is considered to be at the bottom of the criminal chain in the operation. His defense argued that Monteiro was a victim of others who preyed on his desperation for cash. The judge remanded Monteiro on bail for sentencing next November, noting that he has since secured new employment and is unlikely to come to further garda attention.
Two criminals have been jailed for seven and a half years for their parts in a murder conspiracy targeting Thomas McDonnell, an innocent victim of a "vicious extortion racket". Jason Dunne and Craig Hayes, who pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder McDonnell, were sentenced by Mr Justice Paul McDermott. The court heard that McDonnell, who had no involvement in criminality, was targeted because a family member owed a €100,000 drug debt. The judge noted the level of planning and the fact that the attack happened in broad daylight in a public place, which aggravated the offending. McDonnell, who suffered two bullet wounds and has ongoing health issues, was forced to leave Ireland out of fear for his and his family's safety. The judge set a headline sentence of ten years but reduced it to seven and a half years, taking into account the guilty pleas and lack of remorse from the defendants.
Martin Lyons, a 31-year-old man with 146 previous convictions, has been jailed for three years for threatening to burn down the family home of a Carlow pub owner while armed with a clawhammer. Lyons was on bail at the time of the incident, which occurred in March 2024. He entered the pub claiming that a former employee owed him money and threatened to burn down the owners' home. The court heard that Lyons had significant addiction issues with alcohol and drugs, and had spent time in a residential treatment unit. His defense highlighted his remorse and the support he receives from his family, including his parents and children. The judge set a headline sentence of five years but reduced it to three years, suspending the final 12 months for two years on the condition that Lyons engages with the Probation Service and maintains his sobriety. Martin Lyons pleaded guilty.
James Greengrass, a 25-year-old British man with a significant mental illness, has been ordered to be released from Cork Prison into the care of his parents in the UK to serve the suspended portion of his sentence. Greengrass was found guilty of attempting to cause serious harm to a fellow psychiatric patient by putting him in a chokehold until he turned blue. The court heard that Greengrass believed the victim was a 'shapeshifting demon' who would kill him and his family. His defense argued that his mental illness and the support of his family made it more appropriate for him to be in the UK rather than in Ireland. The judge noted that Greengrass had been institutionalized for three-and-a-half years and that his mental health required ongoing support. The suspended sentence of five years and six months will be served in the UK, with strict conditions including medication compliance and regular contact with gardai.
The Court of Appeal has overturned a Special Criminal Court (SCC) decision granting a miscarriage of justice certificate to Michael Connolly, a man in his 50s from Dundalk, Co Louth. Connolly was originally convicted of IRA membership in 2017 and sentenced to three years' imprisonment, a conviction later quashed by the Court of Appeal in 2018. Following a retrial in 2019, he was acquitted after the court found that belief evidence from a senior Garda breached the "double-counting" rule. In June 2024, the SCC deemed his original conviction a miscarriage of justice, citing a "grave defect" in the administration of justice. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) sought judicial review, which the High Court dismissed in December 2023. On appeal, Mr Justice Brian O'Moore held that the SCC committed a fundamental error of law by granting the certificate, as it was not a properly available option. The judge stated that while the senior Garda's "careless" evidence was regrettable, it did not justify the certificate. Consequently, the Court of Appeal granted the DPP's order, quashing the SCC's decision under section 9(1)(a)(ii) of the Criminal Procedure Act 1993. This ruling represents a legal first in overturning such a certificate.
Sabrina Keogh, aged 40 and resident of St Mary's Park, Carlow, pleaded guilty to the murder of Darren Quigley outside a house in Carlow town on 21 October 2024. Mr Justice Paul McDermott remanded her in custody until 6 October, when she will be sentenced to a mandatory life imprisonment term for murder. The judge also ordered impact statements from members of the victim's family.
Luke Caplice, a 29-year-old man from Knockane, Ballylooby, Co Tipperary, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to a charge that he attempted to murder Patrick Williams at Knockane on October 11, 2025. The court noted that Caplice is currently being held in Limerick prison but is "anxious to be sentenced in Dublin." Mr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned the matter to November 2 and directed that a victim impact statement be prepared. The case is at the sentence stage, with the plea of guilty recorded. No final sentence has been imposed, and the matter remains adjourned pending the preparation of the victim impact statement and the scheduled hearing date.
The Court of Appeal has increased Aaron Brady's sentence for perverting the course of justice from three years to five years following a successful appeal by the State. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy described the offending as an "affront to the administration of justice," noting it was pre-meditated and insidious. Brady, who is serving a life sentence for the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, was convicted by the Special Criminal Court of video-recording a witness interview with Ronan Flynn and conspiring with Dean Byrne to persuade witness Daniel Cahill not to testify. The court found the original sentence unduly lenient, failing to adequately weight general deterrence. Although the new five-year term will not alter Brady's effective custody due to his existing life sentence, the ruling establishes a significant precedent. Dean Byrne, who was found guilty of conspiring with Brady to interfere with witness Cahill, was sentenced to two years. Byrne's conviction was upheld by the Court of Appeal, but he is currently challenging that decision before the Supreme Court, which has agreed to hear his case on a question of public importance regarding the lawfulness of persuading witnesses not to give evidence.
A veteran security volunteer, Frank Purcell, who claimed he was dismissed by the Augustinian Order for warning church officials about 'rogue' relic traders, has been ruled ineligible to pursue an employment rights claim by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC). The WRC found it has no jurisdiction to hear Purcell's complaint under the Unfair Dismissals Act 1977. Purcell's representative stated he was 'summarily dismissed without any reason or basis' after 16 years of volunteering. The church's legal team argued the dismissal followed a complaint by church-goers. Frank McDonnell of the Limerick Council of Trade Unions claimed Purcell was 'very badly treated' after 16 years of service, with no explanation for his dismissal. John Monaghan BL, representing the Order, noted Purcell's WRC complaint stated his weekly wages as '€0.00', arguing there was no employment relationship. Adjudication officer Peter O'Brien concluded there was no evidence of an employment contract and dismissed the complaint, stating Purcell had no legal standing to pursue the case.
Clinton Byrne, aged 44, was jailed for three and a half years after Garda surveillance uncovered €90,220 in criminal cash in a taxi at Fortunestown. The operation, triggered by confidential information, revealed Byrne transporting the money for a criminal organisation. Byrne had previously been convicted in April 2023 for moving €280,000 of heroin, receiving a four and a half year sentence with the final six months suspended. He was out on temporary release when the cash offence occurred. Byrne pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of the cash and wrote a letter to Judge Dara Hayes claiming he was coerced and that the job involved only a small amount of money unrelated to drugs. The judge noted the offence was aggravated by his temporary release status and suspended the final year of his earlier sentence, requiring him to keep the peace and engage with the Probation Service for a year after release.
A 47-year-old man has been jailed for 15 years and six months for drugging his daughter and her friends during sleepovers and recording himself raping one of the girls. The man pleaded guilty to multiple counts of rape, sexual assault, child cruelty, and possession of child pornography. The court heard that the man invited his daughter's friend on a sleepover, drugged her with sleeping pills and muscle relaxants, and then raped her in the woods. The man's phone was seized by gardaí, revealing encrypted footage of the rape and child abuse images. The victims, including the man's daughters and their friends, made victim impact statements detailing the severe emotional and psychological trauma they experienced. The judge noted the breach of trust and the deliberate recording of the abuse as aggravating factors. The man expressed remorse and the judge considered his guilty plea and lack of prior convictions as mitigating factors. The sentence was reduced from a headline of 17 years due to the man's cooperation and remorse.
At the Central Criminal Court, an unnamed 45-year-old man was sentenced for the rape and sexual assault of his young daughter. The defendant pleaded guilty to four charges of rape and eight charges of sexual assault, which the State accepted as sample charges representative of a pattern of abuse occurring in their County Wexford home between January 2022 and June 2024. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a headline sentence of 17 years for each rape count and 10 years for each sexual assault count. In mitigation, the judge noted the defendant's early accountability, lack of previous convictions, and good work history. He was sentenced to 13 years for the rapes and seven years and six months for the sexual assaults, all to run concurrently. The final 12 months of the sentence were suspended for three years, placing the defendant under Probation Service supervision to follow all necessary directions and treatments. The judge ordered no direct or indirect contact with the victim, including via social media, unless written permission is granted by the victim's mother until the victim turns 18, or by the victim herself thereafter. The defendant is also prohibited from unsupervised access to anyone under 18 and placed under post-release supervision for eight years. The court heard victim impact statements from the daughter and her mother, who described the abuse as a profound betrayal.
A 55-year-old man who raped and sexually abused his stepdaughter from the age of six has been denied permission to withdraw his guilty pleas and has been sentenced to 12 years and nine months in prison. The man pleaded guilty to two counts of rape, one of attempted rape, and seven counts of sexual assault between 2007 and 2013 in Co Wexford. He initially entered his pleas during the first day of his Central Criminal Court trial in October of last year but later sought to resile from them, an application that was refused. The victim, who was aged between six and 12 at the time of the abuse, has been protected by not naming the defendant. The court heard that the man was in a relationship with the girl's mother and was her de facto stepfather. The abuse included acts such as masturbation, dry humping, and oral sex, and the man would buy the girl toys and sweets as gifts. The abuse stopped for a time before resuming in 2010.
Two Dublin men, Michael Andrecut (24) and Brandon Hennessy (23), have launched appeals against their convictions for their roles in the fatal attack on Tristan Sherry, who shot and killed gangland figure Jason Hennessy Snr in a busy restaurant on Christmas Eve 2023. Andrecut's legal team argued that the trial court failed to adequately consider the element of provocation, as he had just witnessed the fatal shooting of someone close to him. Hennessy's lawyers challenged the prosecution's identification of their client on CCTV footage. The incident occurred when Sherry and another gunman entered Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown, shot Hennessy Snr, and were then attacked by Hennessy's party. Three individuals, including Andrecut, were found guilty of murder, while Hennessy was convicted of violent disorder. Andrecut received a life sentence, while Hennessy was jailed for four and a half years, with six months suspended. Hennessy was later sentenced to six years for an unrelated assault. During the sentencing, the court acknowledged the extreme situation but emphasized that unlawful violence cannot be justified.
A property company, MKN Properties Group, has been ordered to stop requiring tenants to disclose their financial details on housing assistance applications and has been directed to pay €7,500 in compensation to a tenant who challenged the practice. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) found that the company had breached the Equal Status Act 2000 by refusing to sign a rent supplement form unless the tenant provided full financial information to the Department of Social Protection. Tenant Greg Rogers, who had been living in the property for 18 years, had sent his landlord a copy of the form with part 9, which requires landlord details, left the rest blank, stating that those sections were between him and the Department. The landlord refused to sign the form without seeing the full application, leading to a dispute. The WRC ruled that the landlord's refusal to sign part 9 without the tenant's financial details constituted discrimination on housing assistance grounds.
A 31-year-old lawyer, Daire McCormack George, who stabbed his father 27 times during a psychotic episode, has been found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity following a trial at the Central Criminal Court. The trial heard that he suffers from schizoaffective disorder, which led to a delusional belief that his father intended to harm his mother and sister. This belief prompted him to commit the act, despite his love for his father. His family, including his sister Hillary and mother Goretti, attended the trial daily, showing unwavering support. Mr. McCormack George had been diagnosed with a mental health disorder in 2018 and had responded well to treatment, but a reduction in his antipsychotic medication led to a relapse. His journal entries revealed his paranoid thoughts. During the attack, he claimed his father told him he loved him, but he continued stabbing him. The court heard that psychiatrists agreed he was not responsible for his actions due to his mental disorder.
The Director of Public Prosecutions has decided not to pursue a re-trial and has dropped all charges against Chantelle Harcourt, the partner of double killer Derek Boyd. Harcourt was accused of impeding Boyd's prosecution by making a false statement to gardai. Boyd, who was jailed for life earlier this week, had previously been serving the suspended part of his sentence for killing his sister. Harcourt, who was on trial, had pleaded not guilty to the charge. The State's case was that Harcourt knew about the events that occurred in Boyd's home and deliberately avoided telling the truth to officers. After a three-week trial, the 11 jurors were unable to reach a verdict on the single count against Harcourt. The trial judge remanded Harcourt on continuing bail. Today, the prosecuting counsel informed the court that the DPP was not seeking a retrial and that a nolle prosequi would be entered on the charge against Harcourt. Harcourt was then discharged from the indictment.
A woman in her 30s accused of stabbing her partner with an eight-inch chef's knife has been remanded in custody after a judge said there was a "huge" likelihood of a further serious incident if she was released on bail. The woman appeared before Judge Anne Watkin at Dún Laoghaire District Court charged with assaulting her partner and causing him harm at a residence in Co Dublin on July 25, contrary to Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act 1997. The man suffered a stab wound to his right forearm and was taken to hospital. Garda Andrew Shanley objected to bail, citing the seriousness of the allegation and concerns that the woman could commit a serious offence while on bail. The judge refused bail and remanded the woman in custody to appear before Court 2 at the Criminal Courts of Justice at 10.30am on August 12.
A man accused of driving with a trace amount of cocaine in his system had his conviction overturned on appeal after a judge noted the identity of a Romanian interpreter provided at a garda station was not recorded. Marcel Nagit was convicted in the District Court of driving while there was present in his body a quantity of benzoylecgonine (cocaine) where the concentration of that drug in his blood was greater than the specified concentration. He was fined €1,000 and disqualified from driving for one year. He later lodged an appeal against his conviction. The court heard that a Romanian interpreter was contacted but the service couldn't guarantee an arrival in time. The garda opted for a telephone translation. The judge noted that the custody record was incomplete and that the identity of the interpreter was not recorded, which was prejudicial to the accused. The judge allowed the appeal, overturning the conviction.
Ongoing industrial action by solicitors affected criminal hearings, including a case involving alleged organised prostitution by Brazilian nationals across the capital. Brazilian woman Bruna Da Silveira was listed for sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on a charge of participating or facilitating the activities of a criminal organisation. Defending counsel informed Judge Orla Crowe that his instructing solicitor would not be attending, "in solidarity with all other solicitors". The case was adjourned to Friday for a sentence hearing. Da Silveira pleaded guilty to participating or contributing to the activities of a criminal organisation. The court heard that the defendants were linked to the recruitment in Brazil of vulnerable young women who were coerced into sex work here. The allegations related to ten brothels and the defendants were considered flight risks with no ties to this jurisdiction.
The High Court has granted permission for the publication in a national newspaper of the names of over 300 former Christian Brothers who are now co-defendants in a civil abuse claim. These individuals are not accused of abuse but are being named in the hope that they will come forward. The case was heard by Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty, who granted the motion brought by the plaintiff's legal team. The plaintiff was abused by Christian Brother Liam Coughlan in the 1970s while attending school in Co Kilkenny. Coughlan received two jail terms in 2023 for indecent assault. The court has previously criticized David Gibson, the current head of the Christian Brothers, for an obstructive approach towards civil lawsuits. As an unincorporated association, the Christian Brothers cannot be sued unless a nominee is provided. Gibson has refused to act as a nominee, forcing litigants to take legal action against individual members. The case is being brought by a male survivor of abuse against Coughlan and Gibson. The names of 341 individuals will be published in the Irish Independent.
A brave Paddy Power worker helped unmask a repeat robber by pulling at his face covering during a raid, enabling gardaí to identify him from CCTV. Charles Darcy, who has 64 previous convictions, claims to have undergone a "sea change" and wants to attend drug treatment. He pleaded guilty to robbery of car keys and unauthorised taking of a car and robbery at Paddy Power. Judge Jonathan Dunphy said he was not prepared to "roll the dice" by immediately releasing Darcy to attend residential treatment. He ordered a probation report and adjourned the case until October 9 for finalisation. The court heard that Darcy had a significant poly-substance addiction problem and these crimes were committed to get money to fuel that addiction. He has a difficult history and has been in and out of custody since he was a young man. He has had a recent awakening with the help of his sister, who is committed to helping put him on the right track.
An unnamed boy, aged 15 at the time of the offence, pleaded guilty to a count of defilement at a home in April 2025. He was originally charged with rape and sexual assault. The Central Criminal Court heard that the boy defiled a 16-year-old girl while she was intoxicated and unwell at a house party. Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo sentenced the now 16-year-old defendant to a period of detention of one year and six months. The judge noted that while all sexual offences are crimes of violence, this incident did not involve gratuitous violence beyond the act itself. A headline sentence of five years for an adult was reduced to two years and three months to account for the boy's youth and immaturity. After considering his personal circumstances, guilty plea, and mitigating factors, the judge determined that a fully non-custodial sentence was not appropriate. Mr Justice Naidoo adjourned the imposition of sentence until October, when the final six months of the 18-month period of detention will be suspended on strict conditions, including that the boy engage with the Probation Service.
A warm, engaging, much-loved and lovable young man', who stabbed his physically frail and housebound father to death during a psychotic episode, continues to enjoy the full love and support of his family, the Central Criminal Court heard. Detective Garda Ultan McIlroy gave evidence to the trial of Daire McCormack George that the accused's family told gardai that he had never harmed anyone nor shown any aggression prior to the attack on his father, Scott George, in December 2024. The family told gardai that Daire's mental health began to suffer in 2018. He was treated at Beaumont Hospital and appeared to respond well to medication. By the time of the stabbing, his dosage had been reduced to a very low level. A psychiatrist who diagnosed Mr McCormack George with schizoaffective disorder said the relapse of his psychosis "coincided with the reduction of medication". Mr McCormack George had developed a delusional belief that his physically frail, housebound father was going to kill the accused's mother and sister. McCormack George pleaded not guilty.
A 33-year-old man, Patrick Fitzpatrick, arranged a 'straightener' in a Wicklow playground during which a father-of-seven, William Moorehouse, was stabbed to death, the Central Criminal Court has heard. Fitzpatrick pleaded guilty to charges related to the incident, which involved two armed groups. The court heard that Moorehouse, described as a 'loving son and devoted father,' sustained five stab wounds. Fitzpatrick, who had 28 previous convictions, was accused of arranging the fight following an earlier incident in which a youth was allegedly attacked. The 'straightener' was intended as a form of alternative dispute resolution, with members of two families involved. However, the situation escalated into a violent confrontation, with 14 people participating in the fight. Detective Sergeant Ger Brennan confirmed that Moorehouse was found unresponsive after the stabbing, and that weapons, including knives and firearms, were involved. Fitzpatrick's defence argued that the incident was not a Traveller feud but a misguided attempt at resolving a dispute. Victim impact statements were read by Moorehouse's sisters, who spoke of his popularity and the profound loss felt by the family.
Staff waited nearly two years to get their split of over €5,000 in customer gratuities from a tap-to-tip machine installed at a Limerick City café in unexplained circumstances, a tribunal has heard. At the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), both the former manager of Esquires Coffee Limerick and the proprietor of the business denied responsibility for the installation of the electronic tip machine. The owner said she did not know it was there at all until the manager came looking for her share of the proceeds. By the time the tips were distributed, a quarter of the money had been eaten up by fees charged by the machine's provider, JustTip, the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) noted in a decision published today. The tribunal has now ordered Rise and Grind Ltd, trading as Esquires Coffee Limerick on Catherine Street, to pay €100 in compensation to the café's ex-manager, Hueian Hsiao, for a delay in paying her wages.
A dangerous driver who gave gardai the 'middle finger' and reached speeds of around 170km/h on the M1 before acting 'extremely aggressively' during his arrest has failed in his appeal to overturn his conviction. Cornelius Kaiser (47) was convicted in the District Court of two counts of dangerous driving on the M1, along with other charges including failing to produce insurance and refusing to provide a blood or urine sample. He received a total of seven months imprisonment and a five-year driving ban. During the appeal, Garda Alan Macklin testified that on December 13, 2023, officers received an anonymous report of dangerous driving. The black Audi was seen weaving through traffic at high speeds, with the driver giving the gardai the middle finger. The vehicle was stopped at the toll, where the driver slammed the brakes and pushed past the barrier. Gardai boxed in the car, leading to Kaiser's arrest. He was highly aggressive and refused to provide a breath sample.