Felix Adedayo, 55, appealed his conviction for threatening and abusive behaviour, parking offences, running a red light and driving without due care. The District Court had fined him €400 for the abusive conduct, €150 for obstructing traffic, €250 for the red‑light violation and another €250 for careless driving, and disqualified him from driving for six months. In the appeal, Judge Simon McAleese found that Adedayo's testimony was a "pack of lies" and that his conduct was "bizarre, extraordinary and aggressive." The judge upheld the original fines and disqualification, noting that the charges were the most modest possible and that no custodial sentence was imposed. The judge also praised Sergeant Killian Murphy for handling the incident "even‑handed" and "utterly polite.".
Ifeanyichukwu Nwaneri, 37, of Donore Avenue, Dublin 8, was convicted by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury of four counts of money laundering for the period February to October 2017. He pleaded not guilty but admitted in Garda interviews that he had handed his bank accounts to another man for use in a larger laundering scheme. The accounts were used to lodge €34,918, €17,109 and €10,000, with an additional €7,000 bounced back. Nwaneri allowed further lodgements into a second account after the first was frozen. Judge Elva Duffy noted his accounting studies should have given him some awareness of the activity. He was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended on strict conditions. The case involved Innocent Aigbekaen, who recruited Nwaneri and was sentenced to four years, three of which were suspended. Nwaneri had no prior convictions and had been in Ireland since 2015.
Brad Dempsey, 24, of Crumlin, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for firing five shots at a car on Donore Avenue, Dublin 8, on 19 January 2022. He pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm, a charge reduced from an initial attempt to endanger life. The court heard that a dispute between Dempsey's associate and another person led to the shooting, which was captured on CCTV. Dempsey emerged from the scene with a firearm, fired at the vehicle, and the rear passenger‑door glass shattered. He was in custody since August 2023. The judge, citing the seriousness of the offence, set a headline sentence of 12 years, reduced to eight years and back‑dated to the time of his custody. No injuries were reported. The case reflects Dempsey's history of violent disorder and drug offences.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Jack Quirke, aged 24, was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison for leading a gang that held a man in his own home for six hours, stabbed him multiple times, severed most of his right ear, and forced a phone charger cord down his throat. The court noted Quirke's 27 prior convictions, his guilty plea, and mitigating factors such as remorse and a recent serious road traffic accident. The judge highlighted the severity of the violence, the victim's disfigurement, and Quirke's youth at the time of the offence. Quirke was the ringleader, with another co‑accused receiving seven and a half years. The victim's impact statement was submitted but not read aloud. The case involved a mixed group of men and women who entered the victim's house after a call from his daughter.
Albert Redmond, 46, a crack addict with 401 prior convictions, was sentenced to two years in prison for a series of thefts in Dublin City Centre. He pleaded guilty to two separate counts of theft: one at Frame Experts in Ranelagh on 8 October 2019, and another at the Royal Hospital in Donnybrook on 6 February 2020. The court noted that Redmond has 401 previous convictions, including 144 for burglary and 120 for theft, and is already serving a nine‑year custodial sentence for another offence. Garda Detective Gerard Hickey presented evidence that Redmond stole a woman's wallet at Frame Experts, used her bank card for €28.40 supermarket purchases, and later stole a bank card at the Marco Pierre White restaurant, spending €29.40 on cigarettes.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by Caolan Smyth and Gary McAreavey regarding the admissibility of mobile phone data used in their convictions. The appellants were found guilty and convicted, respectively, of the attempted murder of James Gately and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life in 2017. McAreavey was also convicted of assisting Smyth by purchasing petrol and helping burn a black Lexus at Newrath, Dromiskin, Co Louth. The appeal challenged the use of data gathered under the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011, arguing it breached EU privacy laws following a separate ruling in the Graham Dwyer case. However, the court, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, ruled that the Act was valid in 2017 and that the public interest in investigating crime comprehensively outweighed the limited privacy rights attached to the data. The court noted the data was tightly focused and did not reveal personal details such as beliefs or sexuality. The judgment affirmed the Special Criminal Court's 2020 findings. This decision does not affect the separate appeal by Elaine O'Hara, whose case remains contested and is not part of this finalisation.
The Special Criminal Court ordered the forfeiture of a black Mercedes S350, valued at about €50,000, from Thomas Rooney, a 52‑year‑old member of an international crime gang. Rooney had pleaded guilty to money‑laundering offences under the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing) Act 2010, and was found in possession of large sums of cash and encrypted devices. The vehicle, purchased in 2018 for €72,000, was used by Rooney to transport cash as part of an industrial‑scale laundering operation. The court noted that the car could have been used for legitimate business but that its use in criminal activity made it subject to forfeiture. Rooney was sentenced to six years' imprisonment in January of this year. The forfeiture order was granted by Mr Justice Tony Hunt.
At the Special Criminal Court, the State applied for the forfeiture of a 2018 Mercedes S-Class registered to Thomas Rooney (52), a Betaghstown resident described as a mid-to-high level gang member. Rooney pleaded guilty in July 2023 to possessing €289,770 and £65,000 in crime cash at a Drogheda car park, along with two further charges involving €254,840 and €7,650, all under the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing) Act 2010. He was sentenced to six years' imprisonment in January 2024. His then-partner, Catherine Dawson (44), received a fully suspended sentence of three years and nine months in May 2023 for her role in moving the gang's money, suspended on condition of good behaviour for five years. The State argued the vehicle, held by Rooney's company EBT Executive Travel Ltd, was integral to the offence, citing texts sent from a phone plugged into the car to coordinate the transfer of cash. Defence counsel John D Fitzgerald SC argued the car was used for legitimate business and that forfeiture would cause undue hardship. Presiding judge Mr Justice Hunt remarked that Rooney would have been better off with a cheaper vehicle. The matter was adjourned to June 2 for a decision on the forfeiture.
A Kinahan-linked man convicted of attempted murder is challenging his conviction on appeal, arguing that mobile phone records used to secure his conviction breached his right to privacy under Irish and European Union law. Caolan Smyth, now imprisoned at Cork Prison, was found guilty at the Special Criminal Court in January 2021 of the attempted murder of James Gately in north Dublin on 10 May 2017. Smyth was sentenced to twenty years' imprisonment. His co-accused, Gary McAreavey, received three years for assisting in the destruction of the vehicle used in the shooting. At the Court of Appeal, counsel for Smyth submitted that phone location data gathered under the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011 should not have been admitted as evidence, citing a 2018 judgment that found the legislation incompatible with EU law. The Director of Public Prosecutions contended that the phone records were recovered lawfully and that the legislation remains valid. McAreavey separately appeals his conviction, challenging whether evidence proved his knowledge that a serious offence had been committed. Caolan Smyth pleaded not guilty. Gary McAreavey pleaded not guilty.
Albert Redmond, 45, was sentenced to 12‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment with four‑and‑a‑half years suspended for a spree of burglaries, criminal damage, credit‑card fraud and theft between October 2019 and March 2020. He appealed, arguing the judge had mis‑classified the severity of his offences and had not given enough weight to his personal circumstances. The Court of Appeal quashed the original sentence but upheld the appeal, ruling that Redmond must still serve eight years in prison. In a written judgment, Mr Justice John Edwards explained that the original sentence was structured with a mixture of consecutive and concurrent terms totalling nine years, with the final year suspended for 12 months. The judge noted Redmond's "appalling track record" and the risk of re‑offending, and acknowledged his expressed intention to move away from crime. The decision left Redmond's custodial term unchanged at eight years, with the suspended portion remaining in place. Albert Redmond pleaded guilty.
Douglas Glynn (37) of Fitzgibbon Court, Dublin 1, was re-arraigned on November 17 and pleaded guilty to participating in activities of a criminal organisation, contrary to Section 72 (1) (A) of the Criminal Justice Act. The charge relates to his involvement between December 7, 2016, and April 6, 2017, in activities connected with the targeting of James 'Mago' Gately. Glynn had previously pleaded not guilty at his first arraignment on November 9. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding at the non-jury court, remanded Glynn in custody until February 11, when he will be sentenced. In a related case, Caolan Smyth (30) of Cuileann Court, Donore, Co Meath, was sentenced to 20 years at the Special Criminal Court for the attempted murder of Gately and for possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. Smyth had denied both charges. Gary McAreavey (53) of Gort Nua, Station Road, Castlebellingham, Co Louth, pleaded not guilty to acting to impede an apprehension or prosecution by purchasing petrol and assisting in the burning out of the vehicle, a black Lexus, used in the attempted murder at Newrath, Dromiskin, Co Louth on the same day. He received a four-year jail term with the final year suspended. Estonian hitman Imre Arakas (63) was jailed by the Special Criminal Court for six years in December 2018, after he admitted to conspiring with others to murder Gately in Northern Ireland between April 3 and 4, 2017. Stephen Fowler (62), of Blakestown Cottages in Clonsilla, Dublin 15, has already been jailed for providing logistical support to the plot to murder Gately. The court heard that Gately had been warned by gardaí of a threat to his life from criminals who believed him to be involved in the Regency Hotel murder of Kinahan Cartel associate David Byrne in February 2016. The court has heard in previous related cases that there was 'ongoing targeting' of Gately in the context of a feud between the Hutch and Kinahan crime groups.
Thomas Rooney (52), of Betaghstown, Co Meath, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court for his role in an international criminal organisation. Rooney pleaded guilty to possessing €254,840 in a black holdall and €7,650 at North Road, Drogheda, on May 11, 2020. He also admitted to possessing crime cash at his home, where gardaí found €32,330 and £441. Mr Justice Tony Hunt described Rooney as a mid-to-high level member trusted to transport large sums, including a Nike bag containing €289,770. The six-year sentence is backdated to December 6, 2021, when Rooney first went into custody. The court ordered the seized money be forfeited to the State. A separate application to forfeit a Mercedes used by Rooney is contested and will be heard on January 31. In a related matter, Jason Reed (40) of Dunshaughlin pleaded guilty to possessing the cash in the blue Nike bag and additional crime cash found at his home. Previously, Rooney's then-partner, Catherine Dawson (45), received a fully suspended sentence for her role in moving the gang's money.
Thomas Rooney (52), of Betaghstown, Co Meath, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to three charges under Section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing) Act 2010. He admitted possessing €289,770 and £65,025 in a blue Nike holdall, €254,840 in a black holdall, and €7,650 at North Road, Drogheda, all on May 11, 2020. The court heard allegations that Rooney, described as a "mid-to-high" level member of an international crime gang, organised the transaction and used an encrypted Aquarius phone. Jason Reed (40), of Dunshaughlin, also pleaded guilty to possessing the cash in the blue Nike bag and to holding €32,330 and £441 at his home. In a related May finalisation, Catherine Dawson (44), Rooney's then-partner, received a fully suspended sentence of three years and nine months for moving the gang's money, suspended on good behaviour for five years. Mr Justice Tony Hunt stated he could not see a non-custodial sentence for Rooney. Despite no Garda objection to bail, Rooney was remanded in custody until January 14 for sentencing. The matter was adjourned to that date.
Douglas Glynn (37) of Fitzgibbon Court, Dublin 1, changed his plea to guilty at the Special Criminal Court, admitting to participating in the activities of a criminal organisation between December 7, 2016, and April 6, 2017. The charge alleged he placed a tracker device on James Gately's car in Belfast to facilitate a murder plot. Glynn had previously pleaded not guilty. Presiding judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt adjourned the case to January 14, 2022, for a sentence hearing; the matter was adjourned and not concluded. Glynn is the fifth person convicted in cases relating to the failed bid to murder Gately. Peter Keating (40) was jailed for 11 years after pleading guilty to directing a criminal organisation targeting Gately. Stephen Fowler (62) and David Duffy (33) were jailed for providing logistical support. Imre Arakas (63) was jailed for six years in December 2018 after admitting to conspiring to murder Gately. Caolan Smyth (30) was sentenced to 20 years for the attempted murder of Gately and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. Gary McAreavey (53) pleaded not guilty to impeding a prosecution and received a four-year jail term with the final year suspended.
Stephen Fowler (62) was sentenced to six years and nine months at the Special Criminal Court for his logistical involvement in a plot to murder James Gately. The judge suspended the final 15 months for three years, conditional on good behaviour. Fowler pleaded guilty to participating in a criminal organisation's activities between December 2016 and April 2017. He is the sixth person jailed in this case. Peter Keating (40) pleaded guilty to directing a criminal organisation and was jailed for 11 years. David Duffy (33) pleaded guilty to contributing to the murder plot and received five years' imprisonment with one year suspended. Caolan Smyth (30), who denied charges, was sentenced to 20 years for attempted murder and firearm possession. Gary McAreavey (53) pleaded not guilty to impeding prosecution by burning a vehicle but received a four-year term with the final year suspended. Imre Arakas (63) was jailed for six years in 2018 after admitting to conspiring to murder Gately. The court described the events as part of ongoing targeting of Gately within a gang feud.
Stephen Fowler (62) pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to participating in a criminal organisation with the intention of enhancing its ability to commit the serious offence of the murder of James Gately. The court heard that Fowler offered his home as a safe-house to Estonian hitman Imre Arakas, who was jailed for six years in December 2018 for conspiring in the attempted murder. Fowler, who previously served six years for cannabis possession, was on a two-year suspended sentence at the time of the 2017 offence. The court will review this suspended sentence as part of the finalisation. Sentencing for Fowler, which carries a maximum of 15 years, is scheduled for October 4. Related convictions include Peter Keating, jailed for 11 years for directing a criminal organisation; David Duffy, sentenced to five years with one year suspended for participating in the organisation; and Caolan Smyth, sentenced to 20 years for attempted murder and firearm possession after denying charges. Gary McAreavey, who pleaded not guilty to impeding prosecution by assisting in burning a vehicle, received a four-year term with the final year suspended. These cases stem from a feud between the Hutch and Kinahan crime groups.
At the Special Criminal Court, Dubliner Stephen Fowler (62) pleaded guilty to having knowledge of a criminal organisation and participating in activities connected with the attempted murder of James Gately between December 7, 2016, and April 4, 2017. Mr Justice Tony Hunt adjourned the matter, fixing September 16 for a sentence hearing. The court report also details related finalisations. Peter Keating (41) was sentenced to 11 years after pleading guilty to directing the activities of a criminal organisation during the same period. David Duffy (33) pleaded guilty to similar charges and received a five-year sentence with one year suspended. Caolan Smyth (30), who denied charges, was sentenced to 20 years for the attempted murder of Gately and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. Gary McAreavey (53) pleaded not guilty to acting to impede an apprehension by assisting in the burning of a vehicle used in the attack; he was sentenced to four years with the final year suspended. Imre Arakas (63) was jailed for six years in 2018 after admitting to conspiring to murder Gately. These proceedings relate to a feud between the Hutch and Kinahan crime groups, during which Gately survived multiple assassination attempts.
Senior Kinahan cartel member Peter Keating has been jailed for 12 years by the Special Criminal Court for directing the activities of a criminal organisation between December 7, 2016 and April 6, 2017, within and outside the State. Keating (40) pleaded guilty in July of this year to directing the activities of the crime group in their failed attempt to murder Hutch gang member James 'Mago' Gately. The judge noted that Keating was a 'senior figure' for the Kinahan Organised Crime Group and a 'repository of trust and confidence' for the cartel. The sentence was backdated to July 1, 2020, and the final year of the 12-year term was suspended for two years. Keating entered into a bond of €100 to keep the peace for two years. The judge gave Keating a 25% discount for his early guilty plea, which saved a costly trial. The court heard that Keating was involved in the commission of a serious offence and played a significant role in the surveillance of Gately and his family regarding the proposed murder. The investigation highlighted the transnational outreach of organised crime, with Estonian hitman Imre Arakas (62) jailed for six years in December 2018 for conspiring with others to murder Gately in Northern Ireland between April 3 and 4, 2017. Arakas was arrested before the planned attack on Gately could be carried out. Caolan Smyth (30) was sentenced to 20 years last February for attempted murder in relation to a second attempt on Gately's life in May 2017. The matter was adjourned and never described as concluded or finalised.
Peter Keating, 40, of Clondalkin, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to directing the activities of the Kinahan crime cartel in their failed attempt to murder Hutch gang member James 'Mago' Gately. Detective Sergeant David Carolan stated that Keating was involved in locating Gately's Belfast home and tracking his movements using devices planted on his car and family members' vehicles. It was accepted that Keating was himself receiving directions from others. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding in the three-judge court, adjourned sentencing until September 2. The court heard that Imre Arakas, 62, was brought to Ireland on April 3, 2017, to target Gately. Arakas was arrested before the planned attack could be carried out and was jailed for six years in December 2018 after pleading guilty to conspiring with others to murder Gately. Separately, Caolan Smyth, 30, of Donore, Co Meath, was sentenced to 20 years in February for attempted murder in relation to a separate attack on Gately in May 2017, where Gately survived despite being shot five times while wearing a bulletproof vest. Keating's counsel highlighted his early guilty plea and physical disabilities, while the prosecution noted his ten previous convictions.
Thomas Rooney, 41, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possessing property that is the proceeds of criminal conduct. He admitted to having a blue Nike bag containing €289,770 and £65,025 (€70,207) in cash at Spar, Donore Road, Drogheda, on May 11, 2020. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh, remanded Rooney on continuing bail, listing a sentence hearing for October 4. Defence counsel cited a potential lung transplant for Rooney. Rooney was also charged with possessing €254,840 in a black bag and €7,650 in cash on the same date. His former partner, Catherine Dawson, 44, previously pleaded guilty to two counts related to moving over €600,000 in crime cash. She was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison, fully suspended for five years, with the court noting her primary care responsibilities for her son. Co-accused Jason Reed, 40, pleaded guilty to money laundering and possessing proceeds of crime, including the cash in the blue Nike bag and €32,330 and £390 (€441) found at his home. The court found Reed to be a trusted, high-level member of a transnational criminal organisation and sentenced him to seven years in prison. All three were arrested in May last year following a Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau operation in Drogheda.
Jason Reed, a 40-year-old from Dunshaughlin, Co Meath, was sentenced to seven years in prison by the Special Criminal Court for money laundering and possessing proceeds of crime. Mr Justice Tony Hunt described Reed as a trusted, mid-to-high level member of a transnational criminal organisation. Reed pleaded guilty to laundering €289,770 and £62,025 found in a car park in Drogheda, Co Louth, and to laundering €32,330 and £390 found at his home. The judge set a headline sentence of 10 years but reduced it to seven years, running concurrently on both charges, citing Reed's guilty plea and lack of relevant convictions. The court noted evidence including an encrypted phone, luxury watches, and a cash-purchased mobile home. Co-accused Catherine Dawson, a 44-year-old care worker from Bettystown, Co Meath, who pleaded guilty to possessing the cash while knowing or being reckless as to whether it was criminal proceeds, was previously sentenced to three years and nine months. That term was fully suspended for five years. Detective Chief Superintendent Angela Willis stated that the sentencing reflects the Garda focus on the assets of major crime gangs.
Peter Keating, 40, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to directing a criminal organisation's activities from 7 December 2016 to 4 April 2017, including the attempted murder of James 'Mago' Gately. Gately was shot multiple times on 10 May 2017 while seated in his car at Topaz filling station, Dublin 17. The court heard that the attackers believed Gately was involved in the 2016 Regency Hotel attack that killed Kinahan gang member David Byrne. Other defendants include Caolan Smyth, sentenced to 20 years for the attempted murder and firearm possession; Gary McAreavey, who pleaded not guilty to aiding the escape of a vehicle used in the attempt and received a four‑year term with the last year suspended; and Imre Arakas, jailed for six years for conspiracy to murder Gately in Northern Ireland. David Duffy, 33, pleaded guilty to knowledge of the organisation and participation in the offence, to be sentenced in July.
Jason Reed, a 40-year-old from Dunshaughlin, Co Meath, pleaded guilty to money laundering and possessing the proceeds of crime. He admitted to having €32,330 and £390 at his home and €289,770 and £62,025 in a blue Nike bag at a Drogheda car park on May 11, 2021. Prosecutors alleged Reed was a high-level member of a transnational crime gang, noting he possessed five luxury watches, an encrypted phone, and had purchased a mobile home in cash despite having no source of income. His vehicle was found to have a remote-controlled false compartment. Catherine Dawson, 44, also pleaded guilty to possessing the cash while knowing or being reckless as to whether it was criminal proceeds. She was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison, a term fully suspended for five years. Mr Justice Hunt remanded Reed in custody to reappear for sentencing at the Special Criminal Court on Monday, July 5. The court acknowledged Reed's early plea, lack of previous convictions, and cooperation with gardaí, but deferred the final disposal until the scheduled sentencing date.
The Special Criminal Court adjourned the sentencing of David 'Blinky' Duffy until July 30. Duffy, 34, pleaded guilty in April to knowing of a criminal organisation and contributing to activities connected with the murder of James 'Mago' Gately between December 2016 and April 2017. Detective Garda Tony Kennedy testified that the plot was a reprisal for the 2016 Regency Hotel attack, where gang member David Byrne was killed. Duffy provided logistical support, including moving vehicles and purchasing tracker devices. The court heard that Imre Arakas, 62, was jailed for six years in December 2018 after pleading guilty to conspiring to murder Gately in Northern Ireland. Separately, Caolan Smyth was sentenced to 20 years in February for attempted murder after shooting Gately, who survived due to a bulletproof vest. Duffy has 18 previous convictions, including a 2018 sentence for drug offences. Defence counsel highlighted Duffy's early plea, alcohol and drug issues, and rehabilitation efforts. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh, adjourned the matter to July 30.
The Special Criminal Court has sentenced Lee Canavan to life imprisonment for his role in the murder of David 'Daithí' Douglas, who was shot at Shoestown in Dublin 1 on July 1, 2016. Canavan, who pleaded not guilty, was found guilty of murder based on his active participation in a shared intention to kill, though the court did not find sufficient evidence to conclude he was the triggerman. He was concurrently sentenced to five years for criminal damage to a stolen Suzuki Swift used as a getaway vehicle. Both sentences were backdated to May 2020, when Canavan was taken into custody following a European Arrest Warrant. The court noted that Canavan's prior drug possession convictions were not aggravating factors. This conviction marks the fourth individual jailed in connection with the killing. Previously, Frederick 'Fat Freddie' Thompson was jailed for life in 2018; Nathan Foley pleaded guilty and received six years in 2019; and Gareth Brophy was jailed for ten years in 2020 for acting as a getaway driver. The judge extended free legal aid to cover any potential appeal.
Jason Reed, 40, of Maelduin, Dunshaughlin, Co Meath, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possessing nearly €400,000 in crime cash. He admitted to money‑laundering offences after €32,330 and £390 (€441) were found at his home, and after €289,770 in euro and £62,025 (€70,207) were discovered in a blue Nike bag at a Donore Road car park. The case was adjourned to 28 June for sentencing. Reed answered only "guilty" to both charges. Catherine Dawson, 44, a co‑accused, received a fully suspended sentence for transporting €600,000 of crime proceeds.
The Special Criminal Court has found Lee Canavan guilty of the murder of David 'Daithí' Douglas, who was shot at Shoestown, Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 1, on July 1, 2016. Canavan, 31, had pleaded not guilty to the charge, alleging he was part of a joint enterprise to murder Mr. Douglas, who died from injuries to his chest, neck, back, torso, elbow, and jaw. The court ruled that while it could not be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Canavan was the gunman, he was guilty due to his active participation in the shared intention to kill. He was also found guilty of criminal damage to a Suzuki Swift on July 4, 2016, an act intended to destroy evidence. The prosecution, led by Sean Gillane SC, argued the murder was meticulously planned and that Canavan's actions were inextricably linked to those of co-defendants. Frederick 'Fat Freddie' Thompson was previously jailed for life for the murder. Nathan Foley pleaded guilty to assisting a criminal organisation and was jailed for six years. Gareth Brophy was jailed for ten years for his role as a getaway driver. The court emphasized the coordinated use of four vehicles and the removal of the pistol's serial number. Canavan's conviction completes the prosecution of the entire group involved in the killing.
Catherine Dawson, a 44‑year‑old care worker, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to a fully suspended term of three years and nine months, suspended for five years, for transporting more than €600,000 in crime cash. She pleaded guilty in January to possessing two bags of cash – a blue Nike bag with €289,770 and £65,025 (€70,207) and a black bag with €254,840 – while knowing or believing the money was the proceeds of criminal conduct. The court noted she had no prior convictions, was the primary carer of her 14‑year‑old son, and had been instructed by others to move the money. A search of her home revealed luxury watches, fake handbags and an €8,845 holiday receipt, though these items were not linked to the cash. The judge emphasised her responsibility to her son and the impact of the sentence on her life.
The Special Criminal Court has remanded Lee Canavan in custody until May 20, when judgment will be delivered on his case. Canavan, 31, pleaded not guilty to the murder of David Douglas, who was shot six times at Shoestown, Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 1, on July 1, 2016. He also denies a second charge of criminal damage to a Suzuki Swift vehicle at Strand Road, Sandymount, on July 4, 2016. Prosecution counsel Sean Gillane SC argued that Canavan was the gunman who "executed" Douglas and was "up to his neck" in the meticulously planned enterprise. The State alleged that Canavan's actions could not be divorced from those of Frederick 'Fat Freddie' Thompson, Gareth Brophy, and Nathan Foley, all of whom have been jailed in connection with the murder. Thompson was jailed for life in 2018 for the murder. In 2019, Nathan Foley pleaded guilty to assisting a criminal organisation by driving one of four cars and buying mobile phones used in the offence, receiving a six-year sentence. Gareth Brophy was jailed for ten years in February 2020 for his role as getaway driver. The defense, led by Michael Bowman SC, challenged the identification evidence, arguing that the prosecution relied heavily on the accused wearing a red top and that DNA on the pistol grip belonged to another man. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath alongside Judges Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Dermot Dempsey, adjourned the matter for judgment.
During the pandemic lockdown, a 44‑year‑old care worker, Catherine Dawson, was used by criminals to transport more than €600,000 in cash. She had a clean record and was following instructions from another person when she allowed the money to be placed in her car. The Special Criminal Court heard that a search of Dawson's home uncovered luxury watches, fake high‑end handbags and a receipt for an €8,845 holiday to America, though the Gardaí do not believe these items were connected to her. Dawson was arrested as part of a Garda investigation targeting serious organised criminals. In January she pleaded guilty to possessing two bags of cash, one containing €289,770 and £65,025 (€70,207) and the other €254,840, knowing or believing the money was the proceeds of criminal conduct. The court adjourned sentencing until 17 May.
The Special Criminal Court has sentenced a man to twenty years imprisonment for his role in an attempted murder conspiracy linked to organised crime. Caolan Smyth, aged twenty-nine, of County Meath, was found guilty in January of attempted murder and firearm offences following an attack on James Gately at a filling station in north Dublin on tenth May two thousand seventeen. The victim was shot five times but survived. Presiding Judge Tony Hunt noted that others were equally or more culpable than Smyth, describing him as ruthless and dangerous. A second defendant, Gary McAreavey, aged fifty-three, of County Louth, received four years imprisonment, with the final year suspended, for his role in burning out the getaway vehicle. The court heard evidence of surveillance, mobile phone tracking, and CCTV footage establishing the conspiracy's organised nature. Judge Hunt acknowledged that fortuitous circumstances alone had spared the victim's life. Gary McAreavey pleaded not guilty. Caolan Smyth pleaded not guilty.
Sandra Warren, 45, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a fully suspended 30‑month imprisonment for robbing a foreign student on O'Curry Avenue, Dublin 8, on 23 May 2016. The student, who had been in Ireland for four days, was led by Warren down a laneway, where Warren seized her bag containing a wallet, bank cards and phone. Warren, who was using drugs and under pressure from a man to obtain money, pleaded guilty. The judge noted Warren's abusive relationship had ended and that she was now in stable accommodation and on methadone. The sentence was suspended for three years on strict conditions, including continued participation in a drug treatment programme. Warren had eight prior convictions for robbery, burglary and theft. The victim was left traumatised, with whiplash injuries, and unable to access funds or contact anyone. The court emphasised the seriousness of the offence against a guest in the country.
A man convicted of attempting to murder a drugs cartel target will be sentenced by the Special Criminal Court next month. Caolan Smyth, aged 29, from County Meath, was found guilty on January 5th of shooting James Gately five times as he sat in his car at a filling station in north Dublin in May 2017. Mr Gately survived the attack with injuries to his chest and neck. Smyth was also convicted of firearms possession with intent to endanger. Gary McAreavey, aged 53, from County Louth, was convicted of assisting in the destruction of the getaway vehicle used in the shooting. The Special Criminal Court determined beyond reasonable doubt that Smyth was the gunman in an organised murder attempt. Evidence included mobile phone data and CCTV identification. Both men have been remanded in custody pending sentencing on February 17th. Smyth faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, while McAreavey faces a maximum of ten years. Caolan Smyth pleaded not guilty. Gary McAreavey pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, 44‑year‑old Catherine Dawson pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing property that is the proceeds of criminal conduct. She admitted owning a blue Nike bag with €289,770 and £65,025 (€70,207) in cash, and a black bag with €254,840 in cash, both found at a Spar on Donore Road, Drogheda, on 11 May 2020. Dawson's lawyer requested a psychological report, which the court granted. The judge remanded her on continuing bail until 24 March for a sentence hearing. Her partner, Thomas Rooney, 41, was also expected to be arraigned but his counsel sought an eight‑week adjournment; the court set a new date of 1 March and remanded him on continuing bail. Rooney faces charges of possessing the same amounts of cash in the same bags and an additional €7,650 in cash at North Road, Drogheda, on the same day, under suspicion of aiding an organised crime gang.
The Special Criminal Court found Caolan Smyth guilty of attempted murder on Tuesday following the May 2017 shooting of James Gately at a filling station on the Clonshaugh Road in north Dublin. Mr Gately sustained injuries to his upper chest and neck but survived after being forewarned by gardaí and wearing a bullet-proof vest. The three-judge court determined beyond reasonable doubt that Smyth, aged 28 and from Cuileann Court, Donore, County Meath, was both the driver and gunman in the organised attack. Evidence included mobile phone location data, CCTV footage identifying Smyth by distinctive tattoos and clothing, and surveillance of Mr Gately's home the preceding day. Gary McAreavey, aged 52 and from Station Road, Castlebellingham, County Louth, was separately convicted of assisting in the destruction of the black Lexus getaway vehicle at Dromiskin, County Louth. The judge found McAreavey knew of the crime before providing assistance. Both men will return for sentencing on 25 January. Caolan Smyth pleaded not guilty. Gary McAreavey pleaded not guilty.
A Special Criminal Court hearing set a trial date for Jason Reed, 39, of Maelduin, Dunshaughlin, Co Meath, on 23 June 2021. Reed faces a money‑laundering charge tied to €32,330 and £390 (≈€441) allegedly found at his home. The court also scheduled arraignment for two co‑accused, Thomas Rooney, 41, and Catherine Dawson, 44, on 20 January. Rooney and Dawson were arrested on suspicion of aiding an organised crime gang and are charged with money laundering and possession of the proceeds of crime. They allegedly possessed €289,770 in euros and £62,025 (≈€70,207) in cash in a blue Nike bag, and separately had €245,840 in cash in a bag on the same date. All three were present at the brief hearing. The trial is expected to last two to three weeks.
The Special Criminal Court will hear the trials of Jason Reed (39), Thomas Rooney (41) and Catherine Dawson (44) following the seizure of €550,000 in cash during searches of cars and a house in Drogheda and elsewhere in the north‑east. The DPP applied under Section 40 of the Criminal Justice Act for a non‑jury trial, and Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Michael Walsh granted the application. None of the accused were present at the hearing, but they are required to appear on 21 December when a trial date will be set. All three are charged with money laundering and possession of the proceeds of crime. Reed is accused of laundering €32,330 and £390 (≈€441) found at his home; Rooney and Dawson are charged with possession of €245,840 in cash in a bag on the same date; all three were previously granted bail by a District Court.
A 44‑year‑old recovering addict, Albert Redmond, was sentenced to 12½ years in prison for a spree of 20 burglaries, two criminal damage offences, three counts of possession of stolen credit cards, a handbag theft and four deception counts involving stolen cards. The crimes, committed between October 2019 and March 2020 in south Dublin, were linked to a relationship that began after his release from prison. Redmond claimed he had devised strategies to avoid relapse, but the relationship introduced him to a partner with a crack cocaine problem, leading to drug use and further offences. Judge Elma Sheahan, after a probation report, imposed the sentence and suspended the final four and a half years on the condition that Redmond engage with the Probation Service and drug counselling programmes upon release. The judge noted his past drug‑free period in 1996 and his desire to remain drug‑free while in custody.
A trial concerning an alleged attempt to obstruct justice following a shooting in Dublin has concluded at the Special Criminal Court. Gary McAreavey, aged 53, of Castlebellingham, County Louth, has pleaded not guilty to assisting in the burning of a vehicle allegedly used in a failed attack on James Gately on May 10, 2017. The prosecution alleged that Mr McAreavey purchased petrol and aided in destroying the car at Newrath, Dromiskin. Defence counsel argued there was insufficient evidence that Mr McAreavey possessed knowledge of the attempted murder. Separately, Caolan Smyth, aged 28, of County Meath, has pleaded not guilty to attempting to murder Mr Gately and to possessing a firearm with intent to endanger. The prosecution contended Mr Smyth fired the shots. The three-judge court will deliver verdicts on January 8, 2021.
The Special Criminal Court heard closing submissions in the trial of Caolan Smyth and Gary McAreavey, who have both pleaded not guilty to charges related to the attempted murder of James Gately. Mr. Smyth is accused of the attempted murder and possessing a firearm with intent to endanger at the Topaz filling station in north Dublin on May 10, 2017. Mr. McAreavey is accused of impeding apprehension by assisting in the burning of the vehicle used in the attack at Newrath, Co Louth. Defence counsel John D Fitzgerald SC argued that the prosecution's circumstantial case relies on a "musical chairs" of shifting associations between the accused, a black Lexus, a mobile phone, and a Louth address. He contended that evidence linking Mr. Smyth to the car, phone, or his home on the morning of the shooting was speculative and lacked clear identification. Conversely, the prosecution maintained that Mr. Smyth was identifiable in CCTV footage and had conducted a "rehearsal" the day before the shooting. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, is in its fourth week. The matter was adjourned to allow Mr. McAreavey's counsel to deliver his closing speech.
The State has told the Special Criminal Court that Caolan Smyth was the man who "pulled the trigger" in the attempted murder of James Gately at a filling station on the Clonshaugh Road in north Dublin on 10 May 2017. Mr Gately was shot five times whilst sitting in his car and sustained injuries to his upper chest and neck. Mr Smyth, aged 28, from Cuileann Court, Donore, County Meath, has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and to possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life. His co-accused, Gary McAreavey, aged 52, from Castlebellingham, County Louth, has pleaded not guilty to obstructing justice by assisting in the destruction of the vehicle used in the shooting. Prosecution counsel submitted that CCTV evidence, mobile phone data, and witness identification linked Mr Smyth to a black Lexus used in a stake-out of Mr Gately's home and the subsequent shooting.
A 28-year-old man from County Meath has pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of James Gately at a Dublin filling station in May 2017. Caolan Smyth has also denied charges of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life. A 52-year-old County Louth man, Gary McAreavey, pleaded not guilty to assisting an offender by purchasing petrol and helping to burn out the vehicle used in the shooting. The trial, heard before the Special Criminal Court, was told that Mr Gately was shot five times at the Topaz garage on Clonshaugh Road and subsequently underwent surgery. The prosecution's case relies substantially on CCTV evidence tracking the movements of a black Lexus at the scene and at locations connected to the injured party, as well as evidence of the vehicle being found burned out in County Louth approximately one hour later. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and two other judges.
Albert Redmond, 44, with 341 prior convictions, pleaded guilty to 20 burglaries, two counts of criminal damage, three counts of possession of stolen credit cards, theft of a handbag and four counts of deception by using stolen credit cards. He said he had planned to avoid relapse after his last release in June 2019 but did not anticipate falling in love. The relationship began soon after release, initially positive, but the partner's crack cocaine use became a feature of the relationship, leading Redmond to commit further offences. He was arrested in January 2020, released, then re‑arrested in March 2020 after a burglary at a café in Harolds Cross. He admitted all offences and stated he had not expected to return to court. Judge Elma Sheehan adjourned sentencing to 23 October 2020 to prepare a probation report. The burglaries mainly targeted cafés, restaurants, offices and shops, with some occurring in private houses.
Caolan Smyth, a 28‑year‑old prisoner remanded for attempted murder, has filed a High Court challenge against his confinement in the Midlands Prison's segregation unit. He alleges that since his transfer a few months ago he has been locked in his cell for 23 hours a day, denied regular exercise, educational and vocational opportunities, and limited to screened visits. Smyth argues that the prison authorities claim he is isolated for his own safety, but he disputes that his life is in danger from other inmates. He contends that the conditions amount to punishment without disciplinary hearings, breach his constitutional rights to bodily integrity and to prepare for trial, and prevent him from meeting his Dublin‑based lawyers after 5:30 pm on weekdays.
In October 2020, the Special Criminal Court will hear the case of Caolan Smyth, 28, who was arrested in October 2019 for attempted murder after a shooting at a Topaz garage in Clonshaugh, north Dublin, on 10 May 2017. Smyth, who was charged at Coolock Garda station, was found guilty of attempted murder and the DPP requested a trial in the Special Criminal Court, a request that was granted. The court also heard the case of Gary McAreavy, 52, of Castlebellingham, who faces a connected charge of impeding a prosecution for the same incident. McAreavy was ordered to sign daily at Dundalk Garda Station, obey a 9 pm‑7 am curfew, and was granted legal aid. Judge Tony Hunt set the trial date for 5 October 2020 and remanded McAreavy on continuing bail to appear again on 28 May 2021. The proceedings remain at the trial stage, with no verdict or sentencing announced.
A 28‑year‑old man, Caolan Smyth, has been charged with the attempted murder of James Gately, a 31‑year‑old father of two from north inner‑city Dublin, following a drive‑by shooting on 10 May 2017. Gately was shot five times at a Topaz garage in Clonshaugh, sustaining injuries to his neck and upper chest while seated in a car, but survived. Smyth was arrested at Coolock Garda station in October 2019 and appeared before Judge Geraldine Carthy at Dublin District Court. The State solicitor, Michael O'Donovan, requested that the case be heard in the Special Criminal Court, a request that Judge Tony Hunt approved. The trial is scheduled to commence on 5 October 2024 at 11 a.m. and is expected to last three weeks. The court also set a mention date of 28 May 2024 to ensure the proceedings proceed smoothly, noting that Smyth will not need to appear on that date.
A 28‑year‑old man, Caolan Smyth, is charged with the attempted murder of 31‑year‑old James Gately, who was shot five times in a drive‑by shooting at a Topaz garage in Clonshaugh, north Dublin, on 10 May 2017. Gately was injured in the neck and upper chest but survived. Smyth was arrested in October 2019 and appeared before Judge Geraldine Carthy at Dublin District Court. The State solicitor requested that the case be transferred to the Special Criminal Court, and Judge Tony Hunt granted the order.
In the Special Criminal Court, the prosecution presented an audio clip from a listening device secretly placed in a Nissan Primastar van, showing Joseph Kelly and Alan Wilson discussing a planned murder of Gary Hanley. The men talked about routes to Fairview, traffic, and how to approach Hanley, who walks to the gym at 5 pm. They also considered how to escape the area and how to handle the van after the act. Liam Brannigan, 37, is charged with conspiring to murder Hanley and has pleaded not guilty. Three other men—Luke Wilson, Joseph Kelly and Alan Wilson—have already pleaded guilty to the conspiracy and have been jailed. The trial continues with the court hearing further evidence from surveillance officers who observed Brannigan driving the van in various locations in September and October 2017. The case remains an ongoing criminal proceeding.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Sandra Warren, aged 43, pleaded guilty to robbing a foreign student on May 23, 2016. The student, who had been in Ireland for four days, was led down a lane by Warren after asking for directions. Warren, who was using drugs at the time, grabbed the student's bag, taking her wallet, bank cards and phone. Garda Daniel Hanlon described the victim as traumatised, left confused and with "whiplash injuries," and noted she had difficulty trusting people after the incident. Warren admitted she was under pressure from a man to obtain money and has since ended that relationship. The court adjourned sentencing to July 1, 2019, to allow a psychiatric assessment and to consider a proposal for restitution. Warren has eight prior convictions for robbery, burglary and theft.
Karl Zambra, 31, of St Teresa's Gardens, Donore Avenue, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison, with the final six months suspended for 12 months, after pleading guilty to possessing drugs for sale or supply. The offence involved selling €40 of cocaine to undercover Gardaí who had posed in plain clothes to test whether he would offer drugs. Zambra and another man approached the officers, spoke briefly, and then Zambra signalled to the other man and said, "Them boys are okay, sort them out?" After the officers purchased the cocaine, Zambra gave them his brother's mobile number and suggested they call it to sort themselves out in the future. He was not arrested until almost a year later to avoid blowing the undercover operation. Zambra has 77 previous convictions, including drug misuse, burglary, dangerous driving, drunk driving and a violent disorder offence in a Garda station.