A man jailed for stealing over €19,000 from a widow’s pension has lost an appeal against the severity of his two-year jail term.

William Butler (52) told gardaí that temptation had gotten the better of him after the victim, a family friend, had allowed him stay at her home when he was in need.

He admitted obtaining her banking details and stealing €19,380 out of her late husband’s pension fund over three months, to spend on gambling. None of the money has been repaid.

Butler, of Ballinakill Road, Abbeyleix, Co Laois, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five sample charges ….read more

A man who left his former partner’s “nose hanging off” following a vicious knife-assault, has been given extra jail time following an appeal by the Court of Appeal.

Jamie Coughlan (39), with an address at Larchville, Waterford city, had denied seriously assaulting his former partner, at their home on Philip Street, in the city in July 2017.

Coughlan claimed his former partner’s injuries were “self-inflicted” and her psychiatric history was opened in court to support this story.

He was found guilty by a jury at Waterford Circuit Criminal Court and sentenced to six years imprisonment with the final two suspended ….read more

A “persistent burglar” who made off with 70 cent from an apartment in Cork has had his four year jail term upheld by the Court of Appeal.

Thomas Healy (46), with an address at Upper Fair Hill, in Cork, pleaded guilty to burglary of a residential apartment at Mount Vernon, Belgrave Avenue, Wellington Road, in Cork on July 21, 2017.

He was sentenced to five years imprisonment with the final year suspended by Judge Brian O’Callaghan on February 15, 2018, which was upheld by the Court of Appeal today.

Giving judgement in the three-judge court, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy said ….read more

A Mayo man given life for the murder of two elderly brothers with special needs must wait to hear the outcome of an appeal against his conviction.

Alan Cawley (32) of Four Winds, Corrinbla, Ballina, Co Mayo had admitted killing Thomas Blaine (69) and John (Jack) Blaine (76) at New Antrim Street in Castlebar on 10th July 2013, but denied it was murder.

The Central Criminal Court heard that Cawley had bludgeoned them with a shovel and one of their walking sticks. He argued that he had three mental disorders that had diminished his responsibility and was therefore entitled to ….read more

A man caught cultivating 112 cannabis plants in Co Tipperary, while he should have been serving a 12-year-jail term in his home country, has moved to appeal his five year sentence.

Welsh man Wesley Purse (40), with an address at Ballydavid, Cloghrea, Rossadrehid, had pleaded guilty to possession and cultivation of €42,000 cannabis at Rossadrehid on May 3, 2017.

He was sentenced at Clonmel Circuit Criminal Court to five years imprisonment by Judge Tom Teehan on June 29, 2018.

Purse moved to appeal the severity of his sentence today in the Court of Appeal, where judgement was reserved.

The Court of ….read more

A man who took part in the robbery of a taxi driver has dropped an appeal against the severity of his sentence after being warned the Court of Appeal could also increase his jail time.

Carl Cullen (31), of Dingle Road, Cabra, in Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery at Tolka Valley Road, in Finglas, on February 27, 2017.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Cullen and a co-accused jumped into a taxi at about 6am and asked to go to Finglas. They were acting strangely and seemed drunk and high on drugs, according to the driver.

Garda Barry ….read more

(Pictured: Eve Doherty. Credit: Collins)

A detective jailed for harassing a State solicitor by sending abusive letters and emails must wait to hear the outcome of a sentence appeal.

Eve Doherty (51), with an address at Blackglen Road, Sandyford, in Dublin, was found guilty by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of harassing State solicitor Elizabeth Howlin between September 2011 and March 2013. Doherty had denied the charge and was acquitted on two counts of making false statements.

At the time in question, Ms Howlin worked with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) where she was involved in deciding whether or ….read more

Lawyers for a man jailed for indecently assaulting a babysitter almost 40 years ago have claimed the Donegal jury that convicted him were “pressurised” into returning a guilty verdict on a Friday evening when weather warnings were in place.

Patrick Patton (65), of Cashelard, Ballyshannon, had pleaded not guilty to two counts of indecently assaulting the then 14-year-old babysitter in his home in July 1980. He pleaded not guilty to a third count of indecently assaulting another young female between June 1981 and August 1982.

A jury at Donegal Circuit Criminal unanimously found Patton not guilty on counts two and ….read more

Prosecutors have asked the Court of Appeal to overturn a ruling prohibiting the trial of a man for allegedly abusing his two sisters in the nineteen seventies and eighties.

The 59-year-old man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, had been charged with 17 counts of raping and sexually abusing his two sisters on dates between 1974 and 1985.

He maintains that he was not, in fact, resident in the family home during the relevant period, but that he lived with his grandparents and then another relative, all of whom are now deceased.

There was only one charge in respect ….read more

(Pictured: Mr Michael Lynn. Credit: Collins)

Struck-off solicitor Michael Lynn has lost his latest legal challenge ahead of a trial next year for alleged theft of almost €30 million.

A recommendation for free legal aid was also granted at the Court of Appeal today.

Mr Lynn (50) of Carlton Square, Maynooth, Co Kildare, is due to stand trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court next year on 21 counts of stealing the money from seven financial institutions.

In two of the sample charges, Mr Lynn is accused of stealing €4.1 million from Irish Nationwide on April 4, 2007 and €3.6 million from Ulster Bank on ….read more