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Sunday World
2 days ago
- Sunday World
Garda (32) on trial for assault ‘spear tackled' teen to the ground, witness claims
STATEMENT DETAILS | Lorcan Murphy of Pearse Street Garda Station has pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault causing harm Garda Station. Photo: Getty Lorcan Murphy (32) of Pearse Street Garda Station has pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault causing harm under section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act, 1997. The assaults on the then 17-year-old are alleged to have taken place on Essex Street, Dublin 2 and Pearse Street Garda Station on June 1, 2021. A witness in the case, Darragh Fitzpatrick, told the trial yesterday that on the evening in question, he had just finished hurling training when he received a call from his friends who were in the Essex Street area. He cycled to the area and met with his friends. Mr Fitzpatrick told the jury that he was not drinking and was just chatting and socialising with his friends. Mr Fitzpatrick described seeing a group of young people drinking down a lane and, upon seeing them, he turned away and left the lane, telling the court, 'it wasn't my scene'. He also described seeing gardai in the area. John Gallagher BL, prosecuting, asked Mr Fitzpatrick if he had seen any interaction between the gardai and the complainant in this case, to which he replied: 'He seemed out of it, he didn't seem to know what was going on.' Mr Fitzpatrick also told the jury that he saw 'a bit of grabbing and handcuffs being placed on him [the complainant] and hearing something about a knife'. Mr Fitzpatrick told the jury that when he heard the word 'knife', he took a step back. He then told Mr Gallagher, prosecuting, that he saw one of the members of the gardai, identified as Mr Murphy, 'spear tackle' the complainant. Read more He described the complainant as going 'limp and lifeless'. He said: 'At the time, I was frozen. I was stuck to the spot, taking it all in. I was initially very shocked.' Under cross-examination from Justin McQuaid BL, defending, Mr Fitzpatrick confirmed there were a lot of people drinking in public and that pubs were closed due to COVID-19. The witness agreed that he saw a large group of young people, and that was so off-putting to him that he turned around. He further agreed that he was wary to the extent that he turned around. Mr McQuaid put it to Mr Fitzpatrick that when he heard the word 'knife', he had the benefit of retreating, to which the witness replied: 'I think I stood my ground.' Counsel responded: 'You said, I took a step back, I wrote that down', to which Mr Fitzpatrick said, 'I may have'. Another witness, Aileen Fitzmaurice, also gave evidence today/yesterday (FRI) that she had been in the area with Mr Fitzpatrick at the time of the alleged incident. Garda Station. Photo: Getty Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 19th She recalled there were quite a few teenagers in the area, and they were approached by two members of the gardai. She told the jury that she could not hear what was said between the gardai and the complainant but thought there was an 'aggressive demeanour'. Ms Fitzmaurice described that everything then happened quite quickly, and the complainant ended up face down on the ground. He was restrained by the gardai, and she then heard shouting 'where is the knife?' She said a garda van then arrived and additional gardai. Describing the gardaí taking the complainant off the ground, Ms Fitzmaurice said: 'It was like they flipped him in a sudden manner and bashed his head off the ground.' She described a loud sound, which was startling. Mr McQuaid asked Ms Fitzmaurice to confirm that she heard 'where is the knife' being repeatedly said, which she did. He put it to her that her friend Mr Fitzpatrick heard the word 'knife' being said before the complainant was arrested. Ms Fitzmaurice said that was not her recollection but she said it was four years ago and she 'cannot remember exactly the sequence of how it happened'. Eoghan Hickey also gave evidence that he was socialising with his friends Mr Fitzpatrick and Ms Fitzmaurice. Mr Hickey said he heard one of the gardai saying 'drop the knife' repeatedly. He also described the complainant as being 'limp' when he was brought to the garda van. Mr McQuaid told Mr Hickey that in his official statement, he said the complainant was 'pushed against the wall and gardai shouted where is the knife and then slammed him to the ground,' which Mr Hickey confirmed. Counsel said, 'It is perfectly clear that when they shouted, where is the knife the complainant was upright when you heard that', to which he replied, 'Yes'. Donal Grant, an investigator with Fiosrú, previously known as GSOC, gave evidence that this matter came to his attention after it was reported that the complainant in this case suffered a head injury as a result of his arrest. He said an investigation began, CCTV footage and witness statements were taken, and Mr Murphy was interviewed on two occasions. Mr Grant then created a report, which was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions, and they directed a prosecution. Two statements from Mr Murphy were read to the jury in which he outlined the events of June 1, 2021. Mr Murphy said that he went to assist his colleague, who was dealing with the complainant. Mr Murphy instructed the complainant to remove his hands from his pockets. He noted that the young male tensed up and was again asked to take his hands out of his pockets, to which he did not comply. Mr Murphy's statement said the complainant produced a glass bottle, and he did so in such a way that Mr Murphy believed he was at risk of being struck with the bottle. The bottle was then pushed out of the complainant's hand, and he was informed that he was being placed under arrest. The complainant was placed on the ground, and a fellow garda placed one handcuff on him. His second hand was under him, and he was resisting arrest, the court heard. Mr Murphy said he managed to take hold of his second hand, and he was handcuffed. The statement said that the complainant was spitting towards Mr Murphy and prisoner transport was requested. Mr Murphy stood up and took the complainant to his feet as well. He told the crowd that had gathered to 'get back,' but they did not do so. Mr Murphy said he felt unsafe both for his own personal safety and the safety of the arrested male. He said he had his hand on the complainant's back and he felt him shift his weight, and Mr Murphy successfully performed a 'leg sweep'. The side of the complainant's body and head made contact with the ground. Mr Murphy checked him visually and said that at no stage was he unconscious. He again requested prisoner transport and that a doctor be called to Pearse Street Garda Station. The trial continues before Judge Pauline Codd.
Sunday World
2 days ago
- Sunday World
Man who brought €50k of cannabis into Ireland to pay off drug debt is jailed
Gda McBrearty said cannabis valued at just under €50,000 was found in Kay's luggage. An English man who transported almost €50,000 of cannabis into Ireland to pay off a drug debt has been given a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence. Alexander Kay (26) initially told gardai he smoked cannabis and was bringing it home from Thailand as it was cheaper to buy there, but later admitted it was not for his own use. Kay of Jupiter Grove, Wigan, United Kingdom, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the importation of cannabis at Dublin Airport on November 21, 2024. He has no previous convictions. Stock image: Getty Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 19th Garda Noel McBrearty told Kieran Kelly BL, prosecuting, that customs officers found an anomaly in Kay's baggage as he was transiting through Dublin from Abu Dhabi, on his return from Thailand. Gda McBrearty said cannabis valued at just under €50,000 was found in Kay's luggage. Michael Hourican SC, defending, said the reality was that his client was bringing the drugs back to clear a drug debt. He asked the court to take into account his early guilty plea and co-operation in relation to his own role. He said he committed the offence at the behest of others to whom he owed money. He outlined Kay's personal circumstances and told the court he had been studying engineering at Salford University but took a study break to travel. He was also involved in sport to a significant extent, including a trial with a football club. Mr Hourican handed in several testimonials. Mr Hourican said his client had a good start in life but fell into recreational drug use and alcohol misuse against the backdrop of his parents' marriage breakup. He said Kay had been on a good path, but stumbled and suggested that when this case is dealt with, he will resume a positive path. Counsel said Kay has been using his time in custody well, but will serve his time away from home. Judge Martin Nolan set a headline sentence of five years but imposed a two-and-a-half-year sentence, noting there was substantial mitigation in the case.
Sunday World
3 days ago
- Sunday World
Man who rubbed chilli powder on colleague's face found not guilty of attempted murder
insanity verdict | He was found not guilty of attempted murder by reason of insanity. Stock image: Getty The Central Criminal Court trial of Jineesh John (43) heard that the defendant had developed a delusional belief that his former colleague had infected him with HIV by kissing him. There had never been any physical contact between Mr John and the woman, the court heard, but he had developed a preoccupation of which she was unaware. Mr Justice Paul McDermott today told the jury of seven men and five women that consultant forensic psychiatrists called by the prosecution and defence had agreed that Mr John fulfilled the criteria for the special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity under the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006. Stock image: Getty Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 18th Mr Justice McDermott told the jury that they must return verdicts in accordance with the evidence they heard. The jury took about 40 minutes to reach their verdicts. Mr Justice McDermott remanded Mr John to the Central Mental Hospital until July 28 when a psychiatrist will deliver a report regarding Mr John's ongoing treatment. The judge also told the injured party in the case that she had shown "extraordinary courage". In other circumstances she would have an opportunity to address the court about what happened, he said, but he wanted to acknowledge the courage she showed in dealing with the situation in which she found herself. The court heard that she managed to calm Mr John down by talking to him. Mr John, with an address at The Crescent Building, Park West, Dublin 12 had pleaded not guilty to attempted murder at a location in West Dublin on May 21, 2023. Read more Mr John also pleaded not guilty to making a threat to kill or cause the woman serious harm without lawful excuse, intending her to believe that the said threat would be carried out. He further pleaded not guilty to falsely imprisoning the woman by intentionally or recklessly detaining her without her consent. In addition, the defendant pleaded not guilty to producing a hammer on the same date, while committing or appearing to be about to commit an offence of false imprisonment. The jury found him not guilty by reason of insanity on all counts. Giving evidence in the two-day trial, Detective Garda Thomas Balfe told prosecutor Brendan Grehan SC that both the woman and the defendant worked in healthcare and they met in April or May 2021. On May 21, 2023 Mr John arranged to call to the woman's house to fill out a church form. He arrived at about 8.30pm and she got into the car, not suspecting anything. However, Mr John then started to drive before pulling up on a footpath beside an industrial estate. The detective said when the car was pulled over, Mr John told the woman to close her eyes as he wanted to give her a surprise. When she opened her eyes he was holding a hammer and rubbed a handful of hot chilli powder in her face, which stung her eyes and lips. When the woman tried to get out of the car she could see that the doors were sealed with black sticky tape. She thought Mr John was going to kill her and started preaching at him not to do so. The witness said Mr John kept saying: "I'm going to kill you, say your last prayer". He told her he had never killed before but he was going to kill her. Mr John told the woman that she had given him a sexually transmitted disease (STD) to which she replied that she had never slept with him. Mr John said he would only let her go on condition she said she gave him an STD. Mr John proceeded to record on his mobile phone the woman saying she gave him an STD in 2021 despite never kissing or having sexual contact with him. He made another video of the woman saying she gave him an STD through kissing. He then dropped her home. Det Gda Balfe said gardai later found a black-handled knife inside the driver's door of Mr John's car as well as a hatchet, a lump hammer and containers containing a chilli like substance. Black duct tape and adhesive taping were also seized from inside the passenger door as well as a Jerrycan containing petrol. Consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Stephen Monks, who was called by the defence, told Fiona Murphy SC that when he met Mr John in April and October 2024, Mr John remained 90 per cent convinced the victim deliberately infected him with HIV, despite medical evidence to the contrary. Numerous medical tests had shown Mr John to be negative for any sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. Dr Monks said Mr John is suffering from delusional disorder and depression, which are both mental illnesses. He said Mr John's actions were directly driven by delusional thinking in response to the psychotic belief that he had been harmed by the victim. He said Mr John met the three criteria for a mental disorder under the Criminal Law Insanity Act 2006; namely that he did not know the nature and quality of his act, that he did not know what he was doing was wrong and that he was unable to refrain from committing the act. Consultant psychiatrist Dr Ronan Mullaney, who was called by the prosecution, agreed with Dr Monks that Mr John was suffering from depression and a delusional disorder. Such was the nature and degree of disturbance and impairment of Mr John's mental function that he did not know that his actions were wrong and he was unable to refrain. Dr Mullaney said Mr John therefore fulfils the criteria for the special verdict.
Sunday World
3 days ago
- Sunday World
Mum allegedly caught with €30k of drugs in airport after holiday in Lanzarote
Caroline Davey, 53, of Raithín, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, appeared at Dublin District Court today, charged under the Misuse of Drugs Act. A Midlands mother was stopped coming through Dublin Airport with €30,000 worth of cannabis resin after enjoying a birthday party in Lanzarote, it has been alleged. Caroline Davey, 53, of Raithín, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, appeared at Dublin District Court today, charged under the Misuse of Drugs Act. She is accused of unlawful possession and importation of five kilos of the drug and of having it for sale or supply. Lanzarote. Photo: Stock image: Getty Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 18th Garda Thomas Burke told Judge Treasa Kelly the accused made no reply when charged, and he objected to her bail. He alleged she was caught 'red-handed' at just after 2am today, at customs in Terminal 1. He gave the value of the five kilos of cannabis resin and said it was 'in vacuum packs in a suitcase'. The garda agreed with defence solicitor, Kelly Breen, that her client, a mother of two, lived in the Midlands. Ms Breen submitted that the accused had significant ties, a home, a long-term partner and family here. Pleading for bail, she said Ms Davey also had health problems, for which she had a hospital appointment booked. Aside from that, the court heard she was on anti-anxiety medication. The judge also noted that gardai had seized her passport, and efforts were underway to contact her partner. The court heard she had been in Lanzarote for a birthday party and had travelled over and back for a number of years. Judge Kelly set her bail at €500 but required approval of a €2,000 independent before she could be freed on conditions: sign on three days a week at her local garda station, not apply for a new passport, provide a phone number and be available for contact 24 hours a day. The accused, who has yet to enter a plea, was remanded in consent to these terms and will appear again next Friday. Legal aid was granted after the court heard she was not working and had applied for social welfare.
Sunday World
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sunday World
Sinead O'Connor's dad ‘still misses her' and visits her grave every week
Seán O'Connor said he cried for two straight weeks following the death of his daughter. Sinéad O'Connor's father Seán has opened up the impact of his daughter's passing nearly two years on from the Irish singer's death in July 2023. The 87-year-old revealed he cried for two weeks after the death of the Nothing Compares 2 U singer and continues to visit her grave every week. The Dublin woman passed away of natural causes on July 26 that year at her home in south London. "When Sinéad passed, I cried my eyes out for a fortnight. I still miss her," Seán O'Connor told Oliver Callan on RTÉ Radio 1. "Of course it's a comfort (the outpouring of grief by the public), but Sinéad had two personas. "One was in the public arena and the other was with her family and I saw her funeral as being lovely for her fans. Sinéad O'Connor. Photo: Getty Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 17th "At a personal level, I've never had publicity in respect of Sinéad and it made it all the more hurtful for all of us when she died. "I visit her grave every week... and we have a conversation and I bring her up to date." Seán continued by discussing how fame was 'cruel' to his daughter, and that the two would argue but generally got on 'very well' – with the pair even going on a trip together just months before her death. "Sinéad could be outrageous in the public world and she could be outrageous in the family, she could be cranky. In the end I always had compassion for her, she was always on the edge. "We got on very well, most of the time, sometimes she'd fall out with me." It's a very great help for me to know that in January, two years ago, we were on the phone and we agreed we'd go to Wexford for a three-night holiday. We did. Together. It was the greatest bit of gas. 'We went out to the hotel. We went in to check into two rooms, myself and Sinéad, and we went off for a drive and we came back. I had been upgraded. I had a suite with chocolates, a bunch of flowers. 'Jesus, you couldn't go anywhere with Sinéad, but someone would come over in the back of beyond in Wexford, 'oh Sinead, how are you, I love that song of yours'. "So we had that and we'd arranged to go away again in April, but when April came she said she'd go to England instead and I didn't see her again, other than when she came home from England [after her death]. 'So it was a sad time, the strength of the family around then helped me and I'm beginning to deal with it now.' Thousands of mourners attended the much-loved singer's funeral in Bray and she was subsequently laid to rest in Deansgrange Cemetery.
