Case No. 2189Murder · Co. Dublin · 15 Jun 2023
Stephen Mooney pleads guilty to murder of wife Anna Mooney after Cellebrite device extracts phone footage
Stephen Mooney, 52, pleaded guilty to murder in the Central Criminal Court after Gardaí used an Israeli-made Cellebrite decryption device to extract video and audio footage of the killing of his wife Anna Mooney, 46, at their home in Kilbarrack, Dublin 5, on 15 June 2023. The phone had previously resisted decryption until a recent software update allowed access.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted3 Mar
3 reports - Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports34 statements extracted from the articles
- whatStephen Mooney, 52, pleaded guilty to murdering his wife Anna Mooney, 46. (irishtimes.com)
- whatAnna Mooney was a Ukrainian mother of two. (irishtimes.com, dublinlive.ie)
- whatStephen Mooney pleaded guilty to murdering his wife Anna Mooney. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatStephen Mooney pleaded guilty to murder in the Central Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe extracted data included video and audio footage of the murder. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMooney had previously denied murdering his wife. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe murder took place at their home on Kilbarrack Road, Kilbarrack, Dublin 5. (irishtimes.com, dublinlive.ie)
- whereThe murder took place at the couple's home on Kilbarrack Road, Kilbarrack, Dublin 5. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe murder occurred on 15 June 2023. (irishtimes.com, dublinlive.ie)
- causeAnna Mooney died after suffering stab wounds in the kitchen. (irishtimes.com)
- causeAnna Mooney died from stab wounds in the kitchen. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationGardaí accessed the mobile phone contents and discovered video and audio footage of the murder. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe Cellebrite software used by Gardaí has undergone an update allowing phones to be unlocked without a password. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí found highly relevant video and audio of the minutes leading up to and including the fatal incident. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí seized the accused's phone at the crime scene but could not access its contents without the pin code or password. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationA recent update to Cellebrite software allowed the phone to be unlocked without a password. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationThe phone contained video and audio of the minutes leading up to and the fatal incident itself. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationGardaí used a Cellebrite device to extract data from Mooney's phone after previously being unable to bypass its encryption. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe footage showed the minutes leading up to and the fatal incident itself. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationCellebrite recently issued a software update that allowed Gardaí to gain access to the phone. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMooney had been due to stand trial for murder. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMooney was arraigned on what had originally been the date his trial was due to begin. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe matter will be mentioned on 18 June when a sentencing date will be set. (irishtimes.com)
- courtProsecution senior counsel Desmond Dockery told the court of a significant development on 7 February. (dublinlive.ie)
- courtMichael Bowman SC represented Mooney. (dublinlive.ie)
- courtMooney was arraigned on the date his trial was originally due to begin. (dublinlive.ie)
- courtMr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned sentencing to accommodate the victim's family. (dublinlive.ie)
- courtMooney remains in custody and the matter will be mentioned on 18 June for a sentencing date. (dublinlive.ie)
- sentenceMooney faces the mandatory life sentence for murder. (irishtimes.com, dublinlive.ie)
- otherMooney remains in custody. (irishtimes.com)
- otherCellebrite is based in Petah Tikva, Israel, and has close ties with the Israeli military. (irishtimes.com)
- otherGardaí have been using Cellebrite technology since at least 2015. (irishtimes.com)
- otherAn Garda Síochána paid Cellebrite just under €500,000 in August for decryption equipment and software. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe Irish government's ban on future purchases of military equipment from Israel did not apply to An Garda Síochána. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 4 Mar2025Israeli decryption device used by gardaí to show man murdered wife
Reports that Mooney pleaded guilty to murder following extraction of video and audio footage from his phone via a Cellebrite UFED device, and provides background on the use of Cellebrite technology by An Garda Síochána.
victim, Anna Mooney, 46, female, Ukrainian, non-irishAnna Mooneyconvicted, Stephen Mooney, 52, male, named, irish (judged from name)Stephen Mooney - 3 Mar2025Man pleads guilty after gardai hack phone and discover footage of wife's murder
Provides detail on the Cellebrite software update that enabled the phone unlock, the court proceedings on the day of the plea, the names of counsel, and the adjournment of sentencing to 18 June.
victim, Anna Mooney, 46, female, Ukrainian, non-irishAnna Mooneysuspect, Stephen Mooney, 52, male, named, irish (judged from name)Stephen Mooney - 3 Mar2025Man pleads guilty to murder of wife after gardaí unlock phone and find footage of killing
Provides further detail on the Cellebrite software update that enabled the phone to be unlocked, the court proceedings on the day of the plea, the defence counsel's reaction, and the adjournment of sentencing to 18 June for a sentencing date to be set.
victim, Anna Mooney, 46, woman, Ukrainian, non-irishAnna Mooneyconvicted, Stephen Mooney, 52, man, named, irish (judged from name)Stephen Mooney