Latest news with #'sNewsin90Seconds
Sunday World
3 days ago
- Sunday World
Former GAA player finally pays compo for assault on reporter in Four Courts
Eddie Óg O'Reilly was convicted in 2023 after attack on journalist Ray Managh, who asked that the money be given to charity A former Cavan GAA footballer who assaulted a court reporter after demanding that he not report on his debt case has finally paid the compensation ordered by a judge over two years ago. Eddie Óg O'Reilly was convicted in 2023 of assaulting journalist Ray Managh, now aged 82, in the Four Courts in 2018. The case was delayed on a number of occasions for administrative reasons and after O'Reilly's legal team said their client could not deal with the stress and anxiety caused by the case. O'Reilly, who has US citizenship, went to work in America after the attack, but was arrested by Garda Mick McGrath, of the Bridewell garda station, in Dublin Airport in 2019 when he was returning to Ireland. O'Reilly, from Kilcogy, Co Cavan, pleaded not guilty to the attack. After he was found guilty, Judge John Hughes characterised O'Reilly's evidence that he was terrified for his life due to Mr Managh and news photographers chasing him through the streets of Dublin as 'delusional'. 'The reporting of civil and criminal cases goes back hundreds of years — it is a valuable function in society and needs to be protected,' Judge Hughes said. Court reporter Ray Managh was assaulted by Eddie Óg O'Reilly in 2018. Photo: Collins Courts O'Reilly was given a nine-month suspended sentence for the offence. He was ordered to pay a fine of €2,000 and attend an anger management course. The judge also ordered him to pay Mr Managh €3,000 in compensation, which the reporter requested be paid directly to the cancer research unit at Children's Health Ireland (CHI) at Crumlin. The assault took place after O'Reilly was in court trying to prevent the repossession of a €500,000 investment apartment that he and his brother Michael had got into arrears on. After that hearing, O'Reilly followed Mr Managh out of the court and badgered him not to report on the case. When told 'no', he shouldered the journalist, then 75, into a lift and violently pinned him against a wall until he could get his notebook. The notebook was taken and never returned. Mr Managh was able to write the story despite the assault. O'Reilly refused to apologise and took an appeal that was dropped on the eve of the appeal hearing last January. Mr Managh said he had recently been told by gardaí that the children's hospital had received the €3,000 compensation he was due from the case. 'I was beginning to worry that it would never be paid, so it's a relief that it's finally over,' Mr Managh said. It is understood the compensation money was paid earlier this year after O'Reilly withdrew his appeal. Eddie Óg O'Reilly. Photo: Collins Courts Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 21st
Sunday World
16-07-2025
- Sunday World
Graffiti artist who caused over €60k damage pepper-sprayed train driver when confronted
Judge Martin Nolan adjourned sentencing to later this week but warned 'I think he deserves a salutary lesson.' A GRAFFITI artist who caused more than €60,000 worth of damage to railway carriages and equipment pepper-sprayed a train driver in the face when he confronted him. Sean Cullen (22) assaulted the driver during a struggle when he was caught painting "tags" on trains at a DART depot, a court heard. He was also identified taking part in a series of similar spray-painting incidents that had 'heavy' financial consequences for Irish Rail. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned sentencing to later this week but warned 'I think he deserves a salutary lesson.' Cullen, an apprentice electrician of Hope Avenue, East Wall, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault and criminal damage. The court heard on September 25, 2021, a train driver was at Fairview DART depot when he spotted two people and recognised that they were not employees. One was Cullen and the driver approached and grabbed him. A physical altercation ensued and during the struggle, Cullen pepper-sprayed the driver to the left side of his face before the other man 'intervened'. The victim (51) suffered a swollen face and was in 'quite a lot of pain' when gardai arrived at the scene. Both perpetrators had fled at that stage and Cullen was identified on CCTV footage. His home was searched under warrant and gardai found spray cans and other items. Further damage was caused to a train at Dublin's docklands on February 21, 2020, when gardai were again able to identify Cullen from footage. The outside of the carriage was damaged with silver and black spray paint, while the inside was tagged with the letters SD, written by marker. The intensity of the tag's visibility "increased over time." On June 6, 2020, the word 'Akems' was sprayed on a signal equipment container at the DART tracks at Merrion Gates in south Dublin. Prosecutor Marc Thompson BL said the total damage Cullen was accountable for was €60,914, covering carriages that had to be taken out of commission, and resprayed. There was a potential further loss of €40,000 to the company for use of replacement vehicles but Cullen was not being held responsible for that. Mr Thompson said there was a 'certain similarity' with tags at other locations such as 'Akems' and 'SD' and some of these tags were done by other people. Cullen had one previous conviction for a similar criminal damage offence. Sean Cullen Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 16th Defence barrister Karl Monahan said it was a 'very unfortunate series of offences' with 'no real explanation' and serious consequences for Irish Rail. There was a lot of graffiti around in the area where Cullen grew up, and he 'became fascinated by it,' Mr Monahan said. He also became interested in a movement by street artists in New York in the 1970s spraying trains, and started doing this himself. 'He was shocked when he found out the costs associated with these acts,' Mr Monahan said. 'He never imagined it would be anything like that.' Judge Nolan said the accused had 'persistently' sprayed the carriages, 'causing a huge amount of inconvenience.' Mr Monahan said Cullen 'can't undo that' but he had €2,000 compensation in court and had written a letter of apology. He said he was 'deeply ashamed' of himself, had never intended to cause any harm and did not realise the scale of the damage. The case was adjourned to Friday.
Sunday World
09-07-2025
- Sunday World
Man dies and woman seriously injured after two-car crash in Co Westmeath
Gardaí and emergency services arrived at the scene of the crash on the N4 at Ballinalack which took place at approximately 4.20pm today A man has died and a woman has been seriously injured after a collision between two cars in Co Westmeath today. Gardaí and emergency services arrived at the scene of the crash on the N4 at Ballinalack which took place at approximately 4.20pm today. The male driver of one of the cars, aged in his 60s, was transported to Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar and was later pronounced deceased. The female driver of the second car, also aged in her 60s, was transported to Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore for treatment of serious injuries. "No other injuries were reported at the time," a garda spokesperson said. "The road is currently closed for a technical examination by forensic collision investigators, and local diversions are in place," they added. Gardaí are appealing to any witnesses to contact them. Any road users who may have camera footage, including dash-cam, and were travelling in the area between 3.30pm and 4.30pm this afternoon are asked to make this footage available to investigating gardaí. Anyone with information is asked to contact Mullingar Garda Station on (044) 938 4000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station. Stock image: PA Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 9th
Sunday World
03-05-2025
- Sunday World
Dublin fireman who stole goods worth €176 from Tesco was struggling to pay mortgage
Keith Gibbons broke his ankle and was on sick leave from work A firefighter who stole groceries was struggling to pay his mortgage after he broke his ankle and was on sick leave from work, a court heard. Keith Gibbons (38) also started taking sleeping pills as his mental health suffered following the injury and his absence from his job. Judge Stephanie Coggans ordered a probation report and adjourned sentencing to July. The defendant, of Mariners Avenue in Rush, admitted theft at Tesco, Holywell Link Road in Swords, on November 19 of last year and on December 4 last year. Tesco logo. Photo: PA Today's News in 90 Seconds - May 3rd He stole items worth a total of €176. The court heard the defendant had no previous convictions. Defence solicitor Ray Kavanagh said Gibbons co-operated fully with gardaí, and admitted the thefts. Mr Kavanagh said the defendant worked with Dublin Fire Brigade, but broke his ankle a number of months ago and had been off on sick leave. Gibbons's mental health suffered due to his injury and being off work, Mr Kavanagh said, and he was self-medicating with sleeping pills. Gibbons did not really remember the thefts, the solicitor added. The defendant was also struggling financially, as he was paying a mortgage, but was on reduced wages due to the injury he had sustained. Mr Kavanagh asked the judge to be lenient, asking her to leave Gibbons without a conviction, which would result in the defendant losing his job. Gibbons had turned a corner in recent times, he added, was attending Narcotics Anonymous, and was focused on staying fit and well.
