Courts News Ireland
Irish businessman Ronnie Delany Jnr has brought a damages claim against the owners of some of London’s top luxury hotels as well as two senior members of the Qatari Royal family over the contents of letters he alleges have wrongfully damaged his reputation.
The action relates to letters allegedly published to individuals in Ireland, including businessman Paddy McKillen, and published elsewhere on April 13 last. Mr Delany’s action is against the Maybourne Hotels Ltd, which owns and operates The Berkely, Claridge’s and The Connaught hotels in London, and the group’s Chief Executive Officer Mr Marc Socker.
The action is also against his ….read more
by Peter Murtagh
A boy who orally raped and sexually assaulted a teenage girl in a public park has been remanded to Oberstown detention centre ahead of his 18th birthday.
In the Central Criminal Court today, Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring said that the appropriate sentence for the boy was three-and-a-half years in detention.
However, because the 17-year-old is due to turn 18 in a matter of days and cannot be detained in Oberstown as an adult, the judge adjourned the case for finalisation on June 15. She said it would be up to the State and the authorities at Oberstown as to ….read more
The Supreme Court has dismissed an armed robber’s appeal against the conviction he received after shooting two workers during a raid on a restaurant.
Joseph Behan (46), last of Edenmore Park, Raheny, Co Dublin was jailed for 15 years after he was convicted by a jury at the Circuit Criminal Court of robbery, attempted robbery, assault causing serious harm, assault causing harm, possession of a firearm and reckless discharging of the firearm at Mizzoni’s Pizza, Edenmore Shopping Centre, Raheny, shortly after midnight on January 1, 2019.
During the attempted robbery, where Behan demanded money, a bottle of champagne was thrown ….read more
A man spontaneously attacked an acquaintance causing a traumatic brain injury after the “red mist” descended when he found out his cousin had been earlier assaulted, a court has heard.
Jamie Heffernan (22) had been captured on CCTV chatting in the early hours with the victim, Aaron Murdiff, when another man approaches and the “atmosphere changes”. Gardai believe Heffernan was informed that Mr Murdiff had assaulted his cousin at a house party earlier that night.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that Heffernan struck Mr Murdiff, causing him to fall to the ground, before launching three separate assaults on him during the course ….read more
(Pictured: Mr David Morrissey. Photo: Collins)
By Peter Murtagh
The jury in the case of a truck driver accused of causing the death of a cyclist has been sent home for the night.
The jury deliberated for two hours and 33 minutes in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial before Judge Elma Sheahan sent them home for the night shortly after 4pm today.
David Morrissey (29), of Glendale Meadow, Leixlip, Co Kildare, has pleaded not guilty to driving without due care and attention, thereby causing the death of 19-year-old cyclist Harry Boland from Leeson Park in Donnybrook, Dublin, at the junction of Greenfield Park ….read more
By Peter Murtagh and Sonya McLean
A man who began indecently assaulting and raping his five sisters when he was aged ten has been jailed for 11 years.
The now 50-year-old man had pleaded not guilty to 27 charges involving rape, indecent assault and sexual assault of his five sisters on dates between 1982 and 2001.
The man was convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury last February on 25 out of 27 charges against him, including eight rape charges, five indecent assault and 12 sexual assault offences.
Four of the five women wanted their brother to be identified in reporting of the case ….read more