Michael O'Toole

Crime Correspondent

Mick O'Toole is crime correspondent for both the Irish Mirror and Irish Star. He was named Crime Journalist of the Year at the 2021 NewsBrands Ireland Journalism Awards.

Suspect in Dublin gangland murder linked to teenage shooting incident

Gangland violence

Sources have told The Mirror that gardai suspect the thug who is believed to have murdered Brandon Ledwidge (23) in Finglas, north Dublin on Saturday evening carried out another shooting in the same area back in 2009.

M50 madness as e-scooter zooms down Ireland's busiest motorway during morning rush hour

The man, who was wearing a hi-vis jacket and a backpack, is seen speeding along on the middle lane of the motorway – as cars and lorries overtake him.

Micheál Martin unveils major plans for modern overhaul of Defence Forces

The Tánaiste, who is Minister for Defence as well as Foreign Affairs, outlined details of the plan to the Cabinet yesterday and sources have told The Irish Mirror that it is likely to cost more than €1.2 billion in the next five years

Gangland hit victim Brandon Ledwidge targeted for death because 'he was planning to take control of mob'

Gangland violence

As detectives continue their probe into Saturday’s gun killing of Brandon Ledwidge, 23, sources have also revealed that officers believe he had been in a fist fight with a key associate of the prime suspect

Customs dog Milo has now sniffed out drugs and cigarettes worth €14 million this year alone

According to a Mirror analysis, the latest haul is just one of at least six Milo has sniffed out this year

Defence Forces 'may not be able to repeat MV Matthew cocaine seizure operation over lack of personnel'

The strength of the Naval Service, Army and Air Corps now stands at around 7,671 personnel – almost 2,000 under what it should be

Thugs ram car carrying mother and child - and then shoot at it

Gardai say nobody was injured in the incident – but an investigation is now underway.

More than 150 Irish soldiers head out to war-torn Lebanon on dangerous peace mission

The soldiers will be based at two UN sites in southern Lebanon, including UN Post 6-52 – which is right on the Blue Line, the de facto border with northern Israel

Community heartbroken after husband and wife found dead in rural Clare home

The bodies of Joe Collins and his wife Claire were discovered by a friend of the family who called to the house in Kilnaboy, outside Corofin in Co Clare, at around 2.30pm on Thursday.

CCTV images show Jozef Puska stalking women before murder of Ashling Murphy

These images were sent around as gardai searched for a man matching the description given by key witness Jenna Stack, who had seen him on top of Ms Murphy earlier that day

Dave Mahon assault case adjourned again because key Garda witness became dad to twins

Dave Mahon was due to stand trial at Leitrim Circuit Criminal Court in Carrick-on-Shannon today over an alleged assault in the town more than two years ago

Ashling Murphy trial LIVE updates as prosecution and defence make closing speeches before jury deliberate

The trial of Jozef Puska, accused of murdering 23-year-old school teacher Ashling in Co Offaly, continues in Court 13 of Dublin's Criminal Courts of Justice

Savage 'spiked baseball bat' attack leaves teen fighting for his life as gardai launch investigation

Sources have told The Irish Mirror that a 15 year old boy is now being quizzed over the attack on the boy in Sligo town on Tuesday evening – in which the victim was allegedly beaten around the head with baseball bat that had spikes nailed in it.

Delivery driver who lost part of leg after Garda car collision desperate to get home to Brazil

Joao Henrique Ferreira, who has lived in Ireland for the last five years, suffered serious injuries when he was struck by an unmarked garda car on the motorway at around 3.30pm on Sunday

Tánaiste confirms over 300 Irish soldiers heading to Lebanon next week but insists safety is top priority

The Tánaiste also confirmed that some 40 Irish citizens are still stuck in Gaza – where more than 5,000 people have been killed in an onslaught by Israel after Hamas used the area as a springboard for an attack on the Jewish state just over three weeks ago

Family of delivery driver who lost leg after being hit by Garda car on M50 tell of their horror

Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (GSOC)

Pals of Brazilian Joao Henrique Ferreira held a protest in central Dublin following yesterday following Saturday’s accident on the M50, south of the city

Delivery driver loses a leg after being struck by garda car trying to recover his stolen bike

The Irish Mirror has established that the Brazilian man suffered life changing injuries in the incident on an M50 slip road in south Dublin on Saturday afternoon – including losing his leg

Defence Forces poised to send 300 Irish troops to war-torn Lebanon

The soldiers will begin deploying next week and will spend six months on patrol as part of a United Nations mission

CAB hits suspected criminals with tax bills for €8.9 million

Criminal Assets Bureau

The agency's annual report shows that it returned €6.3 million in cash to the Exchequer last year that it had seized from suspected criminals

Ashling Murphy trial hears DNA from under her fingernails matched samples taken from Jozef Puska

Dr Lorna Flanagan also told the trial that the possibility of the DNA belonging to anyone other than a male relative of Mr Puska was one in 14,000

Ashling Murphy trial LIVE updates as Jozef Puska stands accused of Tullamore murder

The trial of Jozef Puska, accused of murdering 23-year-old school teacher Ashling in Co Offaly, continues in Court 13 of Dublin's Criminal Courts of Justice

Tributes paid to football-mad photographer who died in Sligo road tragedy

Mr Connolly was a well-known and well-respected figure in the Sligo area

Garda tells Ashling Murphy murder trial Jozef Puska told him: 'I feel guilty and I say I regret it'

Jozef Puska (33), with an address at Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co Offaly, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms Murphy at Cappincur, Tullamore, Co Offaly on January 12th, 2022.

Ashling Murphy trial: Every update from court on Wednesday as Joseph Puska stands accused of murder

The trial of Jozef Puska, accused of murdering 23-year-old school teacher Ashling in Co Offaly, continues in Court 13 of Dublin's Criminal Courts of Justice