Four men are to appear before the Special Criminal Court on Friday following their committal for trial over allegations relating to the assault and false imprisonment of a Quinn Industrial Holdings director in September 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, have been charged with false imprisonment and assault causing serious harm. The alleged incident occurred at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, County Cavan on September 17, 2019. A fourth accused cannot be identified for legal reasons. The three-judge court, presided over by Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Gerard Griffin, ordered that the accused appear before the court to receive formal notice of the charges. None of the four were present at the earlier legal formality.
Mark Capper, 31, of Cappagh Green, Finglas, pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to aiding a Criminal Organisation in a plot to murder Patrick "Patsy" Hutch between 1 February and 10 March 2018. Capper admitted knowledge of the organisation and participation in activities that would facilitate the murder, including providing or moving motor vehicles, repairing vehicles, conducting reconnaissance, and planning the shooting. He entered a guilty plea on a full facts basis, which the court accepted as sufficient to meet the case. Justice Tony Hunt remanded Capper to appear again on 11 May for sentencing. Five other men—Michael Burns, Ciaran O'Driscoll, Patrick Curtis, Stephen Curtis, and Mohammed Smew—were also charged with conspiracy to murder Hutch and other offences, and their cases were adjourned for seven weeks, with custody production orders for their next appearance on 18 May. The court allowed each accused to apply for an earlier date if needed.
Liam Brannigan, 37, of Bride Street, Dublin 8, had his sentencing adjourned at the Special Criminal Court due to the presiding judge's illness. Brannigan was found guilty of conspiracy to murder Gary Hanley in 2017. The court remanded him in custody and adjourned the sentence to April 24 at 2pm. Four co-accused—Joseph Kelly, Luke Wilson, Alan Wilson, and Dean Howe—previously pleaded guilty to the same charge. The prosecution alleged that Kelly and Wilson were intercepted near Hanley's home with a loaded semi-automatic pistol, silencer, and ammunition. Evidence included covert audio recordings, phone data, and CCTV footage showing Brannigan discarding an illuminated item, identified as the PB3 phone, before his arrest. The judge noted the overwhelming evidence connecting Brannigan to the conspiracy, including his central role in managing the plot via the PB3 phone. The matter was adjourned and not concluded.
Eamonn Cumberton, a 32-year-old man from Mountjoy Street, Dublin 7, has had his appeal against a life sentence for the 2016 murder of Michael Barr adjourned. Cumberton was convicted by the Special Criminal Court of the deliberate and planned execution of Mr Barr at the Sunset House pub, where he was shot seven times by a masked gunman. The court found Cumberton's DNA on a baseball cap and rubber mask recovered from a getaway car, and relied on circumstantial evidence regarding his unusual travel attempts to Thailand and his failure to answer police questions. Although Cumberton denied the murder, he was jailed for life on January 29, 2018. In his current appeal, his counsel argued that the trial court erred in drawing inferences from his silence and mishandled DNA evidence, suggesting cross-contamination. The prosecution countered that the evidence strongly linked Cumberton to the crime scene and that his travel behavior indicated an intent to flee. The Court of Criminal Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice John Edwards with Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, reserved its judgment. Consequently, the matter was adjourned, and Cumberton must wait to hear the outcome of his appeal against his conviction.
Thomas McGuinness, aged 33, appeared before the Special Criminal Court charged with four non‑scheduled offences relating to an incident at a Louth farmhouse on 2 December 2017. He is accused of falsely imprisoning Edward McAndrew by detaining him without consent at One Ferry Hill, Cornamucklagh, Omeath, and of assaulting McAndrew, causing him harm, at the same location and date. McGuinness is also charged with robbing McAndrew of car keys, a travel bag, a wallet, a briefcase, two mobile phones and an Irish passport, and with demanding £50,000 from McAndrew with menaces. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Gerard Griffin and Dermot Dempsey, remanded McGuinness on bail subject to conditions until 9 March. Two other men, William Twomey (56) and Anthony Finglas (49), are also charged with the same offences; Twomey was granted bail, Finglas' application was denied.
Owen Cummins, 41, of Cabra, Dublin 7, was sentenced to nine years and six months imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court for possessing a Beretta 92s handgun and silencer in suspicious circumstances. The offence occurred on September 6, 2017, in Inchicore, Dublin 8, during a confrontation with armed gardai. Cummins pleaded guilty to the charge. The court heard that Cummins drove a jeep towards Garda Stephen Gillespie, who was restraining co-accused Andrew O'Keeffe on the ground. Fearing for his life, the garda discharged his firearm, causing Cummins to swerve and collide with a parked vehicle. Mr Justice Hunt, sitting with Judges Griffin and Dempsey, reduced the headline sentence from 12 years to nine years and six months, citing mitigating factors including Cummins' guilty plea and the recent death of his 19-year-old child. A further 18 months of the sentence was suspended to encourage rehabilitation. The sentence was backdated to May 27, 2019. Cummins has 68 previous convictions. Separately, co-accused Andrew O'Keeffe, 30, of Cabra West, pleaded guilty in June 2018 to possessing a 9mm Beretta handgun and silencer in suspicious circumstances on the same date. He was sentenced in August 2018 to nine years imprisonment with one year suspended.
Dean Howe, 34, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court for conspiring to murder Gary Hanley. Mr Justice Tony Hunt described Howe as occupying a supervisory role in the plot, acting as a conduit for orders from higher up the chain of command. Howe pleaded guilty in December to conspiring with others to murder Mr Hanley between September 15 and November 6, 2017. The judge noted that while Howe's active contribution ceased five hours before the intended attack, he remained part of the conspiracy until the end. The headline sentence was eight years and six months, reduced to six years and six months due to his early guilty plea and low-level previous convictions. The final six months were suspended contingent on his engagement in prison. The sentence was backdated to May 30, 2019. This follows previous sentences for Luke Wilson, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy and unlawful possession of a Beretta and was jailed for 11 years; Alan Wilson, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy and received six years; and Joseph Kelly, who admitted conspiracy and a weapons charge and was jailed for 12 years. Liam Brannigan, also convicted of conspiracy, is due to be sentenced on March 23.
A 31‑year‑old man, Paul Norton, faces a firearms charge and will be tried in the Special Criminal Court on Monday, 18 May. He appeared in the Dublin District Court last October, accused of unlawfully possessing a Beretta pistol and 31 rounds of 9mm ammunition at the Stardust Memorial Park in Coolock on 5 October 2019. The State solicitor, Ciara Vibien, requested that the case be heard in the Special Criminal Court, and Mr Justice Tony Hunt granted the order.
Stephen Little, 46, of Kilbarron Avenue, Dublin 5, and Edward McDonnell, 55, of Waterside Apartments, New Ross, Co. Wexford, are 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. The State solicitor, Michael O'Donovan, requested that the two men be tried in the Special Criminal Court, a non‑jury court. Mr Justice Tony Hunt granted the order, and the accused did not appear in court.
A man accused of involvement in a violent extortion has been granted bail at the Special Criminal Court, despite garda objections. William Twomey, aged 56, from Warrenpoint, County Down, faces charges relating to the alleged attack and false imprisonment of Edward McAndrew at a farmhouse in Omeath, County Louth on 2 December 2017. He is also charged with robbery and making an unwarranted demand for €50,000 with menaces. A second defendant, Anthony Finglas, aged 49, also from Warrenpoint, had his bail application refused on the grounds that he posed a risk of committing further offences and interfering with witnesses. Twomey was released on condition that he provide a €14,000 surety, sign on daily at Ballinasloe Garda Station between 8am and 8pm, avoid interfering with witnesses, and remain outside County Mayo. Both men have been remanded in custody since their separate arrests on 11 February.
Liam Brannigan, 37, was convicted by the Special Criminal Court of conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between September 15 and November 6, 2017. Although Brannigan pleaded not guilty, the court found the evidence overwhelming, including covert audio recordings and phone data. His sentencing is scheduled for March 23. In related proceedings, four co-accused pleaded guilty to the same conspiracy charge. Luke Wilson, who also admitted unlawful possession of a Beretta, was jailed for 11 years. Alan Wilson received a six-year sentence. Joseph Kelly, who also admitted a weapons charge, was jailed for 12 years. Dean Howe, who also pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder Mr Hanley, is scheduled to be sentenced on March 3. The court noted Brannigan has 28 previous convictions, primarily for road traffic matters, and has been in custody since November 2017. Defense counsel argued for a non-custodial outcome, citing his lack of prior custodial sentences and his active role as a father. The judge emphasized the cogency of the evidence linking Brannigan to the operation, which involved armed gardai intercepting a van near Hanley's home where two men were found with a loaded pistol.
Businessman Jim Mansfield Jnr was refused permission to vary his bail to travel to Spain for his mother's 75th birthday. Mr Justice Paul Coffey at the Special Criminal Court denied the application, noting that the celebration could have been held within the jurisdiction and criticizing the timing of the booking changes after Mansfield had surrendered his passport. Mansfield, of Saggart, Co Dublin, is charged with conspiring to falsely imprison Martin Byrne between January 1 and June 30, 2015, and attempting to pervert the course of justice by directing Patrick Byrne to destroy CCTV footage. His trial is scheduled for April 20. The court noted that Dessie O'Hare and Declan Duffy, who are alleged to have conspired with Mansfield, have already pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and assault charges related to the same incident. O'Hare was sentenced to ten years in prison, with three years suspended, for falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne and assaulting John Roche in Saggart on June 9, 2015. Duffy was jailed for six years after pleading guilty to falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne and assaulting John Roche at The Towers, Garter Lane, Saggart, on the same date. The judge emphasized the seriousness of the offences and the proximity of the trial date in refusing the bail variation.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, two men, William Twomey (56) and Anthony Finglas (49), were charged with luring Edward McAndrew to a Louth farmhouse, assaulting him with iron bars, placing him in a car boot, and demanding £50,000. The alleged assault also involved contacting McAndrew's daughter and setting his home on fire. The men face robbery charges for taking McAndrew's phones and passport. The court considered bail applications, with the prosecution seeking financial information to assess flight risk. Twomey has been in custody since last week, while Finglas is awaiting a hearing. The court remanded both men in custody, with a further hearing scheduled for next Tuesday. The case remains at the bail stage, with no trial or sentencing yet.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 17 February 2020, Derek Devoy, aged 37, pleaded guilty to possessing a RAK‑PM63 sub‑machine gun with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury at Crannogue Road, Ballymun, Dublin 11. The court accepted his single‑count plea and set a trial date of 10 June for two additional Public Order charges – assaulting a garda and a garda sergeant on the same day. Devoy had previously faced charges for possession of a Yugoslavian M75 hand grenade, a 9mm Makarov PM 63 sub‑machine gun, and 11 rounds of 9mm ammunition, all with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury to property. The case remains pending for the remaining charges. The court did not impose any sentence at this stage.
In February 2020, the Court of Appeal upheld the sentences of five men and one woman convicted of assisting IRA interrogations in Dublin. Kevin Hannaway, aged 71, received three years and nine months; Eva Shannon, 61, four years; Seán Hannaway, 48, five years and six months; David Nooney, 53, three years and nine months; and Edward O'Brien, 42, 16 months. All were found guilty of membership in the Irish Republican Army at a Special Criminal Court trial in June 2018. Hannaway's appeal argued that his 1971 detention, involving hooding, white noise and sleep deprivation, had left him with PTSD and that prison conditions were "life threatening." The court rejected the appeal, noting no error in principle and that the sentences reflected the gravity of the offences. The DPP's request to reduce Nooney's and O'Brien's sentences was also denied. The Court of Appeal confirmed the original sentences for all six defendants.
Two men from Havelock Place, Warrenpoint, Co Down, Anthony Finglas (49) and William Twomey (56), appeared before the Special Criminal Court on 11 February 2020. They were charged with four non‑scheduled offences: falsely imprisoning, assaulting and robbing Edward McAndrew at One Ferry Hill, Cornamucklagh, Omeath, Co Louth on 2 December 2017, and demanding £50,000 from him with menaces. The robbery included car keys, about £200, a travel bag, a wallet, a briefcase, two mobile phones and an Irish passport. Finglas was arrested on Castle Street, Trim, Co Meath, and Twomey on Eyrecourt, Co Galway, both on warrants issued by the court the previous day. The court heard the charges, the defendants' responses, and the judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, remanded Twomey for a bail hearing next Tuesday, noting that the defendants are likely to be of substantial means.
Six men were brought before the Special Criminal Court on charges of conspiring to murder Patrick "Patsy" Hutch. The court served each defendant with books of evidence and remanded them in custody for a further hearing on 9 March. The defendants – Michael Burns (43), Ciaran O'Driscoll (24), Patrick Curtis (38), Stephen Curtis (32), Mohammed Smew (27) and Mark Capper (21) – were charged with conspiring to commit the murder of Hutch between 1 February and 10 March 2018, and also with facilitating the commission of a serious offence by a criminal organisation. Additional charges included conspiracy to murder an unknown person on the same dates, and for Burns, possession of a firearm silencer and five rounds of 9 mm ammunition. The prosecution, represented by State solicitor Ciara Vibien, stated that disclosure to the defence was at an advanced stage. Each defendant appeared in court either alone or in groups, with Capper appearing alone again later.
A 31‑year‑old man, Paul Norton, faces a firearms charge and will be tried in the Special Criminal Court. He appeared in the Dublin District Court in October, accused of unlawful possession of a Beretta and 31 rounds of 9mm ammunition at Stardust Memorial Park in Coolock on 5 October 2019. The Director of Public Prosecutions, represented by State solicitor Ciara Vibien, requested that he be tried in the Special Criminal Court, a request that was granted by Mr Justice Tony Hunt. The case is now scheduled for mention on 2 March.
In October 2020, the Special Criminal Court will hear the case of Caolan Smyth, 28, who was arrested in October 2019 for attempted murder after a shooting at a Topaz garage in Clonshaugh, north Dublin, on 10 May 2017. Smyth, who was charged at Coolock Garda station, was found guilty of attempted murder and the DPP requested a trial in the Special Criminal Court, a request that was granted. The court also heard the case of Gary McAreavy, 52, of Castlebellingham, who faces a connected charge of impeding a prosecution for the same incident. McAreavy was ordered to sign daily at Dundalk Garda Station, obey a 9 pm‑7 am curfew, and was granted legal aid. Judge Tony Hunt set the trial date for 5 October 2020 and remanded McAreavy on continuing bail to appear again on 28 May 2021. The proceedings remain at the trial stage, with no verdict or sentencing announced.
The Court of Appeal has upheld the convictions of five individuals, including Kevin Hannaway, for their roles in an IRA inquiry conducted in Castleknock, Dublin, in August 2015. The group was originally found guilty at the Special Criminal Court in June 2018 for assisting in the interrogation of suspected informants, a process captured by gardaí listening devices. Kevin Hannaway (71) and Eva Shannon (61), both of Belfast, were sentenced to three years and nine months and four years imprisonment respectively for assisting in the interviews. Seán Hannaway (48) received five years and six months, David Nooney (53) three years and nine months, and Edward O'Brien (42) 16 months, all for membership of an unlawful organisation. Mr Justice John Edwards, delivering the judgment, affirmed that the Special Criminal Court properly handled the admissibility of audio recordings and the opinion evidence of a senior Garda regarding IRA membership. The court rejected challenges to the defendants' arrests and the identification of voices on the recordings. While the convictions were upheld, the report notes that appeals regarding the sentences are scheduled to be heard next week, meaning the sentencing phase of the legal process remains pending.
Dean Howe, 34, of Dublin 8, pleaded guilty to conspiring with others to murder Gary Hanley between September 15 and November 6, 2017. At a sentence hearing in the Special Criminal Court, the prosecution detailed Howe's alleged role in surveillance, supervising vehicles, collecting fuel, and instructing co-accused. Evidence included secret recordings where Howe scolded Joseph Kelly for "fucking up" and instructions to cover his face while buying petrol. The court heard that tracking devices were moved to Phoenix Park on September 15, 2017, where Howe was observed with others. On November 6, 2017, Kelly and Luke Wilson were arrested near Hanley's home with a loaded pistol and silencer. Luke Wilson, 24, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and unlawful possession of a Beretta, receiving an 11-year sentence. Alan Wilson, 39, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and was jailed for six years. Joseph Kelly, 35, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and a weapons charge, receiving a 12-year sentence. Howe, who has 37 previous convictions, has been in custody since May 2019. Mr Justice Tony Hunt adjourned Howe's sentencing to March 3 at 10.30am.
A 28‑year‑old man, Caolan Smyth, has been charged with the attempted murder of James Gately, a 31‑year‑old father of two from north inner‑city Dublin, following a drive‑by shooting on 10 May 2017. Gately was shot five times at a Topaz garage in Clonshaugh, sustaining injuries to his neck and upper chest while seated in a car, but survived. Smyth was arrested at Coolock Garda station in October 2019 and appeared before Judge Geraldine Carthy at Dublin District Court. The State solicitor, Michael O'Donovan, requested that the case be heard in the Special Criminal Court, a request that Judge Tony Hunt approved. The trial is scheduled to commence on 5 October 2024 at 11 a.m. and is expected to last three weeks. The court also set a mention date of 28 May 2024 to ensure the proceedings proceed smoothly, noting that Smyth will not need to appear on that date.
Owen Cummins, 41, of Cabra, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possessing a Beretta 92s handgun and silencer in suspicious circumstances on September 6, 2017. The court heard that gardai, acting on intelligence regarding a potential hit in Ballyfermot, pursued a Citroen Berlingo van driven by Cummins. After a collision, Cummins fled in a Hyundai Tucson jeep, driving directly at Garda Stephen Gillespie, who was restraining passenger Andrew O'Keeffe. The garda discharged his firearm to dissuade the vehicle, which subsequently struck a parked Volkswagen Passat. Cummins then abandoned the jeep. O'Keeffe, 30, previously pleaded guilty to possessing the firearm and was sentenced in August 2018 to nine years' imprisonment, with one year suspended. Cummins, who has 68 previous convictions, was represented by Michael O'Higgins SC, who described him as a former heroin addict acting as a driver under instructions. The matter was adjourned, with Mr Justice Tony Hunt scheduled to sentence Cummins on March 3.
A 41‑year‑old UK national, David Hunter, is accused of murdering Michael Barr, a 35‑year‑old manager from Co Tyrone, who was shot seven times at the Sunset House pub on 25 April 2016. Mr Justice Tony Hunt set the trial for the non‑jury Special Criminal Court to begin on 10 June 2020, with an expected duration of four weeks. The court also scheduled a mention on 3 April 2020 to ensure all matters are in order, and ruled that Mr Hunter need not appear on that date.
Gareth Brophy, aged 25, of Reuben Walk, Dublin 8, pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder of David Douglas at the Special Criminal Court. Mr Douglas, 55, was shot six times in Shoestown on Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 8, on 1 July 2016. Evidence showed Brophy drove the getaway Mercedes, which he subsequently attempted to set alight near Tandy Court Apartments. While burning the vehicle, his trousers caught fire before he extinguished the flames and fled to a waiting Suzuki Swift. CCTV analysis of 1,500 hours of footage, DNA evidence from the Suzuki's passenger area, and a palm print from the vehicle door linked Brophy to the crime. The court heard his involvement was assessed as more serious than that of Nathan Foley, who received a six-year sentence for the same offence. Brophy was arrested in November 2018. Sentencing was scheduled for 17 February.
A 28‑year‑old man, Caolan Smyth, is charged with the attempted murder of 31‑year‑old James Gately, who was shot five times in a drive‑by shooting at a Topaz garage in Clonshaugh, north Dublin, on 10 May 2017. Gately was injured in the neck and upper chest but survived. Smyth was arrested in October 2019 and appeared before Judge Geraldine Carthy at Dublin District Court. The State solicitor requested that the case be transferred to the Special Criminal Court, and Judge Tony Hunt granted the order.
Vincent Banks, a convicted member of the IRA, has lost his appeal against his conviction. Banks, 49, of Dublin 7, was found guilty by the Special Criminal Court of membership of an unlawful organisation. He was sentenced to five years' imprisonment in October 2017 for purchasing a Toyota Camry linked to the 2012 murder of prison officer David Black. Although Banks was previously acquitted of withholding information regarding the killing, the court found he acted as a trusted member of the organisation to obtain the vehicle used in the crime. In the Court of Appeal, Banks challenged the admissibility of his garda interviews, arguing that inferences drawn from his silence were not properly explained. He also contested the lawfulness of his arrest and the handling of belief evidence. Mr Justice John Edwards, sitting with President George Birmingham and Ms Justice Marie Baker, dismissed these arguments. The court ruled that Banks had adequate legal advice and that the Special Criminal Court correctly applied the law regarding his arrest. The judges noted that arguments concerning belief evidence had been repeatedly litigated and found no basis to overturn the lower court's decision. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed, and Banks' conviction stands.
David Hunter, a 41‑year‑old UK national, faces trial in the Special Criminal Court for the murder of Michael Barr, a 35‑year‑old Dublin bar manager. Barr, a father of five from County Tyrone, was shot seven times at the Sunset House pub on Summerhill Parade on 25 April 2016. Hunter was arrested at Baldonnel Aerodrome, charged at Dublin District Court, and appeared before Judge John Hughes. On 16 October, State solicitor Ciara Vibien requested that he be tried in the Special Criminal Court, a request that Judge Paul Coffey granted.
Dean Howe, 34, of Oakfield, Dublin 8, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to conspiring with others to murder Gary Hanley between September 15 and November 6, 2017. The charge, contrary to Section 71 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, was admitted during arraignment. Mr Justice Paul Coffey noted that Howe's trial was originally scheduled for January 13, 2020, but he directed that the case be put up for mention on that date to fix a sentencing date. Three other men had previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder Mr Hanley. Luke Wilson, 24, of Ballyfermot, who also admitted unlawful possession of a Beretta, was jailed for 11 years. Alan Wilson, 39, of Dublin 8, received a six-year sentence. Joseph Kelly, 35, of Drimnagh, who also admitted a weapons charge, was jailed for 12 years. The court proceedings for Howe are at the sentencing stage, with the specific disposal to be determined at the upcoming mention.
In a case before the Special Criminal Court, Jonathan Hawthorn, 45, was convicted of membership in the Irish Republican Army for purchasing explosives online. The prosecution relied on FBI surveillance of the dark web, where a user named Meat Cleaver ordered Semtex, a grenade, a handgun and ammunition. Hawthorn was photographed receiving a mock‑delivery of the explosives and was later found with the materials in a sports bag. He was sentenced to five years' imprisonment in October 2018. Hawthorn has now appealed, arguing that witnesses from the National Surveillance Unit should not be granted anonymity in the non‑jury court. The appeal contends that no legal authority exists for anonymous testimony, and that the accused has a right to know the identity of witnesses. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment.
A 25‑year‑old man named Gareth Brophy pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to a lesser charge of helping to facilitate the murder of David Douglas. Douglas, aged 55, was shot six times on 1 July 2016 while taking a meal break at his partner's shop on Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 8. Brophy, who lives at Reuben Walk, Dublin 8, admitted that on that day he participated in activities with the intent to aid a criminal organisation in committing the serious offence of Douglas's murder, contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. He pleaded guilty when arraigned and will be sentenced on 13 January 2020. The court heard that Detective Garda Niall Godfrey met Brophy in the Criminal Courts of Justice, explained the charge, and served him a copy of the charge sheet. Seán Gillane SC represented the State, while Michael Bowman SC represented Brophy.
A sixth man, Mark Capper, 21, appeared before the Special Criminal Court on 11 December 2019 charged with conspiring to murder Patrick "Patsy" Hutch and an unknown person between 1 February and 10 March 2018. Gardai arrested him at the Finglas Post Office on a warrant issued by the court. Capper faces four scheduled offences and two non‑scheduled offences, including conspiracy to commit murder, providing or assisting with vehicles for the criminal organisation, and planning the shooting of Hutch. He is also charged with conspiracy to murder an unknown person and related reckless activities. The court granted legal aid for two counsel and remanded Capper in custody to appear again on 3 February 2020. The case lists co‑accused Patrick Curtis, Michael Burns, Mohammed Smew, Stephen Curtis, Ciaran O'Driscoll, Glen Thompson, Gary Thompson and Robert Brown as alleged conspirators.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Owen Cummins, 40, who pleaded guilty to possessing a Beretta handgun and silencer, withdrew his request to attend his 19‑year‑old son's funeral mass after a Garda risk assessment concluded it would be impossible to ensure public and Garda safety if he attended the church service. Cummins had previously sought a compassionate bail application to attend the funeral, but the court allowed him to attend the funeral home only. The court expressed deep sympathy for his loss. Cummins explained he wanted to pay his last respects, but the prosecution argued he was a flight risk. Garda evidence highlighted Cummins' involvement in a feud‑related "hit team" operation and potential access to false documents. The case remains pending sentencing on 20 January 2020.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Owen Cummins, 40, awaiting sentencing for possession of a Beretta handgun and silencer, was granted temporary bail to attend his 19‑year‑old son's funeral. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Coffey, considered the application under "unusual and very tragic circumstances." Cummins, who pleaded guilty to the firearms offence last year, expressed a desire to attend the funeral mass to pay his last respects. The prosecution argued he was a flight risk and that security concerns would arise if he attended the church. Garda evidence highlighted Cummins' involvement in a feud‑related operation and potential access to false documents. The judge approved the bail with conditions that Garda escort would have discretion over Cummins' seating and could remove him if any danger was perceived. Cummins entered a €100 bond. The sentencing is scheduled for January 20, 2020.
Businessman Jim Mansfield Jnr, 52, of Saggart, Co Dublin, appeared before the Special Criminal Court where Mr Justice Paul Coffey set April 20th, 2020, as the date for his trial to begin. The non-jury trial is expected to last three weeks. Mr Mansfield is charged with conspiring with one or more persons to falsely imprison Martin Byrne on a date unknown between January 1st, 2015, and June 30th, 2015. He is also charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice by directing Patrick Byrne to destroy recorded CCTV footage, with the intention of perverting the course of public justice in relation to the alleged false imprisonment of Martin Byrne at Finnstown House Hotel, Lucan, between June 9th, 2015, and June 12th, 2015. These are allegations; no plea or finding has been recorded. Defence counsel Tony McGillicuddy BL stated that Mr Mansfield is a working man, divorced, and subject to a €6 million High Court judgment. He currently lives with his mother and provides money to his ex-wife. Mr Mansfield was granted legal aid last Tuesday. Today, he was remanded on continuing bail to appear before the court again on April 20th. He was previously admitted to bail on July 3rd on an independent surety of €10,000, with conditions including signing on weekly at Lucan Garda station and not leaving the country.
Five men—Ciaran O'Driscoll (24), Patrick Curtis (38), Stephen Curtis (32), Mohammed Smew (27) and Michael Burns (43)—appeared before the Special Criminal Court on 5 December 2019. They are charged with conspiring to murder Patrick "Patsy" Hutch between 1 February 2018 and 10 March 2018, a serious offence under Section 71 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. All five are also charged with participating in activities intended to facilitate the commission of a serious offence by a criminal organisation, namely the murder of Mr Hutch between 1 February 2018 and 28 February 2018, and with the murder of an unknown person between 1 February 2018 and 10 March 2018. Patrick Curtis and Michael Burns face additional charges of directing the activities of a criminal organisation during the same period. Burns is further accused of possessing a firearm silencer and five rounds of 9 mm ammunition on 10 March 2018, suggesting unlawful possession.
The Special Criminal Court directed not guilty verdicts for Laurence Murphy and Ray Kennedy, who had pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh Na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA on March 6th, 2013. Ms Justice Tara Burns ruled that Detective Chief Superintendent Anthony Howard's "belief evidence" was inadmissible due to "issues of unfairness" arising from a "blanket" claim of privilege over underlying material. The judge noted that without this evidence, the case was "inherently tenuous." The ruling also highlighted "worrying aspects" regarding the handling of statements by State's-witness David Cullen, who claimed Murphy was "never a member of the IRA." The court found that the refusal to release secret material to the prosecution or defence prevented meaningful cross-examination. A further charge against Mr Kennedy of carrying out an act intending to pervert the course of justice, by destroying a SIM card on March 6th, 2013, has been adjourned until January 13 next.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 3 December 2019, defence counsel Hugh Hartnett SC and John D Fitzgerald SC challenged the admissibility of a senior Garda's "belief evidence" that Laurence Murphy (62) and Ray Kennedy (40) were members of the IRA. They argued the evidence was "valueless" and that the Director of Public Prosecutions had treated the court's rulings with "casualness", making the process "impossible to understand". The defence noted that no prosecution for IRA membership has relied on belief evidence since 1972 and that the Garda's belief was formed from material held by the Gardaí in December 2017, which had not been disclosed to the prosecution, defence or judges. They also highlighted that the Garda's claim of privilege was broad, that cross‑examination was "sterile", and that the Assistant Commissioner had not made the Garda aware of a statement by David Cullen that Murphy was "never a member of the IRA". Laurence Murphy pleaded not guilty. Ray Kennedy pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 3 December 2019, the three‑judge panel, led by Mr Justice Paul Coffey, rejected a motion to exclude surveillance evidence on the basis that officers had not taken notes during the Kinahan cartel conspiracy‑to‑murder investigation. The court found that the lack of notes did not breach minimal standards of fairness and admissibility, and that the observations were made for intelligence gathering rather than for investigating a crime already committed. The judge also considered the evidence linking accused Liam Brannigan (aged 37) to a mobile phone (PB3) allegedly used by conspirators. After reviewing the prosecution's case, the court concluded that sufficient evidence existed to convict Brannigan of conspiracy to murder Gary Hanley, and therefore denied a direction of acquittal. Brannigan remains in custody until a judgment is delivered on 3 February. Liam Brannigan pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 3 December 2019, businessman Jim Mansfield Junior, aged 52, was granted legal aid on charges of false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice. The court heard that Mansfield had a €6 million judgment against him and that he was charged with conspiring to falsely imprison Martin Byrne between 1 January 2015 and 30 June 2015, and with directing Patrick Byrne to destroy CCTV footage relating to Byrne's false imprisonment at Finnstown House Hotel between 9 June 2015 and 12 June 2015. Mansfield, who lives with his mother and provides financial support to his ex‑wife, was not placed in the dock but sat at the back of the courtroom. Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions noted that Mansfield had applied for legal aid in October and was not opposing it.
During the Special Criminal Court trial of Laurence Murphy and Ray Kennedy for the murder of Peter Butterly, Detective Chief Superintendent Anthony Howard testified that his belief that the accused were members of the IRA was not affected by information that a key witness, David Cullen, had said he would deny IRA membership if called to testify. Howard, head of the Special Detective Unit, had formed his belief based on material he claimed privilege over, gathered in December 2017. He confirmed that no one in the investigation, including the DPP, had informed him of Cullen's statement, and he insisted the statement had no impact on his belief. Howard also denied any formal protocol or coaching on how to express such beliefs, and the defence will apply to exclude his evidence tomorrow. The trial continues. Laurence Murphy pleaded not guilty. Ray Kennedy pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court has adjourned proceedings involving Laurence Murphy and Ray Kennedy, who have pleaded not guilty to alleged membership of an unlawful organisation, styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Oglaigh Na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA on March 6th, 2013. Mr Kennedy is also charged with carrying out an act intending to pervert the course of justice by destroying a SIM card on the same date. The procedural stage remains at charge or pretrial, with the trial set to continue on Monday. Ms Justice Tara Burns stated the court would not review sensitive material after the Director of Public Prosecutions failed to comply with a ruling to view it. The judge expressed shock at the DPP's refusal to disclose a letter from Assistant Commissioner Michael O'Sullivan to the defence, questioning the office's thought process. Defence counsel argued that the court viewing the material would create perception problems and depart from judicial norms. The DPP maintained security concerns regarding the material. No findings, sentences, or finalisations were recorded, as the matter was adjourned.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Judge Tara Burns considered whether the court should review sensitive material that Gardaí have refused to hand over to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The material concerns two men charged in connection with the 2013 murder of Peter Butterly. Gardaí cited security concerns for senior and junior counsel, claiming that disclosure could expose them to danger. Defence counsel for Laurence Murphy and Ray Kennedy objected to the court viewing the material, arguing it could create a conflict of interest. Judge Burns noted that the DPP was unable and unwilling to provide the material, but the court retains a supervisory role over disclosure. She ruled that the prosecution must ensure proper disclosure, but the court would not compel Gardaí to release the material. The trial is set to resume tomorrow at 10:30 am. Laurence Murphy pleaded not guilty. Ray Kennedy pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 27 November 2019, Ms Justice Tara Burns ruled that prosecution counsel must view sensitive material relating to two men charged with the murder of a dissident republican. The material, held by An Garda Siochana, concerns Peter Butterly, a 35‑year‑old father of two, who was shot dead on 6 March 2013 at the Huntsman Inn car park in Gormanston, Co. Meath. Laurence Murphy (62) and Ray Kennedy (40) are charged with membership of an unlawful organisation, the IRA, and Kennedy with destroying a SIM card. Detective Chief Superintendent Anthony Howard, head of the Special Detective Unit, claimed the material was essential to his belief that the men were IRA members, citing security concerns. Garda Siochana cited fears for the safety of prosecution counsel as the reason for withholding the material, but the court found no legal basis for that claim. Laurence Murphy pleaded not guilty. Ray Kennedy pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 26 November 2019, defence counsel for Liam Brannigan, a 37‑year‑old from Bride Street, Dublin, argued that the Garda surveillance officers' policy of not taking notes during the Kinahan cartel conspiracy‑to‑murder investigation was unacceptable and should not be allowed to slide. He contended that officers had claimed to have made identifications in the witness box that were not previously recorded, and that some had referred to other sources before asserting an identification. Brannigan is charged with conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between 15 September and 6 November 2017 and has pleaded not guilty. The defence sought to exclude evidence from surveillance officers and phone charts that linked secretly recorded conversations in bugged cars to specific individuals, arguing that the lack of notes undermined the fairness of the evidence.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 25 November 2019, defence counsel Giollaiosa Ó Lideadha argued that surveillance evidence presented by Gardaí in the conspiracy‑to‑murder case against 37‑year‑old Liam Brannigan of Bride Street, Dublin 8, was unreliable and should be excluded. Brannigan, charged with conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between 15 September and 6 November 2017, pleaded not guilty. The defence highlighted that the prosecution had not shown any phone linked to Brannigan was actually used by him, and that surveillance officers had failed to take notes, undermining the integrity of the evidence. The court had previously heard that six vehicles were bugged and that conversations recorded in those vehicles were attributed to Brannigan, Joseph Kelly, Luke Wilson and Alan Wilson based on phone data.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 22 November 2019, evidence was presented that a phone attributed to Liam Brannigan, a 37‑year‑old accused of conspiring to murder Gary Hanley, was used to contact Kinahan cartel gunmen eight times on the day of Brannigan's arrest. The court heard that Brannigan's phone also communicated with Alan Wilson seven times that same night. Brannigan, who pleaded not guilty, was arrested on 6 November 2017 near Hanley's home, where police seized a Beretta. The prosecution claimed Brannigan had thrown the phone into church grounds before his arrest, a claim contested by his defence. The case also involved three other men—Joseph Kelly, Luke Wilson and Alan Wilson—who had previously pleaded guilty to the same conspiracy and received sentences ranging from six to twelve years for murder conspiracy and weapons offences. The trial remains ongoing.
The Special Criminal Court heard audio evidence regarding the alleged conspiracy to murder Gary Hanley between September 15th and November 6th, 2017. Liam Brannigan, 37, of Bride Street, Dublin 8, is charged with this offence and has pleaded not guilty. The court examined a recording from a bugged Volkswagen caddy on November 6th, 2017, where unidentified men discussed a Beretta handgun with a silencer and the target. One man loaded the clip, stating, "we're laughing with this," before armed gardai intercepted the vehicle. Surveillance evidence linked the vehicle to Alan Wilson and Joseph Kelly, who were arrested that night along with Luke Wilson. Brannigan was also arrested. The prosecution presented a phone attributed to Brannigan, allegedly discarded before his arrest, containing contacts for Wilson and Kelly. While Luke Wilson, Joseph Kelly, and Alan Wilson have previously pleaded guilty to the plot and been jailed, Brannigan's trial continues. The matter is currently at the sentence stage for the co-accused, but Brannigan's case remains ongoing with no finalisation recorded for him.
A Detective Chief Superintendent has given evidence at the Special Criminal Court regarding two men charged in connection with the fatal shooting of Peter Butterly in March 2013. The victim, aged 35, was killed in a car park at Gormanston, Co Meath. Laurence Murphy, aged 62, of Bettystown, Co Meath, and Ray Kennedy, aged 40, of Blanchardstown, Dublin, have pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. Mr Kennedy faces an additional charge of perverting the course of justice. Detective Chief Superintendent Anthony Howard, head of the Special Detective Unit, told the three-judge court of his belief that both men were members of the IRA. He declined to disclose the material upon which his belief rested, citing security concerns and the protection of life and property. Evidence was also heard of items recovered from the scene. Four men have previously received life sentences for Mr Butterly's murder, with two others also imprisoned for roles in the killing.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the ongoing trial of Liam Brannigan, who is charged with conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between September 15th and November 6th, 2017. Brannigan has pleaded not guilty. The court examined audio from a secret listening device placed on a Volkswagen caddy on November 3rd, 2017, during an investigation into the Kinahan cartel. Surveillance officers previously identified Joseph Kelly driving the vehicle and later walking with Alan Wilson. Both Kelly and Wilson, along with Luke Wilson, have already pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder Mr. Hanley and have been jailed. The recording captured two men discussing plans to purchase vodka, Red Bull, cocaine, and Viagra. One man complained that cocaine was negating the effect of the Viagra and making him paranoid. The court also heard testimony regarding a previous incident where a man was hospitalized after a binge involving whiskey and cocaine. Luke Wilson and Joseph Kelly were arrested on November 6th, 2017, when the vehicle was stopped in Dublin 3, leading to the seizure of a 9mm Beretta pistol. The trial continues.