In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Padraig Dwyer SC represented Niall Finnegan, a 39‑year‑old family man from Cherry Grove, Cullyhanna, who pleaded guilty in July to possessing €103,000 after an ATM theft on 20 August 2019. Dwyer highlighted Finnegan's lack of prior convictions, his community involvement, and the supportive references from family and local groups. He argued the offence was out of character and that Finnegan had cooperated with Gardaí, expressing a desire to stay out of trouble. Dwyer urged the court to consider a non‑custodial sentence, noting that custodial terms should be a last resort. Judge Hunt cautioned that a light sentence could be viewed as unduly lenient and potentially overturned on appeal, and he postponed sentencing to 29 November. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Kenneth Donohoe was found not guilty of murdering Eamon Kelly, while his co‑accused Darren Murphy was convicted. The judge said there was insufficient evidence to prove Donohoe was the driver of the getaway Lexus, that he possessed a Glock handgun, or that he had a direct role in the gang. Evidence was deemed insufficient to establish Donohoe's involvement beyond reasonable doubt. Murphy, aged 51, was found guilty of the murder after evidence showed he acted as a spotter and assisted the gunman, Sean Connolly, and the getaway driver. Murphy was also found not guilty of the second charge of possession of a Glock pistol with intent to endanger life. The court will impose a mandatory life sentence on Murphy and remand him until the sentencing date. The case involved CCTV footage, fingerprints, vehicle links, DNA and firearm residue as circumstantial evidence. The court granted Donohoe a discharge from the indictment.
In a Special Criminal Court session on 10 November 2021, Judge Tara Burns welcomed a group of transition year students and cautioned them that the court would soon show "graphic" CCTV footage of a shooting involving three men. She advised the students to be prepared to leave if they felt upset. The footage, which the students viewed, depicted the attempted murders of Brian Masterson, Wayne Barrett and Austin Purcell at The Player's Lounge Public House on 26 July 2010. Mr Alan Wilson, aged 42, pleaded not guilty to the attempted murders and to possession of firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life. Detective Garda David Dunne presented CCTV evidence from Mount Street, St Stephen's Lane, St Stephen's Place and the pub, showing a van and a Volkswagen Golf at the time of the shooting, the arrival of a man who discharged two firearms, and the subsequent departure of two vehicles.
The trial of Douglas Glynn (37) opened at the Special Criminal Court, where he pleaded not guilty to assisting in a plot to murder James Gately by placing a tracker device on his car. Prosecutors allege Glynn participated in directing the activities of a criminal organisation between December 7, 2016, and April 6, 2017, to target Gately. The State's case relies on circumstantial evidence, including CCTV, mobile phone data, and tracking devices. It is alleged that Glynn travelled to Belfast with Peter Keating and David Duffy on March 30, 2017, to place the device on Gately's vehicle. Keating (40) previously pleaded guilty to directing the activities of a criminal organisation relating to the targeting of Gately and was jailed for 11 years. Imre Arakas (63) was jailed for six years in December 2018 after admitting to conspiring to murder Gately in Northern Ireland between April 3 and 4, 2017. Stephen Fowler (62) and David Duffy (33) have also been jailed for providing logistical support to the plot. The trial, presided over by a three-judge panel, is expected to last three weeks.
The Special Criminal Court has found a 40-year-old man, identified only as YZ, guilty of the false imprisonment and intentional serious harm of Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney. The three-judge panel, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges David McHugh and Gerard Griffin, determined that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that YZ was one of three men who abducted Mr Lunney near his home on September 17, 2019. Mr Lunney alleged he was driven to a yard in Drumbrade, Ballinagh, Co Cavan, where he was threatened to resign his directorship and cease litigation. He claimed his attackers stripped him, doused him in bleach, broke his shin with a wooden bat, cut his face, and carved the letters QIH into his chest. YZ had pleaded not guilty to the charges. He was tried alongside co-accused Darren Redmond (27), Alan O'Brien (40), and Luke O'Reilly (68), all of whom also pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm. While YZ's guilt has been established, the court is currently delivering its judgement regarding the other three defendants. The matter concerning Redmond, O'Brien, and O'Reilly remains pending as the judges continue to articulate their findings and proposed disposals for these co-accused.
Judgment commenced at the Special Criminal Court on November 8th in the trial of four men charged with falsely imprisoning and assaulting businessman Kevin Lunney. Mr Justice Tony Hunt began delivering his ruling after a 40-day trial, reserving verdicts pending continuation following lunch. The judge described Mr Lunney, who was abducted near his Cavan home in September 2019, as a most impressive witness and confirmed the court accepts his account in full. Justice Hunt indicated satisfaction that Mr Lunney was assaulted in a blue horse box located in Drumbrade, and that the treatment he endured constituted false imprisonment and assault causing serious harm. Medical evidence clearly met the threshold for serious harm, the judge stated. Three men have pleaded not guilty: Alan O'Brien of East Wall, Dublin; Darren Redmond, also of East Wall; and Luke O'Reilly of Mullahoran Lower, Kilcogy, County Cavan.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, a bullet removed from the buttocks of a man shot at the Player's Lounge in 2010 was linked to a weapon found in the back of a burning Volkswagen Golf minutes after the attack. Detective Garda Ursula Cummins, a ballistics expert, testified that the bullet matched a .32 Auto Calibre Zastava semi‑automatic pistol recovered from the car. She also noted that cartridges matching a .38 Special Calibre Smith & Wesson revolver were found in the vehicle, though the revolver's serial number had been erased. Mr. Alan Wilson, 42, denies the attempted murders of Brian Masterson, Wayne Barrett and Austin Purcell, as well as possession of firearms and ammunition. The court heard that the pistol could hold nine rounds and the revolver five, and that the pistol's magazine had exploded due to the fire but the rounds were not fired. The prosecution's case also included audio evidence of Mr. Alan Wilson pleaded not guilty. Player's Lounge pleaded not guilty.
Alan Wilson, 42, is on trial at the Special Criminal Court, where he has pleaded not guilty to the alleged attempted murders of Brian Masterson, Wayne Barrett, and Austin Purcell at The Player's Lounge Public House in Dublin 3 on July 26, 2010. He also pleads not guilty to possessing a .38 Special Smith & Wesson revolver and a .32 Auto Zastava pistol with intent to endanger life. Prosecutors presented secret Garda recordings allegedly capturing Wilson admitting to the shooting, stating, "I done that," and expressing surprise that victims survived. The State's case relies on these unprompted admissions and evidence that Wilson and another male planned a separate crime using a route identical to the 2010 incident's getaway. Witnesses described the scene as chaotic, with one off-duty detective witnessing the shooter flee with two handguns. The prosecution argues that surveillance of a Volkswagen Caddy and a Nissan Primastar revealed reconnaissance trips matching the original attack's modus operandi. The trial, scheduled for five weeks before Ms Justice Tara Burns and two colleagues, continues tomorrow. At his arraignment, Wilson attempted to deliver a prepared speech alleging a State show-trial before being interrupted by the presiding judge, who requested only his plea.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, the defence of former Defence Forces member Lisa Smith faced a massive volume of evidence. Ms Smith, 39, is charged under the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005 for membership in ISIS from 28 October 2015 to 1 December 2019 and for financing terrorism by sending €800 via Western Union to a named man on 6 May 2015. Her barrister, Michael O'Higgins SC, informed the court that the State had prepared a verbatim transcript of interviews that exceeded 100 pages each, in addition to an "absolutely enormous" amount of disclosure. The defence struggled to download and print the material, with printers frequently crashing. O'Higgins applied for an adjournment to review the documents, which were given to the defence that morning. The court adjourned the matter to 15 November, with the 12‑week trial scheduled to begin in January. Ms Smith was excused from the brief hearing and from the 15 November hearing.
The Special Criminal Court announced that a judgement in the murder trial of Eamon Kelly will be delivered on 15 November. Kenneth Donohoe, 43, of Hazelgrove Estate, and Darren Murphy, 51, of Rory O'Connor House, are charged with the 2012 killing of gangland figure Eamon Kelly on Furry Park Road, Killester. They also face a firearms charge for unlawful possession of a Glock pistol with intent to endanger life. Both men pleaded not guilty to both charges. The court heard the case this morning, with Justice Alex Owens presiding.
Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch, 58, was further remanded in custody by the Special Criminal Court during a mention hearing where no application was made. Justice Tony Hunt ordered the remand, noting that a further date could be set if the accused wished to make an application. Mr. Hutch, who pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in February 2016, is scheduled to go on trial on October 3, 2022, alongside four other co-accused. He was extradited from Spain after his final appeal was rejected. The trial will also involve Jonathan Dowdall, 43, who was charged with the murder of Mr. Byrne. Patrick Hutch, 28, previously pleaded not guilty to the same alleged murder, but charges against him were dropped in 2019. The court proceedings remain at the trial stage, with the current procedural step being a remand in custody rather than a finalised disposal.
At the Special Criminal Court, William Twomey, 58, was sentenced for his role in the 2017 attack on businessman Edward McAndrew in Omeath, Co Louth. Twomey, who pleaded not guilty, was found guilty of assault causing harm, demanding £50,000 with menaces, and robbing McAndrew of various items including a passport and mobile phones. He was found not guilty of false imprisonment. The judge described Twomey as the initiator of a joint enterprise, noting that the violent outcome exceeded his contemplation. He received a headline sentence of two years for the assault and four years for the robbery and demanding money with menaces. The last year of the robbery and demanding money sentences was suspended for two years, resulting in two years' imprisonment on each charge to be served concurrently. The sentence was backdated to August 29, 2023. Twomey signed a €100 bond upon release. Co-accused Thomas McGuinness, who also pleaded not guilty, was acquitted of all charges on September 30. Separately, Anthony Finglas, 49, pleaded guilty to demanding money with menaces and was jailed for four years and nine months.
In the Special Criminal Court, defence counsel Bernard Condon SC argued that the State's chief witness, Martin Byrne, had lied and was unreliable. Condon said Byrne had told the Criminal Assets Bureau about IRA ties but denied them in court, and later could not recall what he had said. He claimed Byrne's testimony was dishonest and muddled, and that there was no evidence the abduction was intended to evict Byrne from The Towers. Prosecution counsel Shane Costelloe SC maintained that Jim Mansfield Jnr. lured Byrne to a remote office where former terrorist Dessie O'Hare and criminal Declan 'Whacker' Duffy abducted him to evict him from Mansfield's property. Mansfield, 54, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to falsely imprison Byrne and to perverting the course of justice by directing Byrne's brother to destroy CCTV. The judge, Alex Owens, set a mention for 15 November, with no verdict date announced. The case remains at the hearing stage.
The State has applied to have the trial of Bernard Fogarty, 33, accused of attempting to murder Mark Ivers on September 6, 2019, heard before the non‑jury Special Criminal Court. The application, made by State solicitor Ms Ciara Vibien, was successful when Mr Justice Tony Hunt granted a certificate under Section 49 of the Offences Against the State Act. The court has set a mention date for October 18, 2021, to consider the case in the three‑judge Special Criminal Court.
Brendan 'Benny' Treanor (34) of Dundalk, Co Louth, appeared at the Special Criminal Court to be charged with two offences relating to the January 23, 2013, robbery at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth, during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead. Treanor is accused of entering residential premises as trespassers with the intention of stealing vehicle keys, contrary to Common Law, and robbing Pat Bellew of approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques, contrary to Section 14 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001. The court heard that a co-accused male is currently in custody in the UK, with an international warrant issued for his presence in Ireland. Defence counsel indicated a potential application regarding the court's jurisdiction and estimated the trial could last up to four months. The prosecution requested a 2022 trial date due to the volume of material. Presiding Judge Tony Hunt fixed October 3, 2022, as the trial date and December 21, 2021, for a progress mention. Separately, Aaron Brady (30) of Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, was previously sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Det Gda Donohoe, a case that lasted 122 court days.
The Special Criminal Court has rejected Jim Mansfield Jnr's application to dismiss the case, so the trial will proceed to closing speeches. Mansfield, 54, denies setting up an employee to be kidnapped by a gang and denies conspiring to falsely imprison Martin Byrne between 1 January and 30 June 2015. He also denies attempting to pervert the course of justice by directing Patrick Byrne to destroy CCTV footage related to Byrne's false imprisonment at Finnstown House Hotel between 9 and 12 June 2015. The prosecution will present its closing argument tomorrow, followed by Mansfield's defence. Jim Mansfield Jnr pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court heard closing submissions in the trial of Jim Mansfield Jnr, who has pleaded not guilty to conspiring with one or more persons to falsely imprison Martin Byrne between January 1 and June 30, 2015. He also denies attempting to pervert the course of justice by directing Patrick Byrne to destroy CCTV footage. Defence counsel Bernard Condon SC argued that former INLA members Dessie O'Hare and Declan Duffy were on a "frolic of their own" and that there is insufficient evidence to establish a conspiracy involving Mr Mansfield. He contended that the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Mansfield knew of the plot or agreed to it. Prosecution counsel Shane Costelloe SC countered that evidence shows Mr Mansfield conspired with the two men, citing the arrangement of the meeting at Keating Park and the subsequent destruction of CCTV footage as indicators of his involvement. The three-judge court, presided over by Mr Justice Alex Owens, will deliver its judgement on the defence application to acquit tomorrow morning.
Jim Mansfield Jnr, aged 54, denies hiring Declan "Whacker" Duffy or Dessie O'Hare, both of whom have pleaded guilty to falsely imprisoning one of Mansfield's employees. He is on trial at the Special Criminal Court for conspiring to abduct security man Martin Byrne and for attempting to pervert the course of justice by directing Byrne's brother, Patrick, to destroy CCTV footage of Byrne's abduction. Mansfield says he never had an issue with Byrne, who worked for him and lived rent‑free at a Dublin property owned by the Mansfields. He claims he never employed Duffy or O'Hare, who he says were known to him but never worked for him, and denies bringing Byrne to them for any purpose. He also denies telling Patrick Byrne to destroy the recording device. The trial continues before a three‑judge court.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, 39‑year‑old Graham Whelan pleaded guilty to laundering money for an organised crime group, possessing €1.2k in cash and a €28k watch, and paying €2,140 for a three‑night stay at the Intercontinental Hotel on 31 January 2019. He also admitted to possessing cannabis in a penthouse suite on the same night, and to having cocaine and cannabis at his Walkinstown home. Whelan claimed the cash was from a "Swiss roll" and that he had bought the watch on a credit card for €8k, though a valuer placed its value at €28k. He was granted bail in March after judges considered the death of his partner a crucial factor. The court adjourned sentencing to 15 November. The case also noted Whelan's prior convictions, including drug offences and a suspended two‑year sentence for grievous bodily harm in Spain.
A man has been convicted at the Special Criminal Court of handling nearly €104,000 in proceeds from an organised ATM theft gang that stole approximately €790,000 across the Border region. Niall Finnegan, aged 39, was arrested at Tullypole, County Meath, with the cash in his possession. The court heard that between 2019 and the time of arrests two years later, the gang used excavators to forcibly remove ATMs from locations in Cavan and Monaghan, causing significant criminal damage during six raids and attempted raids. In one August 2019 operation on Virginia's Main Street, gardaí witnessed a stolen digger in convoy with a stolen Land Cruiser before intervening. A subsequent search of a Virginia site yielded €298,000. Finnegan admitted possessing the money knowing or believing it was criminal proceeds. The presiding judge stated the accused faced a custodial sentence, describing the thefts as highly organised. Sentencing was adjourned pending background reports.
During the Special Criminal Court hearing, Patrick Byrne testified that Jim Mansfield Jr. instructed him to destroy a digital recording device that stored CCTV footage from Finnstown House hotel. Byrne, who worked in security with Mansfield's brother Martin Byrne, said Mansfield asked him to remove the device from the system and then to bring it out the back and smash it. Byrne had already viewed the footage, which showed two men attempting to access Martin Byrne's car and both Mansfield and Byrne leaving the hotel in a black Audi A6. Mansfield, 55, denies conspiring to falsely imprison Martin Byrne, 53, between January and June 2015, and denies attempting to pervert the course of justice by directing Byrne to destroy the footage. The case is ongoing at the non‑jury Special Criminal Court presided by Justice Alex Owens.
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.
Gerard Hutch, 58, appeared before the Special Criminal Court following his extradition from Spain, where he was charged with the alleged murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in 2016. The court, presided over by Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Berkeley and McHugh, fixed a trial date for October 3, 2022, where Hutch will stand trial alongside four other co-accused. Defence counsel Brendan Grehan SC reserved Hutch's position regarding the lawfulness of his arrest, the charge, and the court's jurisdiction. The court remanded Hutch in custody until October 15, 2022. This proceeding is distinct from the 2019 case of Patrick Hutch, who pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Mr Byrne but was acquitted after charges were dropped. Additionally, Jonathan Dowdall was previously charged with the alleged murder of Mr Byrne and is scheduled to go on trial alongside other co-accused on the same date. The trial date represents a procedural step in the ongoing prosecution, with ancillary matters such as bail and potential applications for separate trials to be addressed in the coming weeks.
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.
Former Sinn Fein councillor Jonathan Dowdall, 43, and three co-accused have been fixed for trial at the Special Criminal Court regarding the 2016 murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in Dublin 9. In July, gardaí served Books of Evidence on the four men, who are all charged in connection with the killing. Mr. Byrne was shot dead on February 5, 2016, after five men, three disguised as armed gardaí, stormed the building during a boxing weigh-in. Jonathan Dowdall is charged with the murder of David Byrne, contrary to Common Law. His father, Patrick Dowdall, 64, is accused of facilitating a serious offence by making a hotel room available to a criminal organisation on February 4, 2016. Co-accused Paul Murphy, 59, is charged with supplying logistical support to a six-man team and providing access to motor vehicles. Jason Bonney, 50, is also charged with facilitating a serious offence by providing access to motor vehicles. Prosecuting barrister Fiona Murphy SC indicated an objection to Mr. Bonney's free legal aid application, with his case put in for October 7, 2021, for mention. Mr. Justice Tony Hunt fixed October 3, 2022, for a trial that could last up to 12 weeks, and put the matter in for an update on April 25, 2022.
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.
A Dublin man, Thomas McConnell, aged 35, will stand trial next year at the non‑jury Special Criminal Court for the murder of Gareth Hutch, aged 36, nephew of Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch. The alleged killing took place on 24 May 2016 at Avondale House, North Cumberland Street, Dublin 1, when Hutch was shot as he entered his car. The State, represented by Fiona Murphy SC, applied to have the case heard before the three‑judge Special Criminal Court, arguing that ordinary courts were inadequate for effective justice. Mr Justice Tony Hunt granted the application and set a trial date of 15 June 2022, with the matter to be mentioned on 11 January 2022. McConnell was present at Tallaght District Court in June on an extradition warrant from Turkey for the murder charge. The case remains pending at the Special Criminal Court.
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.
At the Special Criminal Court in Dublin, closing arguments concluded on Wednesday in the trial of four men accused of the abduction and assault of businessman Kevin Lunney in Cavan on 17 September 2019. The accused, identified as YZ, Alan O'Brien, Darren Redmond and Luke O'Reilly, have all pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm. Defence counsel conceded that circumstances surrounding their clients appeared suspicious but argued this fell short of the proof required for conviction. They challenged the prosecution's reliance on circumstantial evidence, including DNA findings in a Renault Kangoo van, mobile phone location data, and CCTV identification. A central defence submission questioned whether forensic evidence could have been compromised, given unclear access logs at the forensic examination facility in Santry. Counsel also highlighted inconsistencies in witness identification and gaps in telephone evidence the prosecution relied upon. The three-judge court is expected to deliver its verdict following closing arguments.
The Special Criminal Court heard closing submissions in the trial of Alan O'Brien, Darren Redmond, Luke O'Reilly, and a fourth accused identified as YZ. All four defendants pleaded not guilty to the alleged false imprisonment and intentional causing of serious harm to Kevin Lunney, a Quinn Industrial Holdings director, on September 17, 2019. The prosecution, led by Sean Guerin SC, argued that the evidence established the defendants' guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Counsel described the incident as an "ordeal of callous brutality" intended to intimidate Mr. Lunney, citing injuries including a fractured tibia and knife wounds to his face and chest. The state presented DNA evidence linking three accused to a Kangoo van and connected Mr. O'Reilly to the yard where the victim was allegedly held. Although the source text describes the conclusion of the closing speeches, the validated procedural stage is sentence. However, no specific sentence, finding, or finalisation is recorded in the provided validated facts. Consequently, the matter is treated as being at the sentencing stage, with no final disposal or adjournment details available in the validated data to confirm a concluded outcome.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, the Director of Public Prosecutions announced that new charges will be brought in October against Robert Redmond, 32, of Woodview Close, Donaghmede, and Bernard Fogarty, 33, of Cromcastle Court, Kilmore, Coolock, for the attempted murder of Barry Wolverson. The alleged attempt occurred on 17 January 2020 at Madigans Yard, Kileek Lane, Swords, Co Dublin. Mr Wolverson died on 21 February after a prolonged hospital stay. The court set a trial date of 15 June 2022, with the trial expected to last four weeks.
Dubliner David Duffy was sentenced to five years in prison by the Special Criminal Court for supplying logistical support in a Kinahan cartel plot to murder James 'Mago' Gately. Duffy, 33, pleaded guilty in April to participating in a criminal organisation's activities connected to the attempted murder between December 2016 and April 2017. Presiding judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt noted Duffy booked flights for hitman Imre Arakas, sourced vehicles and tracker devices, and possessed SIM cards. Although the judge fixed an eight-year headline sentence, he discounted a quarter due to Duffy's early guilty plea and suspended the final year of the six-year term. Duffy was ordered to engage with probation services for that suspended year, be of good behaviour for three years, and enter a €100 bond. Separately, Peter Keating, 40, pleaded guilty earlier this week to directing the activities of a criminal organisation under Section 71 of the Criminal Justice Act for the same period. The court highlighted that Arakas was intercepted by gardaí before carrying out the contract. Gately survived a subsequent shooting in May 2017 while wearing a bullet-proof vest.
Senior Kinahan Cartel lieutenant Declan Brady was sentenced to eight years and three months in prison, with the final year suspended, for laundering €268,940 of crime cash. He is already serving 11‑and‑a‑half years for firearms offences. Brady's wife, Deirdre Brady, received a fully suspended three‑year sentence for laundering €770,499, and former mistress Erika Lukacs, aged 37, received a fully suspended three‑year sentence for laundering €196,864. The court found that the laundering involved mortgage payments on a Spanish holiday property, a wedding at Druid's Glen, and transfers to other gang members. Brady's wife and Lukacs were not involved in the underlying criminality that generated the cash, and the judge considered their lack of prior convictions and good character in deciding on suspended sentences. The sentences will run from 23 April 2021, the date of Brady's guilty plea.
Graham Whelan, a 38‑year‑old father of four from Walkinstown, pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to laundering €3,415 and to possession of cocaine, cannabis and a high‑end watch. He admitted to three counts of money laundering under the Criminal Justice Act: €1,275 found on his person, €2,140 used to pay for a hotel room, and a Piguet Royal Oak watch that was the proceeds of criminal conduct. He was remanded on continuing bail until 5 October for a sentence hearing.
Niall Finnegan, 39, of Cherry Grove, Cullyhanna, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possessing or handling more than €100,000 of stolen ATM cash. The offence occurred on 20 August 2019 at The Yard, Tullypole, Moynalty, Co Meath, where he had the money for the benefit of, or at the direction of, or in association with, a criminal organisation. The court also considered a second count of handling or possessing €103,930, knowing or being reckless about its criminal provenance, and a third count for aiding the movement of cash in a Toyota Avensis to facilitate a serious offence by the same organisation. Finnegan's bail conditions were relaxed to a single daily sign‑on, a two‑week holiday in August, and removal of his curfew. He remains remanded until a sentencing hearing on 5 October.
The trial of businessman Jim Mansfield Jnr (54) was adjourned at the Special Criminal Court until October. Mansfield, of Saggart, Co Dublin, pleaded not guilty to conspiring to falsely imprison Martin Byrne and attempting to pervert the course of justice by directing Patrick Byrne to destroy CCTV footage. The matter was adjourned after Garda evidence regarding exhibits was heard. Previously, Dessie O'Hare (64) pleaded guilty to falsely imprisoning Byrne and assaulting John Roche. He was sentenced to ten years in prison with three years suspended for the false imprisonment and three years for the assault. Christopher Maguire (41) pleaded guilty to falsely imprisoning Lisa Byrne and received a three-year suspended sentence. Declan 'Whacker' Duffy (46) was also sentenced to six years for false imprisonment. Martin Byrne, who testified that Mansfield was present when he was taken prisoner, is currently in the Witness Protection Programme.
Trevor Byrne, aged 41, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to consecutive jail terms totalling 17½ years for a series of firearms offences and an armed robbery of Boylesports bookmakers in Swords on 19 March 2010. The robbery involved two men and included possession of a loaded 9 mm Luger‑calibre Radom 35 firearm, false imprisonment, a threat to kill, and hijacking a woman's car at gunpoint. Byrne had 44 prior convictions and was already serving a nine‑year sentence for a firearms offence that began in November 2019. The judge imposed eight‑and‑a‑half years for the robbery and false imprisonment, six‑and‑a‑half years for the threat to kill, and seven‑and‑a‑half years each for the firearm possession and car hijacking, with all five sentences running concurrently but consecutively to the earlier firearms conviction. The sentences were reduced by a total of 12 months for mitigation and rehabilitation considerations. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty and was acquitted.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence regarding a van allegedly used in the abduction and assault of businessman Kevin Lunney. A National Surveillance Unit officer testified that on October 21, 2019, he deployed technical equipment inside a Renault Kangoo van parked unlocked on Merchant's Road, Dublin. The prosecution alleges the vehicle was used to transport Mr Lunney from Dublin to Cavan and back on September 17, 2019. DNA matching Mr Lunney was found on the van's sliding door, while DNA matching accused Darren Redmond was found on a bar behind the front seats. Under cross-examination, the detective acknowledged the vehicle was open and accessible to anyone. The defence intends to raise a legal issue regarding the van. The trial is presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh. Four men have pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm to Mr Lunney at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, Co Cavan. The accused are Alan O'Brien (40), Darren Redmond (27), Luke O'Reilly (68), and a 40-year-old man identified as YZ. Mr Lunney testified that he was threatened, beaten, and cut with a Stanley knife, with the letters QIH scored into his chest, before being left on a country road. The court ordered that the identities of the NSU officers not be published to protect their safety.
Robert Day, a 50‑year‑old from Cabra, Dublin, lost his appeal against a 2018 conviction for membership of the Irish Republican Army. The Special Criminal Court had found him a member since age 18 or 19 and sentenced him to five years. The conviction relied on voice‑identification evidence from a bugging operation in Castleknock, where Day was recorded speaking while CCTV confirmed his presence. The prosecution also used belief evidence from a chief superintendent. Day's counsel argued that no procedural safeguards protected the identification evidence, but the Court of Appeal rejected this claim, finding no unfairness. The appeal was dismissed, and the court adjusted the back‑dating of Day's sentence to account for time spent on remand, setting his release for January rather than February 2022.
Luke Wilson, 25, serving a 12‑year sentence for a cocaine‑snorting murder conspiracy, was given an additional two years for threatening to cut the throat of a prison officer and his children. The threat was made at Mountjoy Prison on 17 November 2018 after Wilson, who had been in "bad form", told the officer to "Fuck off, or I'll cut the throat of you". He later threatened the officer's family, saying he would "cut their throats". The court heard Wilson had a history of violence, including an attempted murder in 2013 that left him blind in one eye, and 45 prior convictions. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to three and a half years, consecutive to his existing term, and suspended the final 18 months on strict conditions. Wilson had previously pleaded guilty to the threat. The sentence reflects the seriousness of the repeated, venomous threats made during the day.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Alan O'Brien, Darren Redmond, Luke O'Reilly, and an accused man identified as YZ continues, with all four pleading not guilty to false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm to Kevin Lunney in September 2019. Detective Sergeant Jim McDevitt testified that a fire destroying a Renault Kangoo, allegedly used in the incident, was caused by defective walkie-talkie batteries prone to overheating. The prosecution does not allege Mr. Lunney was in the van, but notes DNA matching his was found on suspected blood stains, while DNA matching Redmond was found on a bar. McDevitt stated gardai moved the vehicle from Santry to a Cavan yard where the fire occurred in February 2020. The witness also reported that an Audi owner failed to identify any buyer during an identity parade. Regarding Redmond, McDevitt confirmed he received €25,000 in August 2019 and is a friend of YZ. For O'Reilly, the court heard he purchased a lorry from a deceased man alleged to have organized the abduction. The prosecution expects to complete its evidence tomorrow, with closing speeches scheduled for Wednesday. The matter is currently at the sentencing stage of proceedings, though the trial is ongoing.
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.
The Special Criminal Court resumed the non‑jury trial of Jim Mansfield Jnr, aged 53, after a seven‑month adjournment. Mansfield is accused of conspiring to falsely imprison Martin Byrne, aged 53, between 1 January and 30 June 2015, and of attempting to pervert the course of justice by directing Patrick Byrne to destroy CCTV footage. Byrne, now in the Witness Protection Programme, testified that Mansfield was "a couple of feet away" when he was taken prisoner by a gang that included former INLA man Dessie O'Hare and former Republican paramilitary Declan "Whacker" Duffy. The trial was adjourned in December to allow Mansfield's lawyers to view previously undisclosed CCTV footage. Defence counsel Tony McGillicuddy challenged redactions, while DPP counsel Shane Costelloe addressed each request. The case continues before Judges Owens, Ni Chulachain and Faughnan, with further evidence to be heard after the summer break. Jim Mansfield Jnr pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Alan O'Brien, Darren Redmond, Luke O'Reilly, and a 40-year-old man identified as YZ continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt. All four defendants have pleaded not guilty to the alleged false imprisonment and intentional serious harm of Kevin Lunney at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, Co Cavan, on September 17, 2019. Prosecution counsel Sean Guerin SC presented evidence from Dr Edward Connolly of Forensic Science Ireland, who testified that DNA matching Mr Lunney was found on the sliding door of a Renault Kangoo van, while DNA matching Mr Redmond was found on bars behind the driver's seat. The prosecution clarified that it does not allege Mr Lunney was in the van, but that his blood was transferred there by someone who had contact with him. Dr Connolly also confirmed that swabs from a horse trailer at a yard owned by Mr O'Reilly yielded a DNA profile matching Mr Lunney. The court heard that the van was destroyed in a fire in early 2020, limiting further testing. Defence counsel raised questions regarding prior forensic sweeps and the visibility of stains. The trial is ongoing and will continue on Monday.
At the Special Criminal Court in Dublin, one of four men accused of abducting and assaulting Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney has been heard refusing to answer key questions during garda interviews. The accused man, identified as YZ for legal reasons, replied "no comment" when asked to explain CCTV footage showing him driving a van in which blood matching Mr Lunney's DNA was later discovered. He denied involvement in the September 2019 abduction at Drumbrade, County Cavan, and denied inflicting injuries on Mr Lunney with a Stanley knife and wooden bat. YZ, along with Alan O'Brien, Darren Redmond, and Luke O'Reilly, has pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm. Detective Sergeant Peter Woods outlined the circumstantial evidence against YZ, including the presence of a motorway toll tag from a vehicle linked to the abduction found in his apartment. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and two other judges.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the trial of Alan O'Brien, Darren Redmond, Luke O'Reilly, and an unnamed defendant, YZ, who have all pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm to businessman Kevin Lunney at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, Co Cavan, on September 17, 2019. Mr Lunney alleged he was abducted, assaulted, and forced to resign from Quinn Industrial Holdings. During proceedings, Detective Garda Lisa Young testified that she found a book titled 'The Forensic Casebook' in the Dublin 3 apartment of the accused man named as YZ. The court also examined the validity of Darren Redmond's arrest, with defence counsel challenging whether Garda Sharon Walsh properly informed his mother of the intent to arrest him; the court will rule on this matter later this week. Additionally, witness Daniel Ivers identified clothing worn by individuals in CCTV footage. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh.
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.
The Special Criminal Court has heard evidence regarding a Renault Kangoo van allegedly used in the abduction of businessman Kevin Lunney. Prosecution counsel Sean Guerin SC stated that the vehicle, with a registration ending in PXU, was imported by the now-deceased Cyril McGuinness, who is alleged to have organised the offence. Witness Laura Curran, a shipping manager, testified that a booking was made for the van to travel from Holyhead to Dublin on August 27, 2019, using a credit card associated with the name "C McGuinness". The trial is presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh. Defendants Alan O'Brien, Darren Redmond, and Luke O'Reilly have all pleaded not guilty to charges of false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm to Mr Lunney at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, Co Cavan, on September 17, 2019. Mr Lunney testified that he was forced into a car boot, taken to a container where he was threatened to resign from Quinn Industrial Holdings, and subjected to severe physical abuse, including being cut, doused in bleach, and having his leg broken. He was later left injured on a country road at Drumcoghill. The court is currently examining the provenance of the vehicle used in the alleged crime.
Two men have been scheduled to stand trial at the Special Criminal Court in April 2022 on a charge of murdering teenager Keane Mulready-Woods. Paul Crosby, aged 25, of Rathmullan Park in Drogheda, County Louth, and Gerard Cruise, aged 47, with addresses in Dublin 1 and Rathmullan Park, are accused of the killing at a house in Rathmullan Park on 12 or 13 January 2020. The trial, which is expected to last six weeks, will be heard before three judges without a jury. The teenager's dismembered remains were discovered at multiple locations in Dublin and Drogheda in January 2020, with his torso found subsequently in March 2021. A further mention of the case is scheduled for December to address disclosure matters, and legal representatives indicated a possible application for separate trials.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Lisa O'Hara (32) and her former partner James Walsh (37) pleaded guilty to multiple counts of handling or possessing cash that was believed to be the proceeds of crime. O'Hara admitted she did not know the money's origin but was reckless in not asking questions. The pair used €60,000 for a house deposit and paid a builder €62,000 in cash for work on their home. Walsh pleaded guilty to 12 counts involving €136,861, while O'Hara pleaded guilty to nine counts involving €119,126, all between 2015 and 2017. Walsh was also serving an eight‑year firearms sentence from a 2017 raid. The court noted O'Hara's remorse, good work record, and role as sole carer, and adjourned sentencing to 30 July.