Derek Devoy, 37, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to 17 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, for a series of violent offences committed on 11 March 2019. He admitted possession of a 9mm Makarov PM63 RAK submachine gun with intent to endanger life and of a Yugoslavian M75 hand grenade with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury. Devoy discharged the gun twice in public and again while being restrained by Gardaí in a bathroom, narrowly missing a garda's head. A hand grenade was found on the floor without its safety mechanism; it was later detonated in a controlled explosion, rendering the house uninhabitable. The court noted Devoy's 27 previous convictions, including two firearm offences, and his personal history of family tragedy. He pleaded guilty to all charges, which led to a 15 % discount on the headline sentence of 20 years, resulting in the 17‑year term.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, David Hunter, 41, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael Barr, 35, at a Dublin pub on 25 April 2016. Hunter claimed he first arrived in Ireland on 8 February 2016, had a history of car theft in the UK, and was invited to a botched car robbery where he left a ski‑mask in a car. The mask, recovered from a burning Audi on Walsh Road, was DNA‑matched to Hunter, with 61% of the mixed profile attributed to him. Hunter's voluntary statement, sent to the DPP on 4 June, detailed his travel, drug use, and the events leading up to the robbery. The court heard that the prosecution would finish its evidence on Tuesday, with the trial concluding the following Thursday. The case remains at the trial stage.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Chief Superintendent Anthony Howard testified that he believes used‑car dealer Robert O'Leary, 42, is a member of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Howard said the evidence he reviewed was substantial and that O'Leary had been tasked by the IRA to carry out jobs. O'Leary has pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation. The case concerns a bomb discovered under a PSNI officer's car at Shandon Park Golf Club, Belfast, on 1 June 2019. The prosecution alleges that the bomb was an under‑vehicle improvised explosive device and that the New IRA claimed responsibility. O'Leary is accused of having altered a car log book and of selling a 2001 Skoda Octavia to a man in his 60s for €700. The trial is presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Dermot Dempsey.
During the Special Criminal Court hearing on 21 July 2020, the prosecution presented DNA evidence linking the murder suspect, 41‑year‑old David Hunter of White City, London, to a mask recovered from the Audi A6 involved in the 2016 shooting of Michael Barr. Dr Edward Connolly testified that a major DNA contributor on a ski‑mask matched 61 % of a mixed profile previously identified as 'unnamed male 2'. This profile was cross‑referenced with DNA from an apple core and a cigarette butt discarded by Hunter during his extradition from the UK, and the odds of the profile being unrelated to Hunter were described as "a thousand‑million to one". Additional mixed DNA was found on a rubber mask, with one major and three minor contributors, and the samples could not be excluded from Hunter's profile. The court also accepted phone evidence from the prosecution, despite defence objections.
A 42‑year‑old Dublin man, Robert O'Leary, pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styled as the Irish Republican Army. He was charged after a bomb was found under a PSNI officer's car in Belfast on 1 June 2019. The device, an under‑vehicle improvised explosive device, was claimed by the New IRA. Gardaí investigated the movements of the officer's Cherokee jeep and the burning of two cars, including a 2001 Skoda Octavia that O'Leary had sold in May 2019. He told detectives he bought the Skoda for €750, kept it for two or three days, and sold it for €700 to a man in his 60s. O'Leary denied any IRA involvement, saying he had no knowledge of the bomb, the TNT, or any IRA operations, and that he had only sold the car without a log book.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Stephen Little, 47, and Edward McDonnell, 56, were charged with unlawful possession of a Grand Power G9 semi‑automatic pistol and intent to endanger life. The case stemmed from a gun seizure on a Dublin estate on 14 September 2019. Gardaí recovered a loaded handgun under the passenger seat of an Audi, along with a red petrol can, a long‑handled lighter, two balaclavas, two baseball caps, and two pairs of gloves. Little's son, Sean, 22, had been shot dead in May 2019, an event that prompted Little to make a statement to police that "had you given me another hour I would have killed the bastard that killed him." McDonnell denied knowledge of the firearm. Both men were remanded in custody pending sentencing on 31 August. The court noted that Little had one prior traffic offence and McDonnell had 47 prior convictions, including robbery, sexual assault and assault causing harm. Stephen Little pleaded guilty. Edward McDonnell pleaded guilty.
Imre Arakas, 62, jailed by the Special Criminal Court for six years in December 2018 after admitting to conspiring with others to murder James Gately in Northern Ireland in April 2017, is currently serving his sentence in a segregated block in Portlaoise Prison. He faces an extradition request from Lithuania, where he is wanted for the murder of a pop star's lover, as well as charges of murder, firearms, conspiracy and criminal damage. Arakas was arrested in Dublin in February 2018 under a European Arrest Warrant issued by Lithuanian authorities. His extradition hearing has been adjourned pending the outcome of an appeal in the separate extradition case of Liam Campbell. The court has vacated Arakas' hearing date for October 9, when his case is next listed for mention. The adjournment is intended to avoid premature application for second counsel until the Campbell case is resolved.
Two men, David Duffy, 33, and Douglas Glynn, 35, were charged at the Special Criminal Court for their involvement in the attempted murder of James 'Mago' Gately, a target of the Kinahan cartel. Gately was shot multiple times on May 10, 2017, while seated in his car at the Topaz filling station on Clonashaugh Road, Dublin 17. The charges, under Section 72(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, allege that between December 7, 2016, and April 6, 2017, both men, aware of a criminal organisation's existence and intending to aid its members, participated in or contributed to activities connected with the murder. Duffy was arrested at his home on July 16 and taken to Irishtown Garda Station, while Glynn was arrested at Alfie Byrne House and also taken to Irishtown. Both were remanded in custody and will reappear on July 31, with bail and free legal aid applications to be made.
The Special Criminal Court in Dublin has opened a trial for Robert O'Leary, 42, of Finglas, who is charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, the Irish Republican Army, for a single count. The charge relates to an improvised bomb discovered under a PSNI officer's car at Shandon Park Golf Club, Belfast, on 1 June 2019. The New IRA claimed responsibility, stating the device would have exploded if not for the terrain. O'Leary is alleged to have sold a 2001 Skoda Octavia to a man in his 60s for €700, after the car was found in his yard in May 2019. The PSNI investigated the officer's movements and the car's log book. The trial will hear evidence of the bomb, the officer's statement, and O'Leary's alleged involvement, and is expected to last one week.
Regina Keogh, aged 42, was convicted of colluding with her brother, Jonathan Keogh, to murder Gareth Hutch. She received a life sentence from the Special Criminal Court in 2018. Jonathan Keogh, aged 34, was also sentenced to life for the deliberate and callous murder of Hutch on 24 May 2016. Thomas Fox, 32, was convicted and sentenced to life alongside the Keoghs. Keogh has appealed her conviction to the Court of Appeal and has been granted a hearing date of 14 December, expected to last half a day.
Former INLA member Dessie O'Hare, known as 'The Border Fox', is appealing a seven‑year sentence imposed by the Special Criminal Court for falsely imprisoning a family in South Dublin. O'Hare, 63, was convicted of assaulting John Roche on 9 June 2015 and of falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne, his wife and son, on the same date. He received a three‑year term for the assault and a ten‑year term with three years suspended for the false imprisonment, the sentences running concurrently. The Court of Appeal has scheduled his hearing for 14 December. O'Hare's barrister, Mark Lynam BL, confirmed the client's intention to attend. He has prior convictions, including a 40‑year sentence in 1988 for false imprisonment and assault of a dentist, and firearm offences. The appeal concerns the length of the sentence, not the conviction itself. The case remains at the appeal stage. Dessie O'Hare pleaded guilty. Border Fox pleaded guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Edward McDonnell, aged 55, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a Grand Power G9 semi‑automatic pistol at Lein Park, Harmonstown, Dublin, on 14 September 2019. The plea came just hours after his defence counsel, Michael Bowman SC, had applied to the court for a not‑guilty verdict on both counts. McDonnell had originally pleaded not guilty to possession of the pistol with intent to endanger life. Evidence presented during the five‑day trial included a loaded handgun found under the passenger seat of an Audi, two baseball hats, two balaclavas, gloves, a red petrol can, and a long‑handled lighter. The prosecution argued that the circumstances collectively proved the charge. The court set a sentence hearing for 21 July 2024. A second defendant, Stephen Little, 46, also pleaded guilty to the same offence and will have his sentence hearing on the same date.
The trial of Edward McDonnell, 55, at the Special Criminal Court continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and two other judges. Mr McDonnell, of New Ross, Co Wexford, has pleaded not guilty to being in unlawful possession of a semi-automatic Grand Power G9 pistol and having it with intent to endanger life at Lein Park, Harmonstown, Dublin 5, on September 14, 2019. Prosecution evidence indicates that Detective Garda Ronan Doolan interviewed the accused at Raheny Garda Station, where he claimed ignorance of the firearm and stated he was "innocent of any crime." The court heard that items including balaclavas, gloves, and a petrol can were found in the Audi vehicle from which Mr McDonnell was removed. Additionally, forensic analysis linked mobile phones seized from the accused to devices found in a Toyota Avensis. In a related matter, Stephen Little, 46, of Dublin 5, pleaded guilty last month to the unlawful possession of the same Grand Power G9 pistol at the same location and date. The trial is ongoing and was adjourned to Monday.
Stephen Fowler, 61, of Blakestown Cottages, Clonsilla, Dublin 15, was charged with involvement in the attempted murder of James 'Mago' Gately, a target of the Kinahan cartel. The offence, under Section 72(1A) of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, alleges that between 7 December 2016 and 6 April 2017, Fowler, knowing of a criminal organisation, participated in activities that would enable the murder of Gately. Gately was shot multiple times on 10 May 2017 at the Topaz filling station on Clonashaugh Road, Dublin 17. Fowler was arrested on 1 July 2020 at Blanchardstown Garda Station on a warrant. Despite objections from Garda Suzanne Lyons, Mr Justice Alexander Owens granted bail under Section 2 of the Bail Act, ordering a €20,000 bond, residence at his daughter's address, daily reporting to Blanchardstown Garda Station, and restrictions on travel and contact with co‑accused Peter Keating.
Alan O'Brien, aged 39, with an address at Shelmalier Road, East Wall, Dublin 3, appeared before the Special Criminal Court on July 6th, 2020 to seek dismissal of charges relating to the false imprisonment and assault of Kevin Lunney. Mr Lunney was allegedly abducted near his home in County Fermanagh on September 17th, 2019, and subjected to serious harm during an ordeal lasting approximately two and a half hours before being left on a roadside in County Cavan. Mr O'Brien's application under Section 4E of the Criminal Justice Act 1999 was adjourned, with the hearing scheduled for July 29th. He was remanded in custody pending that date. Three co-accused face identical charges. Luke O'Reilly and Darren Redmond, who were granted High Court bail in April, had their case also mentioned. Trial of all four defendants was set for January 11th, 2021.
Paul Norton, 31, was found not guilty of unlawfully possessing a loaded Beretta handgun and 31 rounds of 9mm ammunition at Stardust Memorial Park in Coolock on 5 October 2019. The Special Criminal Court judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, noted that the prosecution's case relied solely on the testimony of Detective Garda Flynn, who claimed Norton was the driver of a VW Passat that was chased by Gardaí and that Norton allegedly dropped a bag containing the weapon and ammunition. The judge highlighted the lack of DNA evidence and the absence of positive identification of Norton as the person who dropped the gun. He concluded that the evidence did not establish beyond a reasonable doubt that Norton was in possession of the firearm at the park, and therefore acquitted him of the charges.
Two men, Peter Keating, 39, of Rowlagh Green, Clondalkin, and Stephen Fowler, 61, of Blakestown Cottages, Clonsilla, were charged at the Special Criminal Court on 1 July 2020 with involvement in the attempted murder of James 'Mago' Gately, a target of the Kinahan cartel. Gately was shot multiple times while seated in his car at the Topaz filling station on Clonashaugh Road, Dublin 17, on 10 May 2017. The charges, under Section 72(1A) of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, allege that between 7 December 2016 and 6 April 2017, both men, knowing of a criminal organisation, participated in or contributed to activities connected with the murder of Gately, thereby enhancing the organisation's ability to commit serious offences. Keating is also charged under Section 71 of the Act with directing the activities of a criminal organisation between 7 December 2016 and 4 April 2017, both within and outside the State.
Larry McCarthy Jr., 43, of Tower Lodge, Old Cork Road, Limerick, was denied bail by the Special Criminal Court on 1 July 2020. He is charged with providing a vehicle to the McCarthy‑Dundon gang for the attempted murder of Christy Keane at the University of Limerick car park on 29 June 2015. The court heard that the State, represented by State barrister Ms Anne‑Marie Lawlor SC, objected to bail on the grounds that McCarthy could commit a serious offence while on bail, was a flight risk, and might interfere with witnesses. Garda evidence from Detective Garda Donnacha Coakley and Chief Superintendent Gerard Roche cited Sections 2 and 2(A) of the Bail Act. Judge Mr Justice Alexander Owens refused bail and remanded McCarthy in custody until 14 September. Two co‑accused, Noel Price, 42, and John Costello, 39, were also remanded to the same date.
In the Special Criminal Court, David Hunter, 41, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael Barr, 35, at the Sunset House pub in Dublin on 25 April 2016. Hunter, who was in Dublin with his ex‑girlfriend Jordanna Kiely and a friend, Stacy Franey, claimed he met the two women at a Travelodge in Swords at 9 pm. Kiely testified that the trio had spent the week drinking and taking drugs, and that on the day of the shooting they went shopping and later went to Temple Bar. Franey said the night was "blurry" and that the group was "hostile" during the shopping trip. The court heard that two men in rubber masks entered the pub around 9 pm and shot Barr seven times. The case is ongoing and is expected to last four to five weeks.
A 25‑year‑old man, Jake Kearney, was arrested on 30 October 2019 for unlawful possession of a loaded Grandpower semi‑automatic pistol. He was a trusted member of an organised crime gang planning an imminent attack on a rival north Dublin faction. Gardaí seized a silver Skoda Octavia taxi, a Volkswagen Passat, Kearney's black handgun, eight 9mm bullets, his latex gloves and mobile phone. Kearney pleaded guilty on 5 May to the offence. He had previous convictions for drug dealing. His mother's home was burnt out after his arrest, an act described by the judge as a "desperate situation" and a punishment for the crime of her son. The Special Criminal Court adjourned sentencing to 30 July. The case remains at the hearing stage, with no further outcome reported.
The Special Criminal Court heard on 19 June 2020 that five bullets were lodged in the head of Michael Barr, 36, who was shot to death at the Sunset House pub in Dublin on 25 April 2016. Liverpool native David Hunter, 41, is pleading not guilty to the murder. Former Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis, appearing by video‑link, described the post‑mortem findings: seven gunshot injuries, including three entry wounds above the jaw, one behind the right ear, one behind the temple, one through the right shoulder blade, and one on the left thigh. He noted extensive skull damage and that the injuries were incompatible with life. Retired Detective Superintendent Eunan Dolan confirmed the pub was declared a crime scene and that CCTV footage had been seized by the Special Detective Unit. The defence questioned the seizure and the court adjourned the case to 23 June for further proceedings. The trial is expected to last four weeks.
In a non‑jury hearing at the Special Criminal Court, Jonathan Harding, aged 48, and Carol Davis, aged 45, were charged with a total of 50 money‑laundering offences under the Criminal Justice Act 2010. Harding faces 30 counts of converting, transferring or handling property, namely money, between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2016, involving EBS, Bank of Ireland and AIB accounts that allegedly held proceeds of criminal conduct. Davis is charged with 20 counts of the same nature over the same period, with accounts in her own name at the same banks. The charges were read out to Harding by the registrar, and the court heard from the prosecuting solicitor that the offences relate to concealing or disguising the true nature, source, location, disposition, movement or ownership of the property.
The Special Criminal Court heard testimony in the trial of David Hunter, a 41-year-old Liverpool native accused of the murder of Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub in Dublin's north inner city on 25 April 2016. An unnamed witness described crawling on the floor to bless Mr Barr's body after two masked men entered the bar and shot him seven times. She recounted that a mirror smashed during the incident and that she saw the shooters wearing Halloween-style masks. Defending barrister Ms Roisín Lacey SC questioned the witness regarding whether it was common knowledge that Mr Barr was scheduled for sentencing that week, to which the witness replied Mr Barr had mentioned going on holiday. Another witness, Stephen Clifford, stated he heard three shots and saw Mr Barr fall with blood from his neck. Nepalese barman Keshav Paudel testified that he hid behind the bar and called 999. Detective Garda David Kildea informed the court that the pub's CCTV hard drive had been seized days earlier for a separate matter. The trial, presided over by Justice Alexander Owens, is expected to last four weeks.
A fundraiser for the wives of IRA prisoners was held in an inner‑city Dublin pub when the bar manager, Michael Barr, 35, was shot dead. Two men wearing full rubber Hallowe'en masks entered the Sunset House pub after 9 pm and fired seven shots at Barr, killing him at the scene. The Special Criminal Court heard the case after former judge Paul Coffey recused himself; it is now before Justice Alexander Owens. Liverpool native David Hunter, 41, is accused of the murder. Hunter pleaded not guilty and his barrister formally objected to the court's jurisdiction. The trial, with 168 witnesses, is expected to last four to five weeks. The hearing included testimony about the shooting, the discovery of weapons in a silver Audi A6, and the extradition of Hunter from the UK. The case remains at the trial stage.
The Special Criminal Court heard that DNA was extracted from items used by David Hunter, a 41‑year‑old UK man extradited from the UK, during his flight back to Ireland. Hunter is accused of murdering Michael Barr, 35, the bar manager of the Sunset House pub in Dublin, on 25 April 2016. Hunter pleaded not guilty and his barrister formally objected to the court's jurisdiction. Prosecutor Dominic McGinn described the shooting: two armed men in rubber masks entered the pub around 9 pm, shot Barr seven times, and fled. Evidence included a silver Audi A6 that was set on fire, a Ford Mondeo, and weapons and masks found in the vehicles. A phone found near a bullet had no fingerprints. DNA from an apple, ear‑plugs, a cigarette butt, and clothing seized at Bridewell matched a mixed profile from a rubber mask and a ski mask. The trial is expected to last four to five weeks.
Derek Devoy, 37, of Balbutcher Lane, Poppintree, Ballymun, admitted to the Special Criminal Court that he had attacked two Gardaí and possessed two sub‑machine guns and a hand grenade near his home in north Dublin last year. He pleaded guilty to four counts: possession of a 9mm Makarov PM 63 sub‑machine gun, possession of a Yugoslavian M75 hand grenade, and assault on Garda Andrew O'Connor and Garda Conor Garland. The charges stem from incidents on 11 March 2019 at Crannogue Road, Ballymun, where the weapons were found in his possession and the Gardaí were attacked while performing their duties. Devoy was remanded in custody to appear before the Special Criminal Court on 22 June 2020. The court heard the four counts and he pleaded "guilty" to each. No further details of the proceedings or potential sentencing were provided in the article.
Imre Arakas, 62, was jailed by the Special Criminal Court for six years in December 2018 after admitting to conspiring with the Kinahan cartel to murder James Gately in Northern Ireland on 3–4 April 2017. He is serving his sentence in a segregated block at Portlaoise Prison. Lithuanian authorities suspect Arakas, a former ex‑wrestler and separatist, was part of a three‑man gang that planned to murder a man who had an affair with Lithuanian pop star Vita Jakutiene. Lithuanian police seek his surrender to face charges of murder, firearms offences, conspiracy related to the shooting of Deimantas Bugavicius, and a separate criminal damage charge. Arakas was arrested in Dublin in February 2018 under a European Arrest Warrant issued by Lithuania. He will challenge the extradition bid in October, with a hearing set for 9 October after a mention on 20 July. The court noted that his sentence is due to expire in October 2029.
The Special Criminal Court denied bail to John Costello, 39, of Hennessy Avenue, Kileely, Co Limerick, who is accused of facilitating the attempted murder of Christy Keane at the University of Limerick car park on 29 June 2015. Mr Costello is charged with knowledge of the existence of the McCarthy-Dundon criminal organisation and providing transport to persons with the intention of facilitating the offence. State counsel Anne-Marie Lawlor SC submitted Garda objection to bail under Section 2 of the Bail Act, citing a risk of further serious offences. Mr Justice Alexander Owens refused the application and remanded Mr Costello in custody until September 14 for the preparation of the Book of Evidence. Two co-accused were also remanded to the same date. Larry McCarthy, 42, of Tower Lodge, Old Cork Road, Limerick City, is charged with making a vehicle available to the criminal organisation between 27 and 29 June 2015. Noel Price, 42, of Kileely Road, Kileely, Limerick City, faces the same charge under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment. The matter was adjourned for the preparation of the Book of Evidence.
A Dublin man, Ray Kennedy, 40, is charged with perverting the course of justice for destroying a SIM card on 6 March 2013, the day Peter Butterly, a 35‑year‑old father of two, was shot dead in the car park of the Huntsman Inn, Gormanston, Co. Meath. Kennedy faces trial at the Special Criminal Court on 11 January 2021, a hearing expected to last four to five weeks. The case is presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh.
A trial date has been set for the Special Criminal Court to hear the murder case of gangland figure Eamon Kelly, who was shot on 4 December 2012 at Furry Park Road, Killester. The accused are Kenneth Donohoe, 43, of Hazelgrove Estate, Tallaght, and Darren Murphy, 49, of Rory O'Connor House, Dublin 1. Both men face charges of murder and a connected firearms offence for unlawful possession of a Glock pistol with intent to endanger life. Mr Justice Tony Hunt fixed the trial for 10 June 2021, with an expected duration of six weeks.
Alan Wilson, aged 40, has been set a trial date of 4 October 2021 at the Special Criminal Court for three counts of attempted murder linked to a shooting at The Players Lounge pub in Fairview, Dublin. He is accused of attempting to kill Brian Masterson, Wayne Barrett and Austin Purcell on 26 July 2010. Wilson also faces charges of possessing a .38 Special Smith & Wesson revolver, a .32 Auto Zastava semi‑automatic pistol, and corresponding ammunition, all with intent to endanger life. He denied the allegations during a brief hearing and was joined by video‑link.
Four men faced the Special Criminal Court on charges of false imprisonment and assault causing serious harm to Kevin Lunney, a director of Quinn Industrial Holdings, at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, County Cavan on 17 September 2019. Luke O'Reilly, Darren Redmond, and Alan O'Brien were named in court, while a fourth defendant cannot be identified for legal reasons. The trial is scheduled to commence on 21 January 2021. The court heard that the case involves approximately 50,000 documents requiring digital processing, with disclosure expected within four to six weeks. O'Reilly and Redmond had their bail extended to January, while O'Brien and the fourth accused were remanded in custody. A vehicle belonging to the unnamed defendant and seized as evidence was destroyed while in Garda possession, described as occurring "apparently by accident". The defence sought full disclosure regarding the vehicle's destruction. Presiding Judge Tony Hunt ordered the four men to have no contact with persons involved in the case and issued an alibi warning.
Two men appeared before the Special Criminal Court on charges relating to an alleged attempted murder in Limerick in 2015. John Costello, aged 39, of Hennessy Avenue, Kileely, County Limerick, faced charges of knowledge of the McCarthy-Dundon criminal organisation and providing transport to facilitate the attempted murder of Christy Keane at University of Limerick car park on 29 June 2015. Larry McCarthy, aged 42, of Tower Lodge, Old Court Road, Limerick City, was charged with making a vehicle available to the same criminal organisation in connection with the alleged incident between 27 and 29 June 2015. Both charges fall under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. McCarthy was arrested in Buncrana, County Donegal. The court heard an application for medical attention regarding an injury sustained by McCarthy. Both men were remanded in custody, with the cases adjourned to 12 June.
Anthony Finglas, 49, of Havelock Place, Warrenpoint, Co Down, was denied bail by the Special Criminal Court after being accused of assaulting, falsely imprisoning, robbing and demanding €50,000 from businessman Edward McAndrew at One Ferry Hill, Cornamucklash, Omeath, Co Louth, on or about 2 December 2017. The court considered the seriousness of the offences and the risk that Finglas might abscond or interfere with witnesses. Two co‑accused, Thomas McGuinness, 33, and William Twomey, 56, had already been granted bail. Finglas's defence argued that he had no means to leave the country, no prior convictions while on bail, and had not contacted McAndrew in the two‑and‑a‑half years since the alleged offences. A family member offered €22,500 for a bond.
Sean Ruth, 31, of Blacktrench, Rathangan, Co Kildare, appeared before the Special Criminal Court on 2 June 2020 charged with eight offences under the Money Laundering and Terrorist Finance Act. The alleged offences took place in the State between 1 January and 31 December 2016. Garda Paul Kane informed the court that a warrant had been executed for Mr Ruth, who is accused of making four lodgements into an AIB account and four into an account at St Canice's Credit Union, Kilkenny, with the accounts allegedly held in his name. The amounts of the lodgements were not disclosed. Mr Ruth is accused of knowing, believing, or being reckless as to whether the monies lodged were proceeds of criminal conduct.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence regarding a plot by the Kinahan organised crime group to murder Patrick 'Patsy' Hutch. At a sentence hearing, Michael Burns, Ciaran O'Driscoll, and Stephen Curtis admitted to facilitating the intended killing. Burns pleaded guilty to passing instructions, acting as a communications conduit, transporting members, and planning the shooting. O'Driscoll pleaded guilty to acting as a look-out and assisting in planning. Curtis admitted to providing mobile phones, SIM cards, and credit, and assisting in planning. The court heard that the gang paid €20,000 for setting up hits and maintained a hierarchical structure. Detective Superintendent David Gallagher detailed the three-stage plan, including a staging post, a ruse to lure the victim, and a getaway route. The court accepted that the gang is involved in execution-type murders. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Dermot Dempsey, remanded the three men in custody until June 29, when they will be sentenced. In a related matter, Mark Capper was jailed for seven-and-a-half years for providing vehicles and reconnaissance. Previously, Gary Thompson, Glen Thompson, and Robert Browne were sentenced to 12 years and six months, 12 years and six months, and 11 years and six months, respectively, for planning the murder.
The Special Criminal Court has sentenced Mark Capper to eight years and three months imprisonment, with the final nine months suspended, for facilitating the Kinahan organised crime group in planning the murder of Patrick Hutch. Presiding Judge Tony Hunt accepted garda evidence that the cartel operates a hierarchical structure involving execution-style murders and international trafficking of drugs and firearms. Capper, who pleaded guilty in March to participating in activities intended to facilitate a serious offence, was found to have intentionally assisted in the plot before withdrawing three days prior to the attempted killing. The judge noted Capper's financial motivation and drug addiction as mitigating factors, reducing his headline sentence of 11 years by 25 percent for his early plea. This sentencing follows the July 2019 convictions of Gary Thompson, Glen Thompson, and Robert Browne, who were jailed for 12.5 years, 12.5 years, and 11.5 years respectively for unlawful possession of four firearms with intent to endanger life during the same operation. The court emphasized that the prevention of the murder was due to police intervention, not the defendants' actions.
A detective testified in the Special Criminal Court that he was on first-name terms with Paul Norton (31), accused of possessing a loaded handgun and 31 rounds of 9mm ammunition at Stardust Memorial Park in Coolock, Dublin on October 5th, 2019. Norton has pleaded not guilty. The trial heard that the State's case relied on identification, as there was no DNA evidence. It is alleged that during a high-speed chase, Norton dropped a bag containing a loaded Beretta 92, a full magazine with 15 rounds, and 15 additional rounds. Detective Garda Keith Cassidy stated he could identify Norton due to familiarity with his family and friends, and noted that Norton had nicknamed him 'Paudge' after a character from the TV series 'Red Rock'. During the chase, Norton exited a VW Passat, which had sustained tire damage, and was identified by Cassidy and another detective. The trial continues.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Paul Norton, 31, pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of a Beretta handgun and 31 rounds of 9mm ammunition found at Stardust Memorial Park on 5 October 2019. The State's case relied on recognition evidence, as no DNA was recovered. The prosecution alleged that during a high‑speed chase, Norton dropped a bag containing a 9mm Beretta 92 with a single round in the chamber, a full magazine of 15 rounds, and an additional 15 rounds. Defence counsel Michael Bowman questioned the forensic evidence, noting that forensic samples from the bags were contaminated and that DNA from a forensic scientist was found. He also highlighted that DNA from two other men, BD and EN, was identified on the Passat and a bottle of Corona beer, respectively.
Paul Norton, aged 31, pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of a Beretta handgun and 31 rounds of 9mm ammunition after he dropped a bag containing the weapon and ammunition while being chased by Gardaí through Stardust Memorial Park, Coolock, on 5 October 2019. The prosecution, represented by Mr John Byrne JC, argued that the State's case relied on visual identification. Gardaí Jason Flynn and Keith Cassidy pursued a parked Volkswagen Passat that failed to stop, leading to a high‑speed chase of 4.5 kilometres. The occupants fled into the park, where Det Gda Flynn chased Norton on foot for about 160 metres, observed him stumble and drop the bag, and secured it. No forensic or DNA evidence linked the firearm, ammunition or vehicle to Norton; the case was based on visual identification. Detailed maps and photographs of the scene and pursuit route were entered into evidence.
Eamonn Cumberton, 32, was given a life sentence for the 2016 murder of Michael Barr, 35, at the Sunset House pub. Barr was shot seven times by two men in "Freddy Kruger" masks. The Special Criminal Court found Cumberton one of three culprits who dumped items linked to the killing into a getaway car, later found partially burnt on Walsh Road. DNA on a baseball cap and a rubber mask matched Cumberton, and circumstantial evidence included his unusual trip to Thailand and failure to answer Garda questions. Cumberton appealed on 28 grounds, but the Court of Appeal dismissed all, affirming the trial's safety and the court's findings. He remains jailed for life, with no part of the sentence suspended. The appeal was rejected on 19 May 2020.
Imre Arakas, 62, a former Estonian separatist, is jailed in Portlaoise Prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to murder James Gately in Northern Ireland in April 2017. He received a six‑year sentence from the Special Criminal Court in December 2018. Lithuanian authorities suspect Arakas was part of a three‑man gang that planned the murder of a man who had an affair with Lithuanian pop star Vita Jakutiene. They seek his surrender on a European Arrest Warrant, alleging he faces charges of murder, firearms offences and conspiracy related to the shooting of Deimantas Bugavicius. Arakas was arrested in Dublin in February 2018 under the EAW. His extradition hearing date will be set next month, with the case adjourned for four weeks until 15 June. He remains remanded in custody awaiting that hearing. The hearing will be conducted via video‑link from Portlaoise Prison.
Paul Norton, a 31‑year‑old from Cromcastle Court, Coolock, was arraigned before the Special Criminal Court on a charge of unlawful possession of a Beretta semi‑automatic pistol and 31 rounds of 9mm ammunition for an unlawful purpose at the Stardust Memorial Park in Coolock on 5 October 2019. He pleaded not guilty. Judge Tony Hunt announced the trial would commence on Wednesday 20 May and would last five days. He confirmed that Norton's partner and mother could attend the proceedings.
In the Special Criminal Court, two men pleaded guilty to roles in an alleged plot by the Kinahan Cartel to murder Patrick 'Patsy' Hutch. Ciaran O'Driscoll, 24, admitted to participating in activities intending to facilitate the commission of a serious offence by a criminal organisation, specifically acting as a look-out and helping plan the intended shooting. Stephen Curtis, 32, also pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder by providing mobile phones, SIM cards, and credit top-ups, and passing on O'Driscoll's number. Both defendants had their cases adjourned to Friday, 29 May. Michael Burns, 43, who has already pleaded guilty to passing instructions and acting as a communications conduit, is also scheduled to appear on 29 May. Mark Capper, 31, pleaded guilty to providing and repairing vehicles and carrying out reconnaissance; his case was adjourned to 28 May. Mohammed Smew, 27, is accused of supplying and repairing vehicles, with his case adjourned via video-link to June 15 to allow for the furnishing of transcripts while he is in prison. The matter remains at the trial stage, with no sentences or final findings recorded for the defendants mentioned.
The Special Criminal Court heard sentencing submissions for Mark Capper and Michael Burns, both of whom pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder of Patrick Hutch by a Criminal Organisation between February 1 and March 10, 2018. Capper, 31, admitted to a single count involving knowledge of the organisation and participation in activities to facilitate the serious offence, including planning the shooting and providing vehicles. Burns, 43, pleaded guilty to participating in the organisation's activities, including acting as a communications conduit, providing mobile phones and SIM cards, and assisting in planning the murder. Detective Superintendent Dave Gallagher testified that the Kinahan gang operated through hierarchical sub-cells and that Capper, described as a foot soldier, expressed reluctance and withdrew from the plot three days before it was foiled. The court noted Capper's 65 previous convictions and personal circumstances, including ADHD and financial difficulties. Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Dermot Dempsey, adjourned the finalisation of Capper's sentence to June 9th. No sentence was imposed on either defendant during this hearing.
A 25‑year‑old man named Jake Kearney pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to unlawful possession of a Grandpower semi‑automatic pistol. The pistol was found in his possession on 30 October 2019 at Oscar Traynor Road, Santry, Dublin 9. Kearney also faced a separate charge for unlawful possession of eight rounds of nine‑millimetre ammunition, which was heard in Dublin District Court the previous year. The court ordered a governor's report, a probation report and a urine analysis for Kearney, and remanded him in custody until 29 June when sentencing will occur.
Liam Brannigan, 37, was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years' imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court for conspiring to murder Gary Hanley. Mr Justice Paul Coffey described Brannigan as having a central role in the Kinahan Cartel plot, noting his culpability was high due to his management and oversight of the plan. The sentence includes a suspension of the final six months, conditional on Brannigan completing his degree at UCD or a vocational course in prison. The sentence was backdated to November 6, 2017. Brannigan was the fifth person jailed for this conspiracy. Previously, Luke Wilson pleaded guilty to conspiracy and unlawful possession of a Beretta, receiving 11 years; Alan Wilson pleaded guilty to conspiracy, receiving six years; Joseph Kelly pleaded guilty to conspiracy and a weapons charge, receiving 12 years; and Dean Howe pleaded guilty to conspiracy, receiving six years. The court found that Brannigan was at the centre of the plot, which was foiled when gardai intercepted a vehicle containing a loaded pistol near Hanley's home. The judge highlighted the elaborate nature of the plan and the imminent danger to Hanley. Detective Superintendent David Gallagher praised the convictions as significant successes against organised crime.
Four men appeared before the Special Criminal Court charged with false imprisonment and assault causing serious harm to Kevin Lunney, a director of Quinn Industrial Holdings. 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, are accused of offences relating to an alleged incident at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, County Cavan on 17 September 2019. A fourth accused cannot be identified for legal reasons. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding over the three-judge court, indicated the trial is likely to last between eight and twelve weeks. The case was transferred to a different courtroom and adjourned for mention on 10 June. A trial is anticipated to commence in January 2021. All four accused were remanded in custody.
Stephen Little, 46, of Kilbarron Avenue, Dublin 5, and Edward McDonnell, 55, of Waterside Apartments, New Ross, Co. Wexford, were accused of unlawful possession of a semi‑automatic pistol and of having the weapon with intent to endanger life at Lein Park, Harmonstown, Dublin 5 on 14 September 2019. They appeared by video link before the Special Criminal Court, where Mr Justice Tony Hunt set a trial date for 6 July. The court also ordered witnesses and exhibits for that date, and the case will be mentioned again on 25 May for disclosure matters.
Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding over the Special Criminal Court, stated that there is no reason to halt non‑jury trials amid the Covid‑19 crisis. He referred to the upcoming trial of David Hunter, a 41‑year‑old UK national charged with the murder of Michael Barr, which is scheduled for 10 June and expected to last four weeks. Mr Barr, a father of five from County Tyrone, was shot seven times while managing the Sunset House pub in Dublin's north inner city. The defence received legal aid for an additional junior counsel following a disclosure of voluminous evidence.