Órla O'Donnell

Legal Affairs Correspondent

Hazel Behan's case alleges inaction on the part of the Portuguese authorities

Rape survivor Hazel Behan takes case to European Court

A rape survivor is taking a case to the European Court of Human Rights over what she alleges is the failure of the Portuguese authorities to properly investigate the assault on her in 2004.

Courts • 16 Apr 25

Fr Paul Murphy was stabbed as he waited to enter Renmore Barracks on 15 August 2024

Army chaplain forgives teenager who stabbed him

A 17-year-old boy who stabbed an Army chaplain outside an Army barracks last year apologised to him in court, as the priest told him he forgave him.

Courts • 19 Apr 25

'Kate' (L) in conversation with RTÉ's Legal Affairs Correspondent Órla O'Donnell (R)

Giving evidence in rape case has 'protected' other women

A woman who was raped by three men she met in a nightclub has said she feels she has protected other women by giving evidence against the men.

Ireland • 09 Apr 25

Ciara Mangan speaking outside court in July 2023

Man's appeal against rape sentence 'hung over' victim

A woman who was raped by a work colleague almost 12 years ago has criticised the length of time it has taken his appeal against the severity of his sentence to be heard.

Courts • 08 Apr 25

Harry Cassidy had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud (File image)

Former Custom House Capital CEO loses sentence appeal

The former Chief Executive Officer of collapsed investment firm, Custom House Capital, has lost his appeal against his sentence of six years and ten months for conspiracy to defraud.

Courts • 07 Apr 25

Daniel Blanaru was found guilty of murdering 26-year-old Larisa Serban in August 2022

'I killed her', man guilty of woman's murder told gardaí

A 37-year-old man has been found guilty of the murder of his partner in Co Meath almost three years ago.

Courts • 01 Apr 25

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions

DPP says document disclosure process needs revisiting

The Director of Public Prosecutions has said there is a need to revisit the current approach to the disclosure of documents in criminal prosecutions to make sure the listing of criminal cases for trial is more efficient.

Ireland • 27 Mar 25

(L-R) Matin Zolfaghari, Fabio Vicente and Anthony Hickey had denied the charges

Three men jailed for rape of woman they met in nightclub

Three men have been jailed for terms of 15 years and 13 years for raping and sexually assaulting a young woman they met in a Dublin nightclub in August 2019 in what the judge described as a disturbing and truly shocking case.

Courts • 28 Mar 25

The matter will be back before the court on 9 April

Two-week adjournment in 'GAA catfish' case

A Dublin secondary school has undertaken not to take any further steps in a disciplinary process against one of its teachers who says she has been wrongly identified as the "GAA catfish" in a number of viral podcasts, until the matter comes back to court again in two weeks' time.

Courts • 26 Mar 25

Enoch Burke and his family outside the High Court

Bank ordered to pay €40,000 from Burke's account to court

Bank of Ireland has been ordered to pay €40,000 from teacher Enoch Burke's bank account into a Courts Service account within seven days.

Courts • 25 Mar 25