A man accused of assaulting and falsely imprisoning a businessman in a Co Louth farmhouse before demanding €50,000 from him has been denied bail by the Special Criminal Court.

Anthony Finglas (49), of Havelock Place, Warrenpoint, Co Down, is accused of assault causing harm, false imprisonment, robbery and demanding money with menaces of Edward McAndrew at One Ferry Hill, Cornamucklash, Omeath, Co Louth on or about 2 December, 2017.

Two co-accused, Thomas McGuinness (33), of Chestnut Court, Johnstown, Navan, Co Meath, and William Twomey (56), also from Havelock Place have already been granted bail in the case.

Detective Sergeant Padraig Boyce, responding to ….read more

A man has appeared before the Special Criminal Court charged with multiple offences under the Money Laundering and Terrorist Finance Act.

Sean Ruth (31), of Blacktrench, Rathangan, Co Kildare, appeared before the non-jury court this morning charged with eight offences under the act. The alleged offences all occurred within the State between 1 January, 2016, and 31 December, 2016, inclusive.

Detective Garda Paul Kane told State Solicitor Ciara Vibien that he had executed a warrant for Mr Ruth, who is accused of making four lodgements into an AIB account and four into an account at St Canice’s Credit Union, Kilkenny, with the ….read more

Large sums of money were made available to murder people and those involved in the Kinahan cartel were paid €20,000 for “setting people up for a hit”, the Special Criminal Court was told today.

The non-jury court also heard that audio surveillance of a conversation between a woman and one of the suspects involved in a plot to murder Patrick ‘Patsy’ Hutch picked up references to “they have so much money, they could buy half the Hutch lads” and “they’re getting €20,000 and all for setting somebody up, used to get that for doing the hit”.

During today’s sentence ….read more

The Kinahan crime organisation carries out “execution-style murders” and trafficks drugs and firearms “on an international scale”, the Special Criminal Court has found.

Mr Justice Tony Hunt today said the non-jury court accepted garda evidence on the organisation and structure of the cartel as he jailed a “foot soldier” for seven-and-a-half years for helping to plan the murder of Patrick “Patsy” Hutch.

Sentencing Mark Capper at the non-jury court today, Mr Justice Hunt said the defendant “knew well” what was contemplated by his associates and he had a “shrewd appreciation” of the detail and methodology to be used in the ….read more

A man who was given a three-year suspended sentence for his role in a “mob” that falsely imprisoned a man and his family has had it reactivated after he was convicted of assaulting and threatening to shoot his sister and her husband.

Earlier this month, Christopher Maguire (42) with an address at Moatview Close, Priorswood, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to production of an article, assault and making threats to kill or cause serious harm at Killester Avenue, Killester, on May 10, 2019.

Maguire also pleaded guilty to two counts of intimidating a witness at Harry Byrne’s public house, ….read more

A detective has told the Special Criminal Court that he was on first-name terms with a man accused of possessing a loaded gun and that the accused had even nicknamed him after a TV Garda character.

Paul Norton (31) from Cromcastle Court, Coolock, Dublin 17, has pleaded not guilty to the unlawful possession of a Beretta handgun and 31 rounds of 9mm ammunition at the Stardust Memorial Park in Coolock, Dublin on October 5th, 2019.

In the absence of DNA evidence, the trial has heard that the State’s case was one of recognition and it is alleged that Mr Norton, while ….read more

A forensic science lab contaminated samples sent as part of the investigation into a man accused of having a loaded handgun and ammunition, the Special Criminal Court heard today.

Paul Norton (31) from Cromcastle Court, Coolock, Dublin 17, has pleaded not guilty to the unlawful possession of a Beretta handgun and 31 rounds of 9mm ammunition at the Stardust Memorial Park in Coolock, Dublin on October 5th, 2019.

In the absence of DNA evidence, the trial has heard that the State’s case was one of recognition and it is alleged that Mr Norton, while being chased, dropped a bag which contained a ….read more

The book of evidence has been served on three men accused of attacking, falsely imprisoning and demanding €50,000 from another man in a Co Louth farmhouse.

The three men, who will all now face trial, appeared at the non-jury Special Criminal Court this afternoon

Thomas McGuinness (33), of Chestnut Court, Johnstown, Navan, Co Meath; William Twomey (56), from Havelock Place, Warrenpoint, Co Down, and Anthony Finglas (49), also of Havelock Place, are charged with falsely imprisoning Edward McAndrew by detaining him without his consent at One Ferry Hill, Cornamucklagh, Omeath, Co Louth, on or about 2 December, 2017.

They are also charged ….read more

A court has heard details of a high-speed chase by gardaí of a man who allegedly dropped a loaded handgun and ammunition in a public park.

The Special Criminal Court is hearing the trial of Paul Norton (31) from Cromcastle Court, Coolock, Dublin 17, who has pleaded not guilty to the unlawful possession of a Beretta handgun and 31 rounds of 9mm ammunition at the Stardust Memorial Park in Coolock, Dublin on October 5th, 2019.

The non-jury court heard from Detective Garda Jason Flynn, of Coolock Garda Station, who said he identified Mr Norton on the night and that during his chase ….read more

A man dropped a bag containing a loaded handgun and ammunition as he was chased by gardai through the Stardust Memorial Park, the Special Criminal Court will hear.

Paul Norton (31) from Cromcastle Court, Coolock, Dublin 17, has pleaded not guilty to the unlawful possession of a Beretta handgun and 31 rounds of 9mm ammunition at the Stardust Memorial Park in Coolock, Dublin on October 5th, 2019.

Mr John Byrne JC, prosecuting, told the court that the State’s case was one of recognition and the court would hear evidence that Mr Norton dropped a bag while being pursued by gardaí through the ….read more