(File Picture: Survivor Dominique Meehan speaking outside court. Credit: Collins)

A man jailed for 12 years for raping a woman during a gaming convention has claimed the sentencing judge should have considered his psychiatric issues and the fact he had no previous conviction when he was sentenced.

Keith Hearne (30) rugby tackled Dominique Meehan to the ground after cornering her in a meeting room at the ArcadeCon convention in July 2015, before telling her, “I could break your neck here and now, would you prefer that?”

He then bound her hands behind her back with his tie, stripped her and raped her. When ….read more

(Pictured: Oliver Kierans. Credit: Collins)

A man found guilty of shooting his wife dead in an act of gross negligence has lost an appeal against his conviction and sentence.

Oliver Kierans (60) of Drumbannon, Bailieborough in Cavan, had pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to murdering Patricia Kierans (54), his wife of 33 years, at his home address on September 5th, 2013.

He was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by a majority jury verdict following fifteen hours of deliberations.

Kierans was also found guilty of possessing a double barrel sawn-off shotgun and possessing the weapon with intent ….read more

(Pictured: Stefan Saunders. Credit: Collins)

A gang who tried to steal over €2m from a cash-in-transit van in Co Meath three years ago have been given no extra jail time, despite an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Stefan Saunders (41), from Hazelbury Park, Blanchardstown in Dublin, Francis Murphy (39), from Drogheda Road, Carranstown, Duleek, Co Louth and Damien Noonan (32), from Rusheeny Court, Hartstown, Co Dublin pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit robbery on dates between August 26 and October 7, 2016.

Saunders and Murphy also pleaded guilty to carrying a semi-automatic pistol at Yeats Centre, Navan Road, Dunboyne ….read more

A violent burglar used as “muscle” to evict a family from their home, in an attack lead by former INLA man Dessie O’Hare, has had his prison sentence increased on foot of an appeal by prosecutors.

Donal O’Hara (27), of Glin Park, Coolock, Dublin 17, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to assaulting John Roche, causing him harm, at The Towers, Garter Lane, Saggart, Co Dublin on June 9, 2015.

He also admitted falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at Rathcoole and Saggart on the same date.

CCTV footage captured the moment five men, including O’Hara, dragged Mr Roche from his house and ….read more

A 79-year-old man the FBI believe has been producing and selling child pornography “for at least 30 years” has lost a legal challenge to his pending extradition.

Daniel Mullan, a dual US Irish citizen, is wanted by the FBI to face trial in New York on charges related to the sexual exploitation and transportation of a minor as well as two counts of possessing child pornography.

Mr Mullan, who is fighting his proposed extradition to the United States from custody in the Midlands Prison, in Portlaoise, was indicted by a Grand Jury in New York in September 2017, while serving a ….read more

A serial sex offender convicted of raping a boy and sexually abusing another, has lost an appeal against the severity of his 14-year jail term.

Kenneth Cooke (56), of Limekiln Green, Walkinstown, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 21 counts of sexually assaulting a boy between January 2000 and July 2003 when the boy was aged between 11 and 13 years of age.

He had pleaded not guilty to 56 counts of indecently assaulting another boy between December 1980 and December 1985 and was convicted by a jury.

Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a nine year sentence with four ….read more

A Carlow man whose farm was “strewn with skeletal remains” has lost an appeal against the severity of his three year prison sentence for “shocking” levels of animal cruelty.

James Kavanagh (48) pleaded guilty to 30 counts of causing or allowing animal cruelty at his property at Raheenleigh, Myshall, Co Carlow in April 2015.

Kavanagh was sentenced to three years imprisonment and ordered to pay €35,000 towards the ISPCA’s costs, which totalled €59,149, by Judge James McCourt on February 22 last. Judge McCourt also disqualified Kavanagh from having any involvement with dogs or horses for life. The maximum penalty is ….read more

A Liverpool man is to be extradited to the UK, where he faces life in prison for possession of firearms and class A drugs.

UK authorities had sought the surrender of Adam James Wood (32) with an address at Woodlands Road, Liverpool for 12 offences related to possession of firearms, ammunition and drugs.

Mr Wood was arrested here on foot of a European Arrest Warrant in 2017 and taken to the High Court in Dublin, where extradition proceedings were brought against him.

The Liverpool-born man has a scar on his left hand and a tattoo in the centre of his neck saying ….read more

A retired doctor has lost an appeal against his conviction for abusing two teenage boys in the mid-70s.

The 86-year-old man, who cannot be identified by order of the Court of Appeal, had pleaded not guilty to eight charges of indecently assaulting six patients in the north east of the country, on dates between 1964 and 1991.

He was found guilty by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of indecently assaulting two 15-year-old patients. The trial judge directed a not guilty verdict in respect of one complainant and the jury acquitted him on the remaining counts.

He was given two consecutive ….read more

(Pictured: Alan McNamara. Credit: Collins)

A Limerick biker jailed for murdering the founder of a rival club has moved to appeal his conviction on grounds that he was provoked.

Alan ‘Cookie’ McNamara (52), from Mountfune, Murroe, Co Limerick had pleaded not guilty to the murder of Andrew ‘AOD’ O’Donoghue at the gates of the Road Tramps motorcycle club at Mountfune, on June 20, 2015.

He was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment by Mr Justice Paul McDermott on October 27, 2017.

The Central Criminal Court heard that Mr O’Donoghue developed a love of bikes in the 1980s and ….read more