A Dublin man accused of facilitating the 2016 murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel has been granted bail by the Special Criminal Court. Jason Bonney, aged fifty, of Portmarnock, faces charges of participating in activity that could facilitate a serious offence by a criminal organisation. The court accepted a bail proposal comprising a personal bond of one hundred euro, fifteen thousand euro from his own account, thirty thousand euro from his wife's account, and a further two thousand euro from an independent surety. Standard bail conditions were imposed and the case was adjourned to June. A second accused, Paul Murphy, aged fifty-nine, of Cabra, Dublin, remains in custody with consent to bail pending identification of an independent surety. He is similarly charged with providing logistical support to those involved in the killing. A third defendant, Patrick Dowdall, also of Cabra, did not apply for bail at this hearing. All three cases were adjourned to June for service of the Books of Evidence before the non-jury court.
Declan Brady, Deirdre Brady, and Erika Lukacs appeared before the Special Criminal Court, where Brady pleaded guilty to concealing €268,940 in cash in the attic of a Naas property on January 24, 2017. Prosecutors indicated that additional pleas from all three accused are required. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Sarah Berkeley and David McHugh, remanded Brady in custody for a sentence hearing scheduled for June 14. The matter was adjourned to that date. Previously, in July 2019, Brady was sentenced to 11.5 years for possessing an arsenal of firearms and ammunition at a Dublin business park. Deirdre Brady and Erika Lukacs, who were originally charged with 52 money laundering offences, each pleaded guilty to one count on April 13. Deirdre Brady admitted to concealing the source of funds in a Permanent TSB account between 2014, while Erika Lukacs admitted to similar offences regarding an Allied Irish Bank account in 2012. Both women were remanded in custody for the June 14 sentence hearing. The court proceedings remain at the sentencing stage, with final disposals pending the upcoming hearing.
Paul Murphy, 59, appeared before the Special Criminal Court where he is accused of supplying logistical support to a six-man team suspected of carrying out the murder of David Byrne on February 15, 2016. He is charged with participating in activity intending to facilitate a serious offence by a criminal organisation by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016. The State objected to bail, citing the seriousness of the alleged crime and witness intimidation risks. Justice Tony Hunt noted that a sentence north of eight years could apply in a worst-case scenario, identifying flight risk as a concern. The judge ruled that the €1,000 offered was insufficient and that bail would be granted in principle only if an independent surety could be attached. Murphy stated he had no such acquaintances. The matter was adjourned to Monday, when Murphy, along with co-accused Jason Bonney and Patrick Dowdall, will appear before the three-judge court to bring their bail applications. Bonney is accused of providing vehicle access, while Dowdall is accused of making a room available at the Regency Hotel for the alleged criminal organisation on February 4, 2016. All charges are contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006.
Three men appeared before the Special Criminal Court at an out-of-hours sitting charged in connection with the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in Dublin in February 2016. Patrick Dowdall, Paul Murphy, and Jason Bonney, all from the Dublin area, faced charges under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act relating to alleged participation in activity intended to facilitate a serious offence by a criminal organisation. Dowdall is accused of making a room available at the hotel, whilst Murphy and Bonney are alleged to have provided access to motor vehicles. Gardaí objected to bail for Bonney, indicating he was part of a well-organised crime gang, citing strong evidence including CCTV tracking and mobile phone data. The court granted Bonney bail pending further financial inquiries. Murphy and Dowdall were remanded in custody with bail applications to follow.
The Special Criminal Court heard the prosecution's closing arguments against Trevor Byrne, 41, of Finglas West, who is charged with the 2010 armed robbery of BoyleSports in Swords and the hijacking of a woman's car at gunpoint. The State presented "overwhelming" evidence, including CCTV footage that identified Byrne and a second man, both wearing masks and brandishing handguns, who entered the bookies and robbed the tills. Byrne allegedly dropped his phone at the scene, which was later found to contain a contact for 'Ma', a number linked to his mother Maureen Byrne. The prosecution argued that the phone and its contents tied Byrne to the robbery. Byrne denied all charges. The case was adjourned to May 20 for judgment.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 15 April 2021, a Dublin man, James Walsh, aged 37, and his former partner, Lisa O'Hara, aged 32, were charged with 44 money‑laundering offences under Section 7 of the Criminal Justice Act 2010. The charges cover the period 1 January 2015 to 28 February 2017 and involve amounts up to €62,000. They include concealing or disguising the source of cash used to pay a house deposit on Wheatfield Avenue, Clondalkin, and the conversion, transfer, and use of money credited to a Bank of Ireland account and a Palmerstown Credit Union account. Walsh is also charged with hiding €19,000 in a wardrobe on 24 January 2017. Both were served with books of evidence; O'Hara was remanded in custody until 27 May with a €10,000 bail bond and conditions, while Walsh was remanded to the same date. The judge awaited the defendants' decision on a trial date.
David Duffy, 33, of Clondalkin, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to having knowledge of a criminal organisation and contributing to activities connected with the attempted murder of James Gately. The court heard that Mr Gately was shot multiple times in his car on Clonshaugh Road in May 2017. Duffy admitted to participating in these activities with the intention of enhancing the organisation's ability to commit serious offences between December 2016 and April 2017. Presiding Judge Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges Sarah Berkeley and David McHugh, remanded Duffy on continuing bail until June 21 for a sentence hearing. Three other men remain charged with involvement in the attempted murder: Peter 'Peadar' Keating, 39, of Clondalkin; Stephen Fowler, 61, of Clonsilla; and Douglas Glynn, 35, of Dublin 1. Mr Keating is additionally alleged to have directed the activities of a criminal organisation between December 2016 and April 2017. All four defendants face charges under Section 72(1A) of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, with Mr Keating also facing a charge under Section 71. The matter regarding Duffy was adjourned for sentencing, while the cases of the co-accused remain ongoing.
Ms Helen Leigh gave evidence in the Special Criminal Court that on 19 March 2010 she was hijacked at gunpoint near Applewood Village, Swords. Two masked men forced her into a car, demanded proof of her address, threatened to kill her if she reported the incident, and asked if she had children. Leigh described the men as wearing dark clothing and a balaclava, one holding a small silver gun. They took a business letter containing her address, tore it, and left her with a phone that had 15 missed calls. The ordeal lasted about 20–25 minutes. The testimony is part of the trial of Trevor Byrne, 41, charged with armed robbery, possession of a firearm, vehicle seizure, false imprisonment, and threatening to kill Leigh. Byrne denies all charges. The trial is ongoing in the non‑jury court.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, William Twomey (56) and Thomas McGuinness (33) were charged with four non‑scheduled offences against Edward McAndrew. The prosecution alleged that on 2 December 2017, Twomey and McGuinness lured McAndrew to a remote site at One Ferry Hill, Cornamucklagh, Louth, where they beat him with iron bars, threatened him, and placed him in a car boot. They demanded €50,000 and robbed him of keys, money, a travel bag, a wallet, a briefcase, two mobile phones and an Irish passport. McAndrew was also alleged to have been falsely imprisoned. The court heard evidence that Twomey sent fraudulent emails to McAndrew, that McGuinness drove him to the attack, and that items taken from McAndrew were found in Twomey's possession. McAndrew was to give evidence of the assault, injuries and medical treatment he received. The trial was set to resume with three judges presiding. William Twomey pleaded not guilty. Thomas McGuinness pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Dubliner Trevor Byrne, 41, of Finglas West, continues before a three-judge panel. Mr Byrne, who has denied all charges, faces five offences alleged to have occurred in 2010 and charged in 2011. He is accused of robbing BoyleSports in Swords of €1,490 at gunpoint, possessing a firearm with intent to commit robbery, seizing a vehicle by threat of force, falsely imprisoning a woman, and threatening to kill her. Prosecution evidence presented by Mr Shane Costelloe SC included testimony from manager James Robertson, who stated he believed he was going to die when a gun was pointed at his head. Deputy manager Emma O'Reilly and cashier David Coleman also testified that they were threatened with firearms. The State's case alleges that Mr Byrne and an accomplice hid in the shop's bathroom for 35 minutes before emerging with guns. They allegedly fled to Thornleigh Avenue, where they seized a vehicle driven by Helen Leigh, threatening her before abandoning her. The trial, transferred from the Circuit Criminal Court last September, is expected to last up to two weeks. Mr Byrne is represented by Mr John D Fitzgerald SC. The matter is currently ongoing and has not been finalised.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 13 April 2021, Deirdre Brady (53) and Erika Lukacs (37) pleaded guilty to one count each of money‑laundering offences under Section 7 of the Criminal Justice Act 2010. Brady, wife of Declan Brady, admitted to concealing or disguising the true nature of money credited to a Permanent TSB account between 1 January and 31 December 2014, knowing or believing the funds were proceeds of crime. Lukacs admitted similar conduct with an Allied Irish Bank account between 1 January and 31 December 2012. Both were remanded on continuing bail until 14 June for a sentence hearing. Declan Brady, appearing by videolink, was granted legal aid and remanded in custody until 23 April. The court received evidence from the National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and served books of evidence and USB keys to the defendants.
The Special Criminal Court has declared the 2017 conviction of Michael Connolly a miscarriage of justice. Connolly, of Dundalk, County Louth, had pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself Oglaigh na hEireann, otherwise the Irish Republican Army, otherwise the IRA on December 16, 2014. He spent 14 months and 22 days in custody following his initial conviction. The court found a "grave defect" in the administration of justice caused by Garda Assistant Commissioner Michael O'Sullivan. O'Sullivan had asserted during the original trial that none of the material forming the basis of his belief was in the Book of Evidence. The court described this assertion as "seriously incomplete and misleading" and "careless," noting it prevented the issue of "double counting" from being properly examined. Although the court found beyond reasonable doubt that O'Sullivan genuinely believed Connolly was an IRA member and that evidence implicated Connolly in transporting two improvised explosive devices, it could not rely on the belief evidence as independent. The court concluded that if the double counting issue had been properly considered, the original court would likely have been compelled to acquit. This decision follows a 2018 Court of Appeal ruling that set aside the conviction and ordered a retrial, and a 2019 retrial in which Connolly was acquitted. The court approved the certificate for the Miscarriage of Justice application.
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.
The Special Criminal Court has ruled that key identification evidence is admissible in the ongoing trial of Lee Canavan, who is accused of murdering David Douglas. Mr. Canavan, 31, of Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr. Douglas (55), who was shot six times at Shoestown, Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 1, on July 1, 2016. He also denies a charge of criminal damage to a vehicle. The prosecution alleges Canavan was the triggerman in a planned assassination. Judge Michael MacGrath, presiding with Judges Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Dermot Dempsey, rejected the defence application to exclude CCTV footage and Garda identification evidence, finding no breach of constitutional privacy rights. The State contends Canavan was linked to Frederick 'Fat Freddie' Thompson, who was jailed for life for the murder in 2018. Gareth Brophy, jailed for ten years in 2020, and Nathan Foley, jailed for six years in 2019 after pleading guilty to assisting a criminal organisation, are also connected to the case. The trial continues with closing speeches expected.
Sean Ruth, 32, of Portlaoise, Co Laois, was remanded on continuing bail until May 17 for sentencing after pleading guilty to two money laundering offences at the Special Criminal Court. Prosecutors alleged that Ruth, described as a mid-tier Kinahan Cartel member, allowed his bank accounts to be used to launder over €50,000 in crime proceeds between 2016 and 2017 while claiming State benefits and paying no tax. He has paid the Criminal Assets Bureau over €20,000, with his mother assisting to discharge the remaining €9,000 liability. Defending counsel argued that Ruth has reformed since his 2019 release from a previous three-year firearms sentence and requested the court consider whether imprisonment was necessary. The court heard that Ruth was previously linked via DNA evidence to a revolver found at a Greenogue business park, an arsenal that also contained weapons seized from James Walsh and Jonathan Harding. Walsh, 36, and Harding, 48, were previously sentenced to 10 years and nine years imprisonment respectively, with the final year of each sentence suspended, after pleading guilty to possessing nine revolvers, four pistols, a sub-machinegun, an assault rifle, and ammunition at the same location. Ruth's current matter remains adjourned for final sentencing.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Graham Whelan, a 38‑year‑old father of four, was charged with ten non‑scheduled offences, including drug trafficking and money‑laundering. Gardaí alleged that he had received €1,275 in cash from "up his Swiss roll" and €2,140 for a hotel stay, both allegedly proceeds of criminal conduct. They also seized an Audemers Piguet watch valued at €28,000, a tick list with drug code names, several mobile phones, and cocaine and cannabis. Whelan was arrested on a warrant in Walkinstown and later released without charge. The court granted bail with conditions: an independent surety of €20,000, surrender of his passport, curfew, daily reporting, and a requirement to remain at his family home. The judge noted his flight risk but cited the recent death of his partner and his responsibility for four children as mitigating factors. The case is scheduled for trial by September.
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.
A man acquitted of IRA membership in the Special Criminal Court has had his case examined for miscarriage of justice findings. Michael Connolly, aged 47 from County Louth, was convicted in 2017 of membership of an unlawful organisation following his arrest in Convoy, Donegal. He spent over fourteen months in custody before the Court of Appeal quashed his conviction in 2018, citing the trial court's refusal to examine intelligence files underlying the Assistant Commissioner's belief evidence. A retrial in 2019 resulted in acquittal. At a recent hearing, Connolly's legal representatives argued the original conviction constituted a classic miscarriage of justice, contending that belief evidence had been formed using case materials in breach of the rule against double counting. They highlighted that disclosure of intelligence file extracts during the retrial directly contradicted the Assistant Commissioner's previous testimony. The Director of Public Prosecutions opposed the miscarriage of justice application, arguing acquittal did not automatically warrant such certification. The three-judge panel reserved judgement. Michael Connolly pleaded not guilty.
Graham Whelan, 38, father of four, appeared before the Special Criminal Court in Dublin charged with ten non‑scheduled offences. He is accused of laundering €1,275 and €2,140 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Ballsbridge on 31 January 2019, and of converting a Piguet watch and possessing a BQ Aquarius phone, all allegedly linked to drug trafficking. Whelan is also charged with possession of cocaine and cannabis at the hotel, and cannabis at his Walkinstown home on 1 May 2019. Additionally, he is accused of concealing the source of money used to renovate his Walkinstown property between 21 August 2018 and 1 May 2019, and of using that money for the same purpose. Garda Donal Donoghue presented evidence of Whelan's arrest and the charges, noting the defendant's refusal to engage with the officer. The court, presided over by Justice Michael MacGrath, remanded Whelan in custody until a bail application on Wednesday morning.
The trial of Lee Canavan (31), who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of David Douglas (55) and criminal damage, continues before the Special Criminal Court. Mr Douglas was shot six times at Shoestown, Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 1, on July 1, 2016. The State alleges Canavan was the triggerman in a meticulously planned assassination involving four vehicles. Prosecution counsel Sean Gillane SC stated that evidence would link Canavan to two cars via fingerprints and DNA. Forensic scientist Sarah Fleming testified that a DNA profile from a cigarette butt in a Ford Fiesta matched Canavan. Amanda Lennon provided evidence supporting a collision between a Mitsubishi Mirage and a Suzuki Swift. Detective Garda Raymond Kane testified that two fingermarks from Canavan's left thumb were found on the rearview mirror of the Ford Fiesta. Canavan also denies damaging a Suzuki Swift at Strand Road, Sandymount, on July 4, 2016. Previously, Frederick 'Fat Freddie' Thompson (41) was jailed for life for the murder. Nathan Foley (22) pleaded guilty to assisting a criminal organisation and was jailed for six years. Gareth Brophy (26) was jailed for ten years for acting as a getaway driver. The case is adjourned to Monday afternoon before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, Ms Justice Sinead Ní Chúlacháin, and Mr Justice Dermot Dempsey.
A man accused of perverting the course of justice in connection with a dissident republican murder has been remanded on bail pending judgment. The Special Criminal Court hearing concerns Ray Kennedy, who is charged with deliberately destroying a mobile telephone SIM card on the day Peter Butterly was shot dead at Gormanston, County Meath in March 2013. The prosecution contends the SIM card would have been of significant evidential value to the murder investigation. Mr Kennedy's defence counsel argued his client had plausible reason to panic after arranging to meet Mr Butterly that afternoon about an illicit matter, and that the State has failed to prove the charge beyond reasonable doubt. The three-judge court, presiding Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Gerard Griffin and Flann Brennan, will deliver judgment on May 17th. Four men have already received life sentences for Mr Butterly's murder, with two others jailed for roles in the killing. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
A 32‑year‑old man, Sean Ruth of Anamcara, Warrington Lane, Co Kilkenny, pleaded guilty before the Special Criminal Court to two counts of crime cash laundering under the Criminal Justice Money Laundering & Terrorist Financing Act 2010. He admitted, on various dates in 2016, to concealing or disguising the true nature or source of money credited to an Allied Irish Bank account in his name, and to converting, transferring, handling, acquiring, possessing or using that money, knowing or believing it was the proceeds of criminal conduct. Ruth had originally faced eight offences but pleaded guilty to these two. The court remanded him on continuing bail until March 26 for a sentence hearing.
In March 2021, John Roche, a 57‑year‑old barber from Bridgefoot Street, Dublin, lost an appeal against the severity of his seven‑year prison sentence for possessing 152 kg of homemade explosives. The appeal argued that Roche had no prior convictions, was well‑known for charitable work, and had not previously attracted Garda attention. The Court of Appeal upheld the Special Criminal Court's decision, noting that Roche's sentence had been reduced from a headline ten years to seven after considering mitigating factors such as his good record and community standing. The court found no rational basis for suspending any part of Roche's sentence, unlike co‑accused John Brock, whose 18‑month suspended portion was tied to a condition of dissociating from the IRA. John Brock pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the ongoing trial of Lee Canavan (31), who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of David Douglas (55) at Shoestown, Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 1, on July 1, 2016. Former State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy testified via video-link that Mr Douglas died from six gunshot injuries sustained while standing in his shop doorway. She detailed that five bullets exited the body, while one remained in his trunk, causing extensive damage to his jaw and neck. The prosecution alleges this was a meticulously planned assassination, with Canavan identified as the shooter. They further claim a stolen Mercedes-Benz, linked to Canavan via fingerprints and DNA, was used as the getaway vehicle before being set alight. Canavan also denies a separate charge of criminal damage to a Suzuki Swift. This is the fourth prosecution related to the killing; previously, Frederick 'Fat Freddie' Thompson was jailed for life for the murder, Gareth Brophy received a ten-year sentence for acting as a getaway driver, and Nathan Foley pleaded guilty to assisting a criminal organisation, receiving a six-year sentence. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath and colleagues.
The Special Criminal Court heard eyewitness testimony in the ongoing trial of Lee Canavan, who has pleaded not guilty to the murder of shoe shop manager David Douglas (55) in Dublin 1 on July 1, 2016. Mr. Douglas was shot six times, sustaining injuries to his chest, neck, back, torso, elbow, and jaw. Canavan also denies a second charge of criminal damage to a Suzuki Swift on July 4, 2016. Prosecution counsel described the incident as a meticulously planned assassination, alleging Canavan was the shooter. Witness Shane Egan testified that he saw a man enter the shop, heard shots, and observed the suspect walk away while smirking. Medical evidence confirmed Mr. Douglas died at 4:55 pm. A loaded semi-automatic pistol was recovered at the scene. Evidence also linked Canavan to a Mitsubishi involved in the alleged arson of the Suzuki Swift, where he was arrested with €1,065 in cash and petrol on his clothing. The court noted that Nathan Foley (22) was jailed for six years in 2019 after pleading guilty to assisting a criminal organisation by driving one of four cars and buying mobile phones. Additionally, Frederick 'Fat Freddie' Thompson (41) was jailed for life in 2018 for the murder, and Gareth Brophy (26) received a ten-year sentence in February 2020 for acting as a getaway driver. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael MacGrath.
Lee Canavan (31) pleaded not guilty to the murder of David Douglas (55) and criminal damage to a Suzuki Swift at the Special Criminal Court. The prosecution alleges Mr. Canavan shot Mr. Douglas six times at Shoestown, Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 1, on July 1, 2016, describing the incident as a meticulously planned assassination. Witness John Shaw, a worker at the adjacent 'Busy Bees' service, testified to hearing gunshots and finding Mr. Douglas on the floor with blood everywhere. Other witnesses described a man in black clothing fleeing into a dark grey Mercedes. Mr. Canavan denies the charges, while the state links him to two vehicles via fingerprint and DNA evidence. This is the fourth person charged in connection with the killing. Previously, Frederick 'Fat Freddie' Thompson (41) was jailed for life for the murder. Nathan Foley (22) pleaded guilty to assisting a criminal organisation by driving one of four cars and buying mobile phones, receiving a six-year sentence. Gareth Brophy (26) was jailed for ten years in February 2020 for his role as getaway driver. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, Ms Justice Sinead Ní Chúlacháin, and Mr Justice Dermot Dempsey, is expected to last four weeks and continues tomorrow.
Ray Kennedy, aged 40, has pleaded not guilty at the Special Criminal Court to a charge of perverting the course of justice. The prosecution alleges that Kennedy deliberately destroyed a mobile phone SIM card on 6 March 2013, the day dissident republican Peter Butterly was shot dead in the carpark of the Huntsman Inn at Gormanston, County Meath. Kennedy had arranged to meet Butterly that afternoon and arrived at the scene shortly after the shooting. The State contends that Kennedy's phone had been in contact with a burner phone connected to the killing, and that destroying the SIM card was intended to hamper the garda investigation. Kennedy, attending his trial remotely, is accused of deliberately destroying evidence of significant value. Four men have already received life sentences for Butterly's murder, and two others have been imprisoned for their roles in the killing. The trial, before three judges, is expected to last four to five weeks.
The trial of Lee Canavan (31) has opened at the Special Criminal Court, where he pleaded not guilty to the murder of David Douglas (55), who was shot dead at Shoestown, Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 1, on July 1, 2016. Canavan also denies criminal damage to a vehicle on July 4, 2016. The State alleges Canavan "literally pulled the trigger" in a "meticulously planned assassination," presenting evidence of a semi-automatic pistol found near the victim and linking Canavan to two vehicles via fingerprints and DNA. Prosecutors detailed the movements of four cars used in the offence, including a Mercedes set alight near Carman's Hall and a Suzuki burned on Strand Road. Nathan Foley (22) was previously jailed for six years after pleading guilty to assisting a criminal organisation by driving one of the cars and buying mobile phones. Frederick 'Fat Freddie' Thompson was jailed for life by the Special Criminal Court for the murder; however, his defence counsel noted a live appeal is currently pending in Thompson's case. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Michael McGrath, Ms Justice Sinead Ní Chúlacháin, and Mr Justice Dermot Dempsey, is scheduled to last four weeks.
In a first for Irish courts, Mr Justice Tony Hunt granted an accused the right to attend a criminal trial remotely via video‑link. Ray Kennedy, charged with perverting the course of justice in the murder of Peter Butterly, will be allowed to participate in his Special Criminal Court hearing from March 1, 2021. Kennedy, 40, is accused of destroying a SIM card on the day of Butterly's shooting. The court found Kennedy had exceptional family circumstances: his 35‑year‑old father of two, Peter Butterly, was killed in a car‑park in Gormanston on 6 March 2013, and Kennedy's daughter has a serious congenital condition requiring regular hospital visits. Imelda Kelly, Kennedy's counsel, argued that travel would heighten risk to the child. The three‑judge panel, including Judges Griffin and Brennan, accepted the application, noting no substantive objection from the State. The trial, expected to last four to five weeks, will begin on Monday.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Declan Brady (54), his wife Deirdre Brady (53), and Erika Lukacs (37) were charged with 68 cash‑laundering offences under Section 7 of the Criminal Justice Act 2010. The charges cover a five‑year period from 1 January 2012 to 24 January 2017 and involve amounts ranging from €2,000 to €269,000. Brady faces 16 non‑scheduled offences, Deirdre 36, and Lukacs 16. Allegations include concealing €2,000 and £10,000 in a breadbin and €268,940 in an attic at The Dairy, Naas, on 24 January 2017, and manipulating funds in Ulster Bank, Allied Irish Bank and Permanent TSB accounts between 2012 and 2016. Detectives from the National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau presented evidence of arrests, warrants and the charge sheets. All three accused were remanded in custody until 24 March, with bail conditions for Deirdre and Erika, and Brady also remanded until that date.
In a 2021 Court of Appeal decision, the Special Criminal Court was affirmed as having the authority to rely on the belief evidence of Detective Chief Superintendent Anthony Howard in convicting Conor Metcalfe, a 30‑year‑old from Clondalkin, of IRA membership. Howard had claimed privilege over the material used to form his opinion, citing state security concerns. The conviction was based on Metcalfe's refusal to answer numerous material questions during a Garda interview under Section 2 of the Offences Against the State Act, which allows courts to draw inferences from such refusals. The Court of Appeal upheld the trial judge's reliance on these inferences, finding no procedural unfairness. Metcalfe was sentenced to four years and six months' imprisonment, backdated to his arrest in December 2018, after the Special Criminal Court had imposed a headline sentence of five years for the offence of membership in an unlawful organisation.
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.
Imre Arakas, 62, an Estonian hitman jailed by the Special Criminal Court for six years in December 2018, is set to file a bid to halt his surrender to Lithuania on March 23. He was convicted for conspiring to murder James Gately in Northern Ireland on 3–4 April 2017, a plot carried out by the Kinahan cartel. Lithuanian authorities seek his extradition over the murder of a man who had an affair with pop star Vita Jakutiene, along with firearms, conspiracy and criminal damage charges. Arakas was arrested in Dublin in February 2018 under a European Arrest Warrant issued by Lithuania. His extradition hearing is scheduled for March 23, but the High Court may defer it pending the outcome of an appeal in a separate extradition case involving Liam Campbell. The hearing is expected to last a full day. The case is listed for mention on March 15. Imre Arakas pleaded guilty.
Four men are charged with the false imprisonment and assault of Kevin Lunney, a director of Quinn Industrial Holdings, at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, County Cavan on 17 September 2019. The trial at the non-jury Special Criminal Court has been further delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Mr Justice Tony Hunt indicated the 12-week trial would not commence before 1 March, following directions from the President of the High Court. The judge listed the case for mention on 24 February to confirm the March start date and establish trial procedures. Luke O'Reilly, Darren Redmond, and Alan O'Brien are named among the accused; a fourth man cannot be identified for legal reasons. The court previously dismissed applications to halt proceedings concerning data retention uncertainties and an ongoing Garda ombudsman investigation into allegations regarding evidence handling.
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.
Two Dublin men, Robert Redmond (32) and Bernard Fogarty (33), are charged with attempting to murder Barry Wolverson in a January 2020 shooting at Madigans Yard, Swords, Co Dublin. They are also accused of assaulting Gerard Wildman on the same day, possessing a firearm and ammunition (.38/.357 calibre) with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury. The Director of Public Prosecutions applied on 5 January 2021 for the cases to be tried before the Special Criminal Court under Section 49 of the Offences Against the State Act, citing that ordinary courts were inadequate for effective justice. Judge Tony Hunt, with Judges Gerard Griffin and Flann Brennan, granted the order.
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 trial of four men accused of abducting and assaulting Kevin Lunney, a Quinn Industrial Holdings executive, has been adjourned by the Special Criminal Court. Mr Justice Tony Hunt determined on Tuesday that proceeding with the trial as originally scheduled for January 11 would be "undesirable and imprudent" given escalating coronavirus case numbers. The judge stated the trial would now commence on February 1. Three of the accused are Luke O'Reilly from Kilcogy, County Cavan, Darren Redmond from Dublin, and Alan O'Brien from Dublin. A fourth man cannot be named for legal reasons. All face charges of false imprisonment and assault causing serious harm to Mr Lunney at Ballinagh, County Cavan in September 2019. The case will return for mention on January 11 to address disclosure matters. The trial is expected to last approximately twelve weeks.
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.
Trevor Byrne, aged 40, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to nine years' imprisonment for possessing a loaded 9mm Luger‑caliber Radom 35 handgun in a cabin at his Woodford Grove house on 15 November 2019. He also pleaded guilty to possession of ammunition and €3,050 in cash, which he claimed were proceeds of crime. Byrne had 40 prior convictions, including a 2005 robbery where he pointed a gun at Gardaí and held a taxi driver's head to a gun. He had previously been convicted of possession of a loaded double‑barrel shotgun, unlawful vehicle seizure and robbery, receiving sentences ranging from two to eight years, and was released in November 2009. The court noted that this was his second offence involving a firearm, with a maximum sentence of 14 years. The judge applied a 10 per cent reduction for the guilty plea, back‑dating the sentence to November 2019.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Bernard Fogarty, 32, was sentenced to five years and three months imprisonment for possession of a RAK PM‑63 submachine gun. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, noted the weapon was not in immediate use but was intended for future use, and that Fogarty's conduct was linked to organised crime. Fogarty pleaded guilty, which led to a 25 % reduction from the headline seven‑year sentence, resulting in the final term of five years and three months, with the last three months suspended and backdated to his time in custody. He must keep the peace, be of good behaviour and undergo one year of probation supervision after release. The case was based on DNA evidence linking Fogarty to the gun recovered from a vehicle in the Shankill area. The judge emphasised that the damage caused by gun crime cannot be ignored.
The Special Criminal Court adjourned the trial of Jim Mansfield Jnr until June 2, 2021, following a second delay caused by newly disclosed CCTV footage. Mansfield, 53, of Saggart, pleaded not guilty to conspiring to falsely imprison Martin Byrne and attempting to pervert the course of justice by directing the destruction of CCTV footage. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Alexander Owens with Judges Ni Chulachain and Faughnan, granted the defence time to review 12 days of previously undisclosed footage. While the trial is adjourned, related proceedings concluded with Christopher Maguire, 41, of Lusk, receiving a three-year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to falsely imprisoning Martin and Lisa Byrne in Rathcoole/Saggart on June 9, 2015. Maguire's sentence was suspended, with no effective custody imposed. In a separate 2007 matter, James O'Gorman was convicted of defrauding a company director of €54,000. The current trial remains ongoing, with the next mention scheduled for January 2021.
In the Special Criminal Court, the three‑judge panel rejected the defence's request to discharge the judges and order a retrial of Jim Mansfield Junior. Mansfield, 53, is accused of conspiring to falsely imprison Martin Byrne and of attempting to pervert the course of justice by directing Byrne to destroy CCTV footage. The defence, led by Bernard Condon SC, sought to exclude a significant portion of newly disclosed CCTV footage and to adjourn the trial until the defence could review the material. The judges denied both the discharge and the exclusion, stating that the defence would still have an opportunity to question Byrne. The trial, which had been adjourned on 19 November due to the late disclosure of CCTV, was scheduled to resume on 15 December, but further adjournments are expected because of delays in serving the defence with the footage. The case remains in progress. Martin Byrne pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court sentenced Jonathan Harding to five years and three months' imprisonment for laundering over €342,000 for a serious criminal organisation. Harding, 48, pleaded guilty to five offences under the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act 2010. Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed a headline sentence of six years and nine months, suspending the final 18 months on all charges, with all sentences running concurrently. Harding signed a bond to be of good behaviour for three years post-release. The judge noted Harding's prior conviction for possessing nine revolvers, four pistols, a sub-machine gun, an assault rifle, and ammunition, for which he received a ten-year sentence in January 2018. Co-accused Carol Davis, 45, pleaded guilty to three offences under the same Act, admitting she was reckless in allowing Harding access to her accounts but denying involvement in underlying criminality. She received a three-year suspended sentence on all offences, signing a bond to be of good behaviour for that duration. The court found that accounts linked to both were used as a travel service for the organisation. Separately, Declan Brady, 54, was previously sentenced to 11-and-a-half years' imprisonment in July 2019 after pleading guilty to possessing the same weapons cache, having been tasked by senior criminal figures to supervise it.
Regina Keogh (42) appealed her conviction for the murder of Gareth Hutch to the Court of Appeal. In 2018, the Special Criminal Court found Keogh guilty of colluding with her brother, Jonathan Keogh (34), to cause serious injury to Mr Hutch. Jonathan Keogh was found guilty of the 'deliberate and callous murder' of Mr Hutch on May 24, 2016. Both were sentenced to life in prison. A third accused, Thomas Fox (32), was also convicted and sentenced to life. All three defendants had denied the crime. The prosecution alleged Regina Keogh was instrumental in planning the attack, encouraging a neighbour to allow Jonathan Keogh to use her flat as a base, and providing latex gloves. Defence counsel Patrick Gageby SC argued the trial court erred in law by drawing inferences from DNA evidence on the gloves, suggesting Jonathan Keogh's own handling of the gloves provided an innocent explanation for the DNA. The DPP, represented by Fiona Murphy SC, countered that the gloves were not the sole basis for the conviction and that no error undermined the verdict. The hearing before Justice George Birmingham, Justice Patrick McCarthy, and Justice Isobel Kennedy was adjourned and continues tomorrow.
Bernard Fogarty, 32, known to Gardaí as heavily involved in organised crime, will be sentenced at the Special Criminal Court for possession of a RAK PM‑63 submachine gun. The weapon was found in the passenger footwell of a white Nissan Pulsar that was intercepted in the Shankill area of County Dublin. Fogarty was a passenger in a second vehicle, a silver Hyundai jeep, and was not involved in the hand‑over of the gun. DNA from Fogarty matched DNA on the gun, and a red baseball cap he wore on 7 March was recovered at his Donaghmede address. The gun was not loaded, was in poor condition, and had been heavily gummed. Fogarty pleaded guilty at a non‑jury court and has 40 prior convictions, including criminal damage, assault and burglary. He has been remanded in custody until his sentencing next Monday. The court will consider mitigating factors such as his drug difficulties and cooperation with the investigation.
At the Special Criminal Court, books of evidence were served on five men accused of ATM thefts and related offences in Cavan and Monaghan. The accused are Daniel O'Callaghan, Ciaran Duffy, Gerard Duffy, Niall Finnegan, and Stephen Duffy. O'Callaghan, a former Crossmaglen footballer, is charged with the attempted theft of an ATM at the Riverfront Hotel in Virginia, Co Cavan, on August 14, 2019, allegedly for the benefit of a criminal organisation. He also faces charges of theft and criminal damage involving an ATM in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, in April 2019. Additionally, he is accused of possessing €298,000, a petrol can, a stolen Toyota Landcruiser, a stolen 14-tonne digger, bolt-cutters, and a stolen flatbed trailer. Ciaran and Gerard Duffy are charged with participating in the movement and possession of cash to facilitate a criminal organisation, as well as the attempted ATM thefts in Virginia and Castleblayney. They are also accused of possessing the stolen digger, trailer, Landcruiser, bolt-cutters, and petrol can, and handling sums of €280,900, €103,930, and €22,000. Niall Finnegan and Stephen Duffy are accused of participating in the movement of and handling €103,930. All charges are alleged or contested. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Michael Walsh, remanded all five men on continuing bail until February 1, when their cases are listed for mention again.
Former INLA member Dessie O'Hare, known as "The Border Fox", has dismissed his legal team ahead of his appeal against the severity of his seven-year sentence. O'Hare, of Newtownhamilton, County Armagh, was jailed by the Special Criminal Court last year for falsely imprisoning a family and leading a violent attack. He pleaded guilty to assaulting John Roche and falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at Rathcoole and Saggart on June 9, 2015. The court also considered counts regarding Byrne's wife and son. O'Hare received three years for the assault and ten years, with three suspended for life, for the false imprisonment, with sentences running concurrently. In a remote hearing before the Court of Appeal, new counsel Patrick Jackson BL and Dominic McGinn SC, representing Ferry Solicitors, stated they could not proceed on the originally scheduled Monday date. The DPP opposed the delay, but President Mr Justice George Birmingham permitted the change of solicitor, noting no prejudice to the prosecution. The appeal, which cites a lack of parity with former paramilitary Declan "Whacker" Duffy—who received six years for similar offences in 2018—was adjourned. The Court of Appeal fixed January 22 as the new hearing date for the appeal against the sentence.
Four men accused of falsing imprisoning and assaulting Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney have had a pre-trial application to adjourn their case rejected at the Special Criminal Court. Mr Justice Tony Hunt dismissed all four grounds of the defence application on December 7th, clearing the way for the trial to commence on January 11th as scheduled. The trial, expected to last twelve weeks, concerns allegations relating to an incident at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, County Cavan on September 17th, 2019. Luke O'Reilly, aged 66, from Mullahoran Lower, Kilcogy, County Cavan; Darren Redmond, aged 25, from East Wall, Dublin; and Alan O'Brien, aged 39, also from East Wall, Dublin, are named accused. A fourth defendant cannot be named for legal reasons. The court rejected arguments concerning mobile phone data retention law, High Court jurisdictional challenges, disclosure volume, and concerns regarding DNA evidence recovered from a van that subsequently caught fire while in gardai custody.