Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 1968Contempt of court (civil) · Co. Dublin · 31 Mar 2025

Widow of murdered Andy Connors faces jail over unauthorised development in Saggart

Ann Connors, widow of Andy Connors who was shot dead in 2014, was warned by Judge John O'Connor in the Circuit Civil Court that she will be jailed if an unauthorised chalet and mobile home development on Old School Road, Saggart, Co Dublin, is not removed. South Dublin County Council applied for her committal to prison for contempt of court after she failed to comply with orders to remove two chalets, four mobile homes, and over 5,000sq m of hard standing.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court31 Mar
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced31 Mar
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
32 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe man raped and smothered his wife while armed with a knife during the incident. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe man has 35 previous convictions for offences including theft, burglary, robbery and breach of a protection order. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe man does not accept the guilty verdicts and has not expressed any remorse. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe man put his hand over his wife's nose and mouth, leaving her unable to breathe. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe man raped her, then sexually assaulted her before raping her a second time. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe woman's face was ashen grey and her lips blue from the smothering. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe woman has become isolated from the Travelling community for bringing her former husband to court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe man's supporters started shouting and exchanging insults with the complainant before being removed from the court by Gardaí. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe woman is now raising her children alone. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe woman has suffered flashbacks and nightmares from which she wakes up screaming and terrified. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatAnn Connors was in breach of court orders to remove two chalets and four mobile homes (irishtimes.com)
  • whatAndy Connors was shot dead in 2014 by a masked man with an automatic pistol at his home at Boherboy (irishtimes.com)
  • whatAnn Connors and Brigid Wall were arrested in Saggart on Sunday night and brought to court on Monday (irishtimes.com)
  • whatBrigid Wall said she had nothing to do with the unauthorised development and that there was another Brigid Wall (irishtimes.com)
  • whatResidents complained about antisocial behaviour, noise from generators, open-air toilets, and human excrement around the development (irishtimes.com)
  • whatAn image of the area shows the location of 22 caravans (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe incident took place at the family home in Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe unauthorised development is on Old School Road in Saggart, Co Dublin (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe incident occurred on a date in September 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeThe man was convicted of rape, sexual assault, false imprisonment and making threats to kill. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtMr Justice Kerida Naidoo passed sentence at the Central Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe DPP placed the case into the 10 to 15 years headline sentencing category, noting domestic violence and the relationship as aggravating factors. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtMark Lynam SC was prosecuting and Tim O'Leary SC was defending. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtOrders were made in the Circuit Court directing removal of structures, buildings, and more than 5,000sq m of hard standing (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe orders were upheld on appeal to the High Court (irishtimes.com)
  • courtSouth Dublin County Council applied for committal to prison of Ms Connors for contempt of court (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge O'Connor warned Ms Connors she would be sent to prison if orders are not complied with (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe application was adjourned until early April (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe man was sentenced to 13 years with the final six months suspended on conditions including engaging with the Probation Service. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe couple are members of the Travelling community and had married young. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThey had a turbulent relationship with a number of safety and barring orders over the years. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe accused man was in prison for a number of years but the couple rekindled their relationship after his release. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 31 Mar2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Widow of murdered Andy Connors faces jail if unauthorised mobile home and chalet development not removed

    Reports on the Circuit Civil Court hearing where Judge O'Connor warned Ann Connors of imprisonment for contempt if the unauthorised development is not removed; application adjourned to early April.

    accused, Ann Connors, female, named, irish (judged from name)Ann Connorssuspect, Brigid Wall, female, named, irish (judged from name)Brigid Wall
  2. 31 Mar2025
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Insults in court as man who raped wife in 'terrifying' ordeal gets 12 years jail

    Sentencing report from the Central Criminal Court. Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo imposed 13 years (final 6 months suspended) after the DPP placed the case in the 10–15 year headline category. The man does not accept the verdicts and showed no remorse. His supporters exchanged insults with the complainant in court before being removed by Gardaí.

    victim, female, irish (judged from name)convicted, 25, male, irish (judged from name)