Gardaí arrest woman (40s) as part of Stephen O'Meara murder investigation
Gardaí have arrested a woman as part of the investigation into the murder of Stephen O'Meara in Ballydonnell Woods, Redcross, Co. Wicklow in August 2009.
The woman, aged in her 40s, was arrested this afternoon on suspicion of murder and is currently detained pursuant to Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007 at a Garda Station in County Wexford.
Two men have been convicted for offences relating to this murder, but gardaí issued a fresh appeal in 2023 as they believed there may have been others involved in his killing.
In 2012, Michael Dickenson of Darragh Park, Wicklow town, was jailed for life after being convicted of Stephen's murder. In 2013, Clement Byrne of Clonattin Village, Gorey, Co Wexford was sentenced to eight-years imprisonment for his role in Stephen's death.
Gardaí report that on August 6, 2009, at approximately 6pm, Stephen left his home at Rose Hill, Wicklow town, and walked down through different walkways along the back of the town to Marlton road, where he was collected by a silver Nissan Pulsar car and driven through Redcross to Ballydonnell Wood.
At the woods, gardaí believe there was a group of suspects present. Stephen was then fatally injured, shot and buried in a shallow grave at the woods.
On August 8, 2009, Stephen was reported missing to gardaí by his partner.
Gardaí began a missing person investigation, later upgraded to murder, which resulted in the two individuals being convicted for offences relating to the murder.
Gardaí have continued their investigation since.
In 2023, Crimecall interviewed Stephen's parents John and Veronica who appealed for the public to assist with the garda investigation into their son's death and to help them find closure.
Gardaí at the time said they would like to thank Stephen's parents for the strength that they have shown.
The late Stephen O'Meara
Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 15th 2025
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
23 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Boy told gardai he could hear friend screaming as star hurler Niall Gilligan hit him with a stick, court hears
A BOY told gardai that he could hear his 12-year old friend screaming as former All-Star and Clare All-Ireland winning hurler Niall Gilligan hit him with a stick, a court has heard. In a videoed interview with specialist The boy said his father later showed him a photo of Niall Gilligan and the boy confirmed that the man who attacked his friend was the accused. Mr Gilligan, 48, of Rossroe, Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge, The two 12-year-olds had been exploring an abandoned Jamaica Inn hostel after 5pm on October 5. Mr Gilligan owned the Jamaica Inn hostel at the time and the jury has been told that in the days leading up to October 5, it had been broken into and vandalised. Read more in News In the video interview carried out on November 11 2023, the 12-year-old witness said that as the two boys left the building and came around a corner, they saw 'a tall, kind of strong looking' man holding a stick and they both ran. He said that his friend slipped 'and he just started attacking him with the bat'. The boy said: "I thought he was getting back up but then I just heard the screams out of him, getting attacked by the man and a bat hitting off of him and then I ran around the corner into this industrial estate and I hid." Asked how he felt by the specialist Garda interviewer, the boy said 'terrified' and added 'but I just got out of there as fast as I could, all I could think was 'get out of there' and I did'. Most read in Irish News The boy described the man as 'fit looking like, gingerly brown kinda hair'. He said: 'I seen him playing hurling with I was younger and he played for the Bridge and Clare.' 'I HEARD HIM SCREAMING' The boy told gardai Mr Gilligan is an auctioneer in Sixmilebridge. Asked about his friend's screaming, the boy said: 'I heard him shouting, like I heard him screaming like telling him to stop. My friend telling him to f*** off and to leave him alone, that was about it'. The boy hid in a nearby industrial estate and he said that felt relatively safe 'but I was still very scared that somehow he could have seen me'. A short time later, the boy said that he saw his friend come around the corner 'and he was limping like he was holding his arm, holding his hand, holding the wrist he broke and it was all swelling up'. 'VERY, VERY SCARED' The boy said that his friend was 'looking in pain, he had lots of mud all over him'. The boy told gardai that his friend 'was very shaky, obviously he felt very, very scared and in a lot of pain'. He said: 'I was just supporting him to walk up, just like holding him up… I put my arm around his back so I could support him so he could have one of his legs off the ground so it would be easier for him to walk." The boy said that his friend "said 'it just hurts everywhere' is all he said'. The boy said that his friend told him 'go home because if he sees you, he is going to get you as well'. The cross examination of the boy on his direct video evidence is taking place before a jury of seven men and five women and continues. 1 Former Clare hurler Niall Gilligan at Ennis Circuit Court
The Irish Sun
23 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Teen tells court he ‘heard sound of wood smacking off pal after he saw hurling ace Niall Gilligan go to hit him'
A TEENAGER told a court all he could hear was the sound of wood smacking off his then 12-year-old friend after he saw former All-Star and Clare All-Ireland winning hurler Niall Gilligan go to hit him. At Ennis Circuit Court today, the teenager said that a 'horrible thing happened to my friend' when recalling the alleged assault of his then 12-year-old friend on October 5 2023 at the Jamaica Inn hostel in Sixmilebridge. Mr Gilligan, 48, of Rossroe, Kilmurry, Sixmilebridge denies the assault causing harm with a stick of the boy at the Jamaica Inn hostel, Sixmilebridge on October 5 2023. The two 12-year-old boys had been exploring the abandoned Jamaica Inn hostel after 5pm on October 5. Mr Gilligan owned the Jamaica Inn hostel at the time and the jury has been told that in the days leading up to October 5, it had been broken into and vandalised. Under cross examination via video link from a room at Ennis courthouse on Thursday afternoon, the now teenager said that in his interview with Gardai in November 2023 he said that he saw Niall Gilligan hit his friend. Read more in News At the trial on Thursday the teenager said that he didn't see Mr Gilligan hit his friend. He said: 'I saw him go to hit him, I misphrased that. All I could hear was the sound of wood smacking off my friend.' He said: 'I said I saw him go to hit him - I didn't see him hit him.' The teenager said that his friend was 'tiny' at the time when he was attacked. Most read in Irish News The teenage witness told counsel for Mr Gilligan, Patrick Whyms BL, instructed by solicitor, Daragh Hassett, that as his friend slipped as they were running away from Mr Gilligan, 'I saw Niall coming at him with the stick about to swing at him'. He said: 'We were both running away and he attacked my friend when we were both running in the opposite direction to him.' The teenager disagreed with Mr Gilligan's version of events that the altercation with his friend took place inside the building. In his November 2023 video evidence with a Garda specialist interviewer played earlier to the jury on Thursday the now teenager said his father later showed him a photo of Niall Gilligan later that evening on October 5 and the boy confirmed that the man who attacked his friend was the accused. In the video interview carried out on November 11 2023, the witness said that as the two boys left the building and came around a corner, they saw 'a tall, kind of strong looking' man holding a stick and they both ran. Asked how he felt by the specialist Garda interviewer, the boy said 'terrified' and added 'but I just got out of there as fast as I could, all I could think was 'get out of there' and I did'. The boy described the man as 'fit looking like, gingerly brown kinda hair'. He said: 'I seen him playing hurling when I was younger and he played for the Bridge and Clare.' The boy told Gardai Mr Gilligan is an auctioneer in Sixmilebridge. Asked about his friend's screaming, the boy said: 'I heard him shouting, like I heard him screaming like telling him to stop. My friend telling him to f*** off and to leave him alone, that was about it'. The boy hid in a nearby industrial estate and he said that felt relatively safe 'but I was still very scared that somehow he could have seen me'. A short time later, the boy said that he saw his friend come around the corner 'and he was limping like he was holding his arm, holding his hand, holding the wrist he broke and it was all swelling up'. The boy said that his friend was 'looking in pain, he had lots of mud all over him'. The boy told Gardai that his friend 'was very shaky, obviously he felt very, very scared and in a lot of pain'. He said: 'I was just supporting him to walk up, just like holding him up…I put my arm around his back so I could support him so he could have one of his legs off the ground so it would be easier for him to walk." The boy said that his friend "said 'it just hurts everywhere' is all he said'. The boy said that his friend told him 'go home because if he sees you, he is going to get you as well'. The jury also heard from witness for the State, Linda Quinn from Sixmilebridge who runs the local GAA club shop. She said on her way into the club on the evening of October 5, she noticed a child near the gate and that something did not look right. She told the court: 'I just said are you okay, he said no.' She went on to say how the boy asked her if she thought his hand was broken. 'It was very swollen'. He then showed her a 'big gash' on his leg and asked her opinion. When Ms Quinn asked him what happened, he told her he had fallen off his bike. He went on to ask her to look at his arm, where there was another deep gash. Ms Quinn told him he might need to get stitches. At this, the child got upset and Ms Quinn offered to give him a lift home. Shortly afterwards, they arrived at his house, and after speaking to the boy's aunt, Ms. Quinn returned to work. The trial continues on Friday before a jury of seven men and five women. 1 Former Clare hurler Niall Gilligan at Ennis Circuit Court
Sunday World
43 minutes ago
- Sunday World
Dad-of-five crashed car into mum and daughter and assaulted Garda in rampage
Owen Orr, who has 31 previous convictions, punched a fellow motorist in the face, assaulted a Garda, damaged his motorbike and crashed his car into a mother and daughter A man who was described as having a very high IQ but who is a 'Jekyll and Hyde' character after drinking alcohol has appeared in court after going on a rampage in Co Donegal. Owen Orr committed a series of offences on St Valentine's Day in 2019 leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. The father-of-five punched a fellow motorist in the face, assaulted a Garda, damaged his motorbike and crashed his car into a mother and daughter. Orr, who has 31 previous convictions, appeared at Letterkenny Circuit Court where he pleaded guilty to a range of offences which all occurred on the same evening. The 32-year-old is charged that, at Cullion Road, Letterkenny, he assaulted Garda Michael Kilcoyne, a peace officer, acting in the course of his duty. The charge is contrary to Section 19 (3) of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994, as amended by Section 185 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006. Owen Orr at Letterkenny Circuit Court. Photo: North West Newspix Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 17th He is also charged that he did without lawful excuse damage property, to wit, a Garda Honda motorcycle, belonging to the Chief Superintendent, An Garda Siochana. The charge is contrary to Section 2 (1) of the Criminal Damage Act, 1991. Orr is charged with the unlawful interference with a mechanically propelled vehicle, the property of Charles Bonner, while such vehicle was stationary at Manorcunningham by removing the key from the ignition. The charge is contrary to Section 113 or the Road Traffic Act, 1961, as amended by Section 6 of the Road Traffic Act, 1968 and Section 18 of the Road Traffic Act, 2006. He is also charged with dangerous driving on the N13 on February 14th, 2019 He is further charged that, at Dromore, Letterkenny, on February 14, 2019, that he did without lawful excuse damage property, to wit, a Toyota Corolla belonging to Kathleen Birch intending to damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be damaged. The charge is contrary to Section 2 (1) of the Criminal Damage Act, 1991. He is also charged with failing to report an accident when injury was caused to property or a person at Dromore Lower on February 14th, 2019 being the driver of a vehicle involved in the accident. Owen Orr at Letterkenny Circuit Court. Photo: North West Newspix Other charges were also taken into account by the court. Prosecutor for the State, Ms Fiona Crawford, BL, along with Garda Daire Sheridan outlined the series of events on the day which led to Orr's arrest. He told how another motorist, Charles Bonner, was driving on the dual carriageway into Letterkenny when he saw another car overtaking a series of other vehicles before pulling in front of him. Mr Bonner flashed his lights at the car but the other driver, now known to be Owen Orr, slammed on his brakes forcing the other driver to brake. Mr Bonner stopped and the driver of the other car came over, punched him in the nose, pulled the keys out of his jeep and then threw them into a hedge and drove off with the entire incident being captured on dashcam. At Dromore Lower, some kilometres down the road, Mrs Kathleen Birch and her daughter were traveling towards Letterkenny down Lurgybrack when a car pulled out and smashed into them. Mrs Birch suffered pain in her back and legs and feared her car was going to go on fire as other motorists came to her aid. The driver of the other car fled on foot but left his wallet with bank cards and identification at the scene. Garda motorcyclist Michael Kilcoyne arrived at the scene of the accident and went in search of the driver of the other car and found Owen Orr walking at nearby Cullion Road. He addressed Orr who became aggressive and assaulted the Garda by grabbing him by the neck causing his motorbike to fall to the ground. A scuffle broke out and Orr lashed out at the arresting officer by kicking him before he was taken to Letterkenny Garda Station for questioning. While in the station, Orr refused to give either a blood or urine sample to a registered nurse. The accused man was interviewed four days later when sober and the court was told he was very apologetic about the incident. Barrister for Orr, Mr Ciaran Elders, BL, directed by solicitor Frank Dorrian, said his client was very cooperative during the second interview describing him as a 'Jekyll and Hyde' character when he had alcohol taken. He added that he finds himself in a better place today and has been sober since 2023 after two periods in rehabilitation apart from a small lapse. The accused man had a total of €2,000 in compensation to offer including a sum to replace the €500 key for Mr Bonner's jeep, another €750 for the damage to his glasses and €750 to be given to a charity of Garda Kilcoyne's choice. A further €500 was also available to Mrs Birch while the court was also told that civil proceedings are also ongoing arising from the collision. Mr Elders added that his client was now trying to put his life back together and was a man with a high IQ with five children, the oldest of which were also academically gifted and wanted to attend college. Judge Roderick Maguire addressed the accused and asked him how his family were now keeping and how his life was now that he is trying to remain sober. Orr said that he was attending AA meetings four times a week. The reason the case has taken so long to come before the court was that Orr was involved in a very serious car accident during Covid lockdown and was seriously injured, the court was told. Mr Elders suggested to Judge Maguire that if he was considering a custodial sentence that perhaps he would consider suspending the sentence for a long period so his client could be encouraged not to engage in negative behaviour again. He added that now that it appears that Orr has been rehabilitated and has also come a long way since this incident in 2019, he was not sure how a custodial sentence could benefit Orr or society at large. He said Orr was available to undertake community service and ended by asking the court to be as lenient as possible. Judge Maguire said he will deliver his final sentence next week.
