Latest news with #MullingarDistrictCourt
Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Irish Independent
Teenager due in court in Westmeath after string of cars targeted in multiple criminal damage episode
The suspect, who is in his late teens, was arrested by gardaí yesterday following a string of incidents that took place in Kinnegad over the course of Monday night and into the early hours of Tuesday morning. It's understood gardaí are also investigating attempts were made to break-in to a number of the cars which were targeted with inquiries ongoing into a vehicle which was the subject of an unauthorised taking episode. The Irish Independent understands gardaí were able to make significant headway with an investigation that kicked into action shortly after the alarm was raised. Those efforts saw gardaí quickly establish a definite line of inquiry which resulted in the man's arrest. He was subsequently questioned by detectives and later charged ahead of an anticipated court appearance in Mullingar this morning. 'Gardaí investigating a number of incidents of criminal damage that occurred in Kinnegad, Co. Westmeath on Monday night (July 21) and the early hours of Tuesday (July 22) arrested a male in connection with this investigation,' a garda spokesperson confirmed. 'The man, aged in his late teens, was detained at a Garda station in Westmeath under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. 'He has since been charged and is due to appear before Mullingar District Court on Thursday morning, July 24 2025.'
Irish Independent
5 days ago
- Irish Independent
Teenager due in court after string of cars targeted in multiple criminal damage episode in midlands town
The suspect, who is in his late teens, was arrested by gardaí yesterday following a string of incidents that took place in Kinnegad over the course of Monday night and into the early hours of Tuesday morning. It's understood gardaí are also investigating attempts were made to break-in to a number of the cars which were targeted with inquiries ongoing into a vehicle which was the subject of an unauthorised taking episode. The Irish Independent understands gardaí were able to make significant headway with an investigation that kicked into action shortly after the alarm was raised. Those efforts saw gardaí quickly establish a definite line of inquiry which resulted in the man's arrest. He was subsequently questioned by detectives and later charged ahead of an anticipated court appearance in Mullingar this morning. 'Gardaí investigating a number of incidents of criminal damage that occurred in Kinnegad, Co. Westmeath on Monday night (July 21) and the early hours of Tuesday (July 22) arrested a male in connection with this investigation,' a garda spokesperson confirmed. 'The man, aged in his late teens, was detained at a Garda station in Westmeath under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. 'He has since been charged and is due to appear before Mullingar District Court on Thursday morning, July 24 2025.'
RTÉ News
17-07-2025
- RTÉ News
Former AGSI head 'felt helpless' after online harassment, court hears
Former General Secretary of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors Antoinette Cunningham has said that "blatantly false and vile" material posted about her online has had a profoundly negative impact on her and her family. In a victim impact statement at Mullingar District Court today, Ms Cunningham said the messages, which were posted publicly and sent privately on the social media platform Twitter, now known as X, left her feeling helpless and powerless. 38-year-old Andrew McGovern, of School Lane, Rathowen, Co Westmeath previously pleaded guilty to harassing Ms Cunningham under Section 4 (1) and (3) of the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020. Ms Cunningham, was general secretary of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) when the offences happened over a two-week period in March 2023. Detective Sergeant Alan Farrell from the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation told Mullingar District Court today that the first set of direct messages were sent privately and were ignored by Ms Cunningham. He said Ms Cunningham later learned of posts on Mr McGovern's Twitter account about her that were openly accessible containing unfounded claims and allegations being "all swept under the carpet" and his life being ruined. Detective Farrell said there was no truth in the content. At sentencing today, Judge Bernadette Owens heard that while the probation report had been received, Mr McGovern's solicitor John Quinn requested more time to discuss to it with his client. Judge Owens adjourned the case until 4 September for sentencing. Victim Impact Statement In a hard hitting victim impact statement, Antoinette Cunningham said the "lies, falsehoods and character destruction" posted online had a profoundly negative effect on her and her family. "The emotional impact of this crime on me was difficult, I still don't understand why a stranger decided to target me in this way" she said. "I felt a total violation of my privacy, my character, my integrity, and my sense of personal well-being and peace of mind was fractured as a result of what happened." Ms Cunningham outlined that she became aware of the allegations posted on a social media platform in March 2023. She said she tried to have the material removed but was advised by the social media platform that the material did not, in their view, 'violate their rules'." Ms Cunningham said "this added enormously to the upset and vulnerability" she felt. "I felt helpless to defend myself or to receive the expected support from the social media platform, there was a personal vilification of me going on, and I was powerless, at that point, to do anything about it." Ms Cunningham told the court that at the time of the incident, she held the position of general secretary of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, a job which carries a significant public profile and role. She spoke of how difficult it was, in such a busy and demanding job, "to present a façade of normality at work while at the same time trying to deal with this matter". Ms Cunningham said until today, she has remained a relatively voiceless victim of this crime, to fully respect the investigation and judicial process and she hopes by speaking out, she can encourage others to come forward. "Online harassment can happen to anyone, in any walk of life and this case, sadly, is a demonstration of the very toxic side of social media, that came into my everyday life and turned, what was a normal evening at home, into a process that is only ending now" The former AGSI General Secretary criticised the social media platform X saying she finds it "deeply upsetting that something that is a criminal offence in this country is not accepted as a breach of social media rules here". "I have chosen now, to speak to the court about this matter, to convey my sense of frustration at having to publicly expose myself again as I feel I have no other real choice," Ms Cunningham added. "To stay silent, I would be doing a disservice to myself but especially to my family and allowing behaviour like this to go unchallenged." "I genuinely feel it is my civic duty to speak up and voice how this has affected me, so that others may feel empowered to address similar situations and take action for their own safety and wellbeing" she said. Ms Cunningham also paid tribute to the gardaí involved in the investigation.
Sunday World
01-07-2025
- Sunday World
Man and woman to stand trial accused of nine year money laundering scam
Aleksandr Volobujev and Jurgita Diliute appeared at a sitting of Mullingar District Court A man accused of laundering almost €50,000 is to stand trial next month together with a female co-accused involving two financial institutions in a midlands town. Aleksandr Volobujev (42) and Jurgita Diliute (38) both of The Jetty, Market Point, Mullingar, Westmeath, appeared at a sitting of Mullingar District Court where they were served with books of evidence. Aleksandr Volobujev and Jurgita Diliute Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 1st Volobujev was served with a book containing four charges between January 1, 2014 and November 21, 2023, three of which allegedly took place at Permanent TSB and Bank of Ireland, Oliver Plunkett Street, Mullingar. The fourth charge, meanwhile, alleged Volobujev did engage in converting, transferring, handling, acquiring, possessing or using the proceeds of criminal conduct amounting to just over €49,000 at his home address on November 21, 2023. Jurgita Diliute stands accused of two counts of money laundering. His co-accused was handed a book of evidence comprising two charges in which accounts in her name were allegedly credited at both aforementioned banks on various dates between January 1, 2014 and November 21, 2023. Sgt Sheila Kenny gave evidence of having served the pair with their respective books of evidence prior to the commencement of court proceedings. Judge Peter White was informed by Sgt Orla Keenan of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) consent to send the duo forward to the next sittings of Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court. Aleksandr Volobujev is facing four money laundering charges. Judge White gave the duo what's known as the alibi warning, advising them of their obligations to notify the State of any alibi evidence they wished to rely on during the course of their trial. Defence barrister Andrea Callan, in addressing the court firstly in terms of Diliute, applied for legal aid and the assigning of a junior counsel. Judge White affirmed that request with Ms Callan indicating any similar such application for Volobujev was, for the moment, being reserved. The pair were consequently remanded on bail to appear back at a sitting of Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court on July 10.
Sunday World
08-06-2025
- Sunday World
Man allegedly told neighbour he was ‘going to kill him' after row over tree
John Joe Bartley (54) Ranaghan, Castlepollard, Westmeath appeared at a sitting of Mullingar District Court A father of four and his wife were left 'extremely shaken' when their neighbour allegedly told him to ring for an ambulance 'because he was going to kill him' following a heated row over a fallen tree in the wake of Storm Eowyn. John Joe Bartley (54) Ranaghan, Castlepollard, Westmeath appeared at a sitting of Mullingar District Court charged with trespassing and causing €300 worth of damage when he was accused of throwing stones at the window of his victim's home. The court was told how the incident had stemmed from Bartley's attempts to cut a tree that had fallen outside the home of his neighbour on January 31 this year. John Joe Bartley allegedly told his neighbour to phone an ambulance because "he was going to kill him" when the man informed him he was going to contact gardaí, a court has heard. Sgt Sheila Kenny said it will be the State's case that the accused began shouting obscenities when noticing the injured party looking out from his front porch. When the man informed Bartley of his intention to contact gardaí, Judge Bernadette Owens was told it will be alleged the accused advised him on two separate occasions to 'ring an ambulance because he was going to kill him'. Sgt Kenny said the State will also contend how moments later, Bartley attempted to gain entry to his neighbour's home only to find its doors had been locked by the man. Having failed in those attempts, Sgt Kenny said it will be further alleged that Bartley then picked up stones from the ground and began throwing them at a window, causing chips to its glass. The incident, it was alleged, came to a close when Bartley shouted in the direction of the man for a second time before getting behind the wheel of his van and leaving. Sgt Kenny said the man and his wife had been left 'extremely shaken' by the incident with 'upset' also being caused to the couple's four young children who were inside the house at the time. John Joe Bartley outside Mullingar Courthouse. Bartley, who wore blue jeans with a navy and white shirt together with a green jacket to court, did not speak or enter a plea and instead stood quietly alongside his solicitor Louis Kiernan. Having noted the estimated €300 damage which had been caused as a result of the incident, Judge Owens ruled the case was one which could be dealt with in the District Court as she accepted jurisdiction. Mr Kiernan, meanwhile, applied for the disclosure of all relevant State evidence in order to consider his client's position in terms of meeting the case. Judge Owens remanded Bartley on bail to a sitting of Mullingar District Court on September 18. John Joe Bartley outside Mullingar Courthouse. Today's News in 90 Seconds - 08 June 2025
