Paul Beatty, 32, of Eugene Street, Dublin 8, was arrested on 2 June 2018 with a loaded .38 special calibre Smith & Wesson revolver wrapped in a plastic bag and five rounds of ammunition. He had previously served a seven‑year sentence in 2010 for possession of a firearm and ammunition in suspicious circumstances. The Special Criminal Court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, found that Beatty's conduct was "clearly intended" to evade Gardaí and that he was an "important and trusted member" of an organised crime gang. The judge imposed a headline sentence of ten years, reduced by 25 % for his early guilty plea, and ultimately sentenced Beatty to seven and a half years' imprisonment, back‑dated to the date of his arrest. The sentence reflects the gravity of the offence and Beatty's extensive criminal history, including 71 prior convictions. The court noted that no further mitigation was appropriate for a repeat offender.
The Special Criminal Court heard sentencing submissions for Alan Wilson and Joseph Kelly, who are accused of conspiring to murder Gary Hanley and possessing a 9mm Beretta pistol with intent to endanger life. Both men pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge, while Kelly also admitted to the firearm possession. The court heard evidence of secret recordings where Wilson instructed Kelly to kill Hanley, and surveillance of reconnaissance trips to plan the attack. Wilson, who has no prior convictions, expressed remorse in a letter to the court, while Kelly, who has 64 previous convictions, cited drug addiction and a difficult background as mitigating factors. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Martin Nolan and Ann Ryan, remanded both defendants in custody until July 29, when they will be sentenced. The matter was adjourned and is not yet concluded. Luke Wilson, Alan Wilson's nephew, was previously sentenced to 11 years for the same firearm charge and a concurrent six years for the conspiracy.
Two Limerick men, John O'Donoghue (29) and Paul Whelan (25), were sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to a combined 21 years after armed Gardaí stopped their car and found a loaded 9mm Colt pistol with eight rounds, a petrol canister, latex gloves, clothes and cocaine. The judge, Ms Justice Tara Burns, described the operation as carefully planned, noting the pistol was primed with a round in the breach and an accelerant was present, indicating intent to use the gun and possibly burn the vehicle to destroy evidence. Both men had pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in suspicious circumstances, for which each received a five‑year sentence. The headline sentences were 12 years each, but after mitigating factors the court imposed 11 years for O'Donoghue and 10½ years for Whelan, backdated to 13 July 2018. The lesser sentences were also imposed for the firearms charges. The court highlighted the men's prior convictions and the seriousness of the offence.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 15 July 2019, the court was informed that a three‑man hit‑for‑hire team, including an Afghan war veteran, had planned to murder Patrick "Patsy" Hutch at his Champion's Avenue home. The team—Gary Thompson (34), his brother Glen Thompson (24), and Robert Browne (35)—were intercepted by Gardaí just 250 metres from the target's residence. They possessed four firearms: a 9mm Rak sub‑machine gun, a .38 Special Rossi revolver, a 9mm Beretta 92 pistol and a 9mm Makarov pistol. Garda surveillance revealed a detailed plan involving a van parked at Belmont Hall Apartments, a getaway vehicle at Stoney Road, and a "looker" to signal the target's departure. On 10 March 2018, Gardaí conducted an armed intervention, arresting the men and seizing weapons, a fob, gloves, a wig, mobile phones, and other items. The defendants were remanded in custody pending sentencing on 29 July.
A Dublin man, Michael Brady (54), will be sentenced at the Special Criminal Court later this month for possessing €1.25 million worth of heroin. Brady was found guilty in June of possessing the drugs at an apartment in Sallins Bridge, Sallins, Naas, Co Kildare, on January 24, 2017. The trial heard that heroin, cocaine, and cannabis were found at the premises, along with a 7.62 x 39mm calibre VZ 58 assault rifle and various ammunition. Brady was found not guilty of possessing the cocaine and cannabis, and had earlier been found not guilty of possessing the assault rifle by direction of the court. Another charge accusing him of possessing three ammunition magazines was withdrawn by the State. Brady had denied all charges. At a sentence hearing, Brady's barrister, Dominic McGinn SC, said his client was not significantly involved in 'this criminal organisation' and his involvement in looking after the consignment of drugs was at the 'lowest end'. Brady was remanded in custody until the sentencing date of July 29. Declan Brady (53), Michael Brady's brother, was jailed for 10-and-a-half years today for minding an 'arsenal' of firearms and ammunition at Unit 52, Block 503, Grants Drive, Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole, Co Dublin. The court found that Declan Brady was tasked by senior criminal figures abroad to supervise the arsenal, which was assembled to 'support and sustain organised crime of the most serious nature'.
Declan Brady, 53, of Celbridge, Co Kildare, was sentenced to 11-and-a-half years imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court for possessing an arsenal of firearms and ammunition in suspicious circumstances. Brady, known as 'Mr Nobody', pleaded guilty to possessing nine revolvers, four semi-automatic pistols, a sub-machine gun, an assault rifle, and 1,355 rounds of ammunition at a fake business premises in Rathcoole, Co Dublin. The court found he was in overall charge of the cache, which was assembled to support organised crime. His headline sentence of 14 years was reduced due to his timely guilty plea, lack of relevant previous convictions, and good behaviour in custody. The final year of his sentence was suspended on condition he enters a good behaviour bond. The sentence was backdated to January 24, 2017. Two co-accused, Jonathan Harding, 45, of Sallins, Co Kildare, and James Walsh, 33, of Clondalkin, Dublin 22, were previously sentenced to 10 years and nine years imprisonment respectively, with the final year of each sentence suspended. The court noted that Brady received instructions from senior criminal figures abroad to maintain the weapons, which were found ready for imminent use during a surveillance operation.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Detective Chief Superintendent Anthony Howard testified that he believed Darren Weldon, a 47‑year‑old from Kilbarrack, was a member of the Irish Republican Army on 14 October 2014. Howard, head of the Special Detective Unit, said his belief was based on all material he had reviewed, not on any evidence discovered at Weldon's arrest. He claimed privilege over the material, citing protection of life and public security, and noted that revealing the details could hamper investigations into subversive crime. Howard acknowledged that the material was collated but maintained privilege regarding its timeframe and any association with Alan Ryan. He confirmed Weldon had no prior convictions. The case, with a not‑guilty plea, will continue before Justice Paul Coffey and two other judges. Darren Weldon pleaded not guilty.
Two Limerick men, John O'Donoghue (29) and Paul Whelan (25), were convicted by the Special Criminal Court of possessing a 9mm Colt semi‑automatic pistol with intent to endanger life after a Garda stop on 30 July 2018. The car, an Alfa Romeo, contained the loaded handgun, eight rounds in the magazine, a round in the breach, a petrol canister, latex gloves, clothes and cocaine. The judge, Ms Justice Tara Burns, noted that the firearm was primed and ready to fire, and that no fingerprints were found on it. Both men pleaded not guilty to the intent charge but guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition in suspicious circumstances. They were remanded until sentencing on 29 July. The court emphasised that the only inference was that the firearm was intended to be used to endanger life.
James Mansfield, a 52-year-old businessman from Saggart, Co. Dublin, appeared before the Special Criminal Court to face charges of conspiracy to commit false imprisonment and attempting to pervert the course of justice. He is alleged to have conspired with one or more persons to falsely imprison Martin Byrne on a date unknown between January 1 and June 30, 2015. Additionally, he is charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice by directing another man to destroy recorded CCTV footage related to the alleged false imprisonment of Mr. Byrne between June 9 and June 12, 2015, at Finnstown House Hotel in Lucan, Co. Dublin. These allegations remain contested. The matter was heard by a three-judge panel comprising Ms. Justice Tara Burns, Judge Gerard Griffin, and Judge Michael Walsh. Mr. Mansfield was admitted to bail on an independent surety of €10,000, subject to conditions requiring him to sign on weekly at Lucan Garda Station and not to leave the country. A book of the evidence was served on the accused. The court remanded Mr. Mansfield until July 29, when he will next appear before the three-judge court. The matter was adjourned and is not yet concluded.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Darren Weldon, 47, from Kilbarrack, Dublin, pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation called the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Prosecuting counsel Paul Greene was presented with evidence that Weldon's mobile phone contained three images, including two pictures of the late Real IRA leader Alan Ryan with the caption "heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done regardless of the consequences." Detective Sergeant Eileen Keogh, who extracted the images, acknowledged that they could have been sent to Weldon by someone else and that deleted WhatsApp conversations can leave saved images on a phone. Witnesses including Detective Inspector William Hanrahan, Garda Jude Ainsworth and Garda James Flaherty recounted encounters with Alan Ryan and Weldon in 2011 and 2012, but did not provide further evidence of wrongdoing. The trial is set to continue tomorrow before Mr Justice Paul Coffey, Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge Michael Walsh.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 26 June 2019, defence counsel Mark Nicholas SC argued that it was a "step too far" to infer that Limerick men John O'Donoghue (29) and Paul Whelan (25) intended to endanger life by possessing a 9mm Colt semi‑automatic pistol. He contended that the prosecution had only presented a set of circumstances and no evidence of intent, noting that possession of a firearm does not automatically imply intent under Section 15a of the Firearms Act. Nicholas highlighted the lack of surveillance recordings and the possibility of alternative unlawful uses of the gun, such as shooting at an empty house. He urged the three‑judge panel to be cautious, as the case did not "hang together quite like a West End production." The court remanded both men in custody until a judgment is delivered on 5 July. John O'Donoghue pleaded not guilty. Paul Whelan pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, prosecutors argued that two Limerick men, John O'Donoghue (29) and Paul Whelan (25), were in possession of a 9mm Colt semi‑automatic pistol that was cocked, loaded and ready to fire, indicating intent to endanger life. The case was built on evidence from an Alfa Romeo seized by Gardaí, which contained the loaded handgun, eight rounds in the magazine, a round in the breach, two petrol canisters (one containing petrol), a pair of latex gloves, clothing and cocaine. The prosecution claimed the men had taken "serious precautions" to avoid leaving forensic traces and suggested a plan to destroy evidence by burning the car. Defence counsel countered that the presence of ammunition in the breach was not proof of a cocked gun and that the items could have been used for other criminal purposes, such as robbery. John O'Donoghue pleaded not guilty. Paul Whelan pleaded not guilty.
A Kildare man known as "Mr Nobody" pleaded guilty to possessing 15 lethal firearms and 1,355 rounds of ammunition at a Dublin business park. The Special Criminal Court heard that the weapons were supplied by senior criminals abroad. Gardaí recovered four loaded revolvers ready for imminent use, a sub‑machine gun, an assault rifle, four semi‑automatic pistols, two silencers and ten spare magazines. The defendant, Declan Brady, 53, was arrested on 24 January 2017 after a surveillance operation. He had seven prior convictions for road traffic offences and had received instructions from overseas figures. Brady's co‑accused, Jonathan Harding and James Walsh, had previously been sentenced to ten and nine years' imprisonment with one year suspended. The court noted the seriousness of the firearms and the lack of any innocent use. Brady was remanded in custody until 15 July, when he will be sentenced.
The Special Criminal Court has heard evidence in the trial of John O'Donoghue and Paul Whelan, who are accused of possessing a 9mm Colt semi-automatic pistol with intent to endanger life at Park Road, Limerick, on July 30, 2018. Both men, from Moyross, Limerick, have pleaded not guilty. Prosecution counsel Dominic McGinn SC stated the central issue is intention rather than possession, highlighting that Garda Robert Sheehy found a loaded handgun, cocaine, petrol canisters, and gloves in an Alfa Romeo stopped by the Emergency Response Unit. The court examined a "double set of clothing" worn by Mr. Whelan, who was wearing a grey Adidas hoodie under another hoodie and black tracksuit pants over grey Adidas pants. Mr. O'Donoghue was arrested under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. A statement from a Lithuanian national described a nervous man with metal teeth who attempted to purchase a car on July 27. Defence counsel Colman Cody SC noted that Mr. Whelan reported taking cocaine, Xanax, and cannabis prior to arrest and was referred to Limerick Regional Hospital. The prosecution contends that the combination of the firearm, petrol, and clothing supports an inference of intent to endanger life. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Tara Burns with Judges Patricia Ryan and Flann Brennan, is expected to last one week and continues on Monday.
Two Limerick men, Paul Whelan (25) and John O'Donoghue (29), were stopped by Gardaí on 30 July 2018 in an Alfa Romeo on Park Road, Corbally. The vehicle contained a loaded 9mm Colt semi‑automatic pistol with eight rounds, two cans of petrol, a glove, a mobile phone and a change of clothing, including a double set of clothing worn by Whelan. Gardaí described the stop as involving multiple Garda vehicles; the Alfa Romeo rammed a Garda car and then reversed, attempting to escape. Whelan was extracted from the front passenger seat and O'Donoghue from the driver's seat after Garda officers broke windows. Both men were arrested at the scene. The Special Criminal Court heard evidence that the presence of the firearm, petrol, glove and clothing indicated an intention to endanger life. The trial, presided by Ms Justice Tara Burns, is expected to last one week. Paul Whelan pleaded not guilty. John O'Donoghue pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court will open a trial tomorrow for John O'Donoghue, 29, of Cliona Park, Moyross, and Paul Whelan, 25, of Dalgaish Park, Moyross, who were arraigned this morning. They face charges of possessing a loaded 9mm Colt semi‑automatic pistol at Park Road, Corbally, on 30 July 2018, and of intent to endanger life under the Criminal Justice Act 2006. Both pleaded not guilty. The three‑judge panel—Justice Tara Burns, Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge Flann Brennan—expects the trial to last a week and finish before 28 June.
Alan Wilson, aged 40, was charged at the Special Criminal Court with three counts of attempted murder for a shooting at The Players Lounge pub on 26 July 2010, targeting Brian Masterson, Wayne Barrett and Austin Purcell. He was also charged with possession of a .38 Special Smith & Wesson revolver and a .32 Auto Zastava pistol, and with possession of .38 and .32 ammunition, all with intent to endanger life. Wilson denied any involvement in these allegations. Earlier, he had pleaded guilty to a murder plot involving Gary Hanley between 15 September and 6 November 2017. The DPP directed that Wilson be tried for the attempted murder offences in the non‑jury court. Wilson was granted legal aid, appeared in court wearing a blue jacket and jeans, and was remanded in custody until 29 July when a book of evidence is to be served.
Gangland criminal Alan Wilson, aged 39, pleaded guilty before the Special Criminal Court to conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between 15 September and 6 November 2017. Wilson admitted that he and Joseph Kelly, Liam Brannigan, Luke Wilson and others had planned the murder at a State location. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Martin Nolan and Patricia Ryan, remanded Wilson in custody until 15 July, when he will be sentenced together with Kelly. Wilson's co‑accused, Joseph Kelly (35), also admitted conspiracy to murder Hanley and pleaded guilty to possession of a 9mm Beretta pistol with intent to endanger life on 6 November 2017. Luke Wilson (23) had previously been sentenced to 11 years for unlawful possession of a Beretta handgun with intent to endanger life on the same date. Liam Brannigan (37) remains charged with conspiracy to murder Hanley, with a trial set for 7 October.
Donal Billings, a 67-year-old pensioner from County Longford, has lost his appeal against convictions obtained at the Special Criminal Court. The appeal, heard by the Court of Appeal, focused on two primary issues: the sufficiency of evidence and alleged violations of his Irish language rights. Billings was found guilty of possessing an explosive substance at Longford railway station car park on May 16, 2011, and making false bomb reports on May 16, 18, and 20, 2011, targeting Busáras, Sinn Féin headquarters, Dublin Castle, and Cork airport during Queen Elizabeth's state visit. He was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years' imprisonment by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, who described the acts as outrageous and dangerous. In the appeal, counsel Martin Giblin SC argued that Billings' Irish language rights were destroyed, citing the lack of an Irish-language transcript and the unavailability of the Explosive Substances Act 1883 in Irish. President of the Court of Appeal, Mr Justice George Birmingham, dismissed these arguments, stating the evidence was sufficient and that the trial arrangements, including the use of interpreters, were reasonable. The court found no disadvantage to Billings and ruled that the State was not compelled to provide an Irish transcript or translate pre-1922 statutes. The appeal was dismissed, upholding the original conviction and sentence.
William Burns, held at Loughan House Open Centre in Co Cavan, has challenged the Minister for Justice's refusal to grant him enhanced remission from his prison sentence. Burns was convicted by the Special Criminal Court in 2016 of unlawfully possessing explosive substances, including PETN, RDX, and ammonium nitrate, along with an adapted Guinness keg and detonation equipment discovered at Kilcurry Church, Co Louth in May 2014. He received a seven-year sentence with the final three years suspended. The Minister declined Burns's application for one-third remission in April, citing the gravity of the offence, despite acknowledging his constructive engagement in prison activities. Burns's legal representatives argue the refusal is flawed and breaches his constitutional and human rights protections. They contend the Minister failed to consider his reintegration prospects and provide adequate reasoning. Burns would be released immediately under enhanced remission; otherwise, his scheduled release is June. The High Court granted permission for the challenge to proceed, with the matter returning before the court later that week. William Burns pleaded guilty.
Two men, including the grandson of former Dublin Lord Mayor Christy Burke, were sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to a combined 14 years in prison after being caught with four kilograms of TNT and a hand grenade in a densely populated area of Dublin. Declan McDermott (30) and Mairtin Manning (24) each received seven years' imprisonment for possession of explosives and membership of an unlawful organisation. A third man, John O'Brien (56), was sentenced to one year and six months for assisting an unlawful organisation by storing a significant amount of explosive material. The court noted that the men had pleaded guilty, had no prior convictions, and that the intervention of Gardaí prevented any harm. The sentences were back‑dated to the dates the defendants entered custody. The judge highlighted the seriousness of the offence and the mitigating factors such as the defendants' employment and family circumstances.
A 56-year-old mechanic from Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan, has been sentenced to four years imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court following his conviction for membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. James Joseph Cassidy of Tullycollive was found guilty in March of the charge relating to September 21, 2016. He had denied the allegation. During the trial, gardaí gave evidence of discovering a booster tube in a shed on Cassidy's premises during a search. Detective Inspector William Hanrahan testified that the device was consistent with similar tubing found in relation to other IRA operations. Presiding judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt stated that Cassidy's membership had been persistent and active, and noted that no actual harm occurred due to timely intervention by gardaí. The defendant had no previous convictions. The sentence was backdated to February 14, 2019, when Cassidy entered custody.
In a non‑jury Special Criminal Court hearing, Joseph Kelly, aged 35, pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between 15 September and 6 November 2017, together with Alan Wilson, Liam Brannigan, Luke Wilson and others. He also admitted possession of a 9mm Beretta pistol with intent to endanger life on 6 November 2017 at Philipsburgh Avenue, Marino. The court, presided over by Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Patricia Ryan and Ann Ryan, read the indictment and Kelly answered "guilty" to both counts. A governor's report was ordered for Kelly. He was remanded in custody until 8 July, when sentencing will occur. Luke Wilson, aged 23, had earlier been sentenced to 11 years for unlawful possession of a Beretta and a six‑year concurrent term for the same conspiracy. Alan Wilson (39) and Liam Brannigan (37) face charges of conspiring to murder Hanley, with a trial set for 7 October.
Two Dublin men, Glen Thompson, 23, and Robert Browne, 35, pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to unlawfully possessing four firearms with intent to endanger life. The weapons were found at Belmont Hall Apartments on March 10, 2018 and included a 9mm Rak sub‑machine gun, a .38 Special Rossi revolver, a 9mm Beretta 92 semi‑automatic pistol and a 9mm Makarov semi‑automatic pistol. The court remanded them in custody until July 15, when sentencing will occur.
Damien Metcalfe (33) was sentenced to two years and six months imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court for membership of an unlawful organisation, the IRA. The non-jury court found him guilty earlier this month after he denied the charge on November 24, 2015. Mr Justice Tony Hunt stated that evidence, including audio and video from a Garda surveillance operation at Riverwood Park, Castleknock, indicated Metcalfe played a supporting and logistical role in IRA inquiries regarding leaks to gardai. The judge noted Metcalfe was willing and trusted by the IRA to assist in these inquiries, participating in one interview and transporting individuals to and from the site. Although the offence carries a maximum penalty of eight years, the judge determined a starting point of three years, reduced by six months for mitigating factors such as compliance with bail conditions and lack of adverse attention since the incident. The sentence was backdated to May 6, when Metcalfe entered custody. His younger brother, Conor Metcalfe (28), was separately found guilty of IRA membership by the three-judge court last December and jailed for four years and six months. Metcalfe had 15 previous convictions, including one for arson, but his defense counsel highlighted his lower level of involvement and employment history.
Damien Metcalfe, 35, of Clondalkin, Dublin, was found guilty of membership of the IRA by the Special Criminal Court. The defendant had denied membership of the unlawful organisation on November 24, 2015. Presiding Judge Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges Martin Nolan and Ann Ryan, accepted the belief evidence of Chief Superintendent Anthony Howard, who stated he believed Metcalfe was an IRA member based on reviewed material. The court noted that while the belief evidence was not the strongest, it was supported by audio and video footage from a Garda surveillance operation at Riverwood Park, Castleknock, in August 2015. The recordings showed Metcalfe visiting the premises on four occasions and participating in an interrogation, which the judge described as demonstrating a close connection to IRA activities. The court also drew inferences from Metcalfe's failure to answer material questions after Section 2 of the Offences Against the State Act was invoked. The judge stated the corroboration was strong and unequivocal, eliminating doubts regarding the belief evidence. In a related matter mentioned during the proceedings, Conor Metcalfe, 28, was found guilty of IRA membership by the Special Criminal Court last December and jailed for four years and six months. Following today's verdict, Damien Metcalfe was remanded in custody until May 24, when he will be sentenced.
A Garda Assistant Commissioner has given evidence at the Special Criminal Court that he believes a County Louth man is a member of the IRA. Michael Connolly, aged 47, of Dundalk, has pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself Oglaigh na hEireann, the IRA, on 16 December 2014. The prosecution alleges Mr Connolly was observed by gardaí driving in convoy with another man, who was subsequently found in possession of two improvised explosive devices. Assistant Commissioner Michael O'Sullivan told the court he believed the accused was an IRA member on the date in question, basing his opinion on confidential material. Under cross-examination, the witness claimed privilege regarding tradecraft used, stating disclosure could inhibit ongoing operations. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey, presiding, with Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Judge James Faughnan.
In April 2019, John Brock, aged 46, was sentenced to eight and a half years for possessing 167 kg of explosives in a black Skoda Fabia. The explosives, weighing 23–24 stone, could have caused significant death, injury and damage. Brock had previously been convicted in 2008 for firearms and ammunition. During sentencing, he agreed to an undertaking to dissociate from unlawful organisations and to refrain from further offences, and he posted a €100 bond. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, suspended the last 18 months of the sentence for three years, back‑dated to the time Brock entered custody. The court found Brock and John Roche, aged 55, were in joint control of the explosives, though the judge could not be satisfied that their involvement extended beyond transportation. Brock's sentence was reduced by the agreed undertaking.
A 56-year-old mechanic from Castleblayney, County Monaghan, convicted of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, will be sentenced at the Special Criminal Court next month. James Joseph Cassidy of Tullycollive was found guilty in March following a trial before three judges. During the proceedings, gardaí gave evidence of discovering a metal pipe with drilled holes in a shed on his property in September 2016, which was identified as a booster tube similar to items seized in a separate investigation nearby. The court accepted the belief evidence of a chief superintendent regarding Cassidy's membership of the organisation and determined the presence of the device on his remote, family-owned premises to be significant. The defence counsel urged leniency, highlighting Cassidy's minimal previous convictions and age. Cassidy was remanded in custody pending sentencing on 27 May.
Larry Behan, 41, pleaded guilty to knowingly rendering assistance to the IRA in the possession of explosives at his father's quarry on 13 April 2016. He opened the gates to two men, John Roche and John Brock, who removed 57 kg of homemade explosives and 38 kg of Kemegel industrial explosives. Behan had no prior convictions, cooperated with Gardaí, and admitted his role immediately after arrest. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, described the case as "unusual" with "exceptional circumstances" and imposed a headline sentence of two years' imprisonment, suspended for two years on a €100 bond. Behan must keep the peace and be of good behaviour during the suspension. The court noted his lack of political association and his genuine fear for himself and his family. The case remains an ongoing criminal proceeding, with no further verdicts announced.
Two men, John Brock (46) and John Roche (55), were found in joint control of 167 kg of explosives in a black Skoda Fabia on Naas Road. The explosives, weighing 23–24 stone, included ammonium nitrate fuel mix and 38 rolls of Kemegel industrial explosives, and were deemed capable of causing death, injury and damage. Both pleaded not guilty to possession of 57 kg of homemade explosives. The non‑jury Special Criminal Court convicted them and sentenced Roche to seven years' imprisonment and Brock to eight and a half years. Brock was offered an 18‑month reduction if he dissociated from dissident organisations. The court noted the men's involvement was limited to transportation and that Roche had no prior convictions, while Brock had a previous firearms conviction. No further charges were pursued.
Two men, Colin Casey (32) and Daniel Hegarty (24), were jailed for assisting the murder of Aidan "The Beast" O'Driscoll, who was shot on Cork's Old Commons Road in December 2016. Casey was sentenced to four years and six months, Hegarty to four years, both sentences running concurrently. They pleaded guilty to four counts each of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of O'Driscoll's killers. Casey supplied the alleged gunmen with vehicles and acted as a support driver; Hegarty transported and concealed a bag linked to the killers and set fire to a motorbike and a red Opel Astra. A third man, Eoin Morrissey (19), pleaded guilty to two counts of impeding the apprehension or prosecution of the killers and was given a suspended sentence of two years, with a probation report to be finalised in October. The Special Criminal Court, presided over by Justice Tony Hunt, found the defendants' assistance to be substantial and proximate to the murder.
An appeal has led to an increased prison sentence for Donal O'Hara, who was involved in a violent attack led by Dessie O'Hare. O'Hara, 27, of Glin Park, Coolock, pleaded guilty to assaulting John Roche, causing him harm, and falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne on June 9, 2015. He was initially sentenced to three years imprisonment with the final year suspended on July 31, 2018. However, the Court of Appeal found the sentence 'unduly lenient' and re-sentenced O'Hara to four years imprisonment with the final year suspended, increasing his jail term by 12 months. Dessie O'Hare, 62, of Slate Rock Road, Newtownhamilton, County Armagh, also pleaded guilty to the same offences and was jailed for seven years. Daniel Kane, 29, of Hollycourt, Ballybrack, County Dublin, pleaded guilty to the same offences and was sentenced to five years imprisonment with the final year suspended on April 27, 2018. Hannover Street West, also pleaded guilty to the same offences and was sentenced to six years imprisonment on January 29, 2018. The appeal was brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions, who argued that the original sentence was too lenient given the severity of the offences and the context of the attack.
In 2019, a journalist recalled the 1988 trial of Dessie O'Hare, who had been sentenced to 40 years for the kidnapping and torture of dentist John O'Grady. The article describes a 2019 sentencing hearing where O'Hare, still in court, was given a ten‑year term with three years suspended for false imprisonment and a concurrent three‑year assault sentence. The judge noted that O'Hare's threat to society had not fully abated and cited his past violent offences as aggravating factors. O'Hare had pleaded guilty to a violent assault. The piece also recounts his 1988 speech from the dock after his 40‑year sentence, where he denounced Irish authorities, called for violence, and threatened war against British and Irish forces. The article ends with his being escorted to prison after the speech.
Former INLA member Dessie O'Hare, known as "The Border Fox", was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to seven years' imprisonment. The court accepted his guilty pleas to assaulting John Roche and falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at Rathcoole and Saggart on June 9, 2015. O'Hare was jailed for three years for the assault and ten years for the false imprisonment, with three years suspended for life. The sentences run concurrently and were backdated to April 3, 2019. Mr Justice Tony Hunt described the assault on Roche as "disturbingly violent" and noted O'Hare's "appalling record" as an aggravating factor. The judge rejected a non-custodial sentence, stating the offending was too serious and premeditated. O'Hare entered a bond to be of good behaviour for life. The court also noted that former Republican paramilitary Declan "Whacker" Duffy was previously sentenced to six years for his role in the same incident. The Byrne family, who were evicted from their home, are now in the Witness Protection Programme.
In a non‑jury Special Criminal Court hearing, Declan McDermott pleaded guilty to possessing four kilograms of TNT and the explosive head of an RGD33 hand grenade. The court was informed that McDermott had ten 400‑gram blocks of TNT and the grenade head at Spring Garden Street, Dublin 3, on 2 June 2017. Giollaiosa O Lideadha SC advised the three‑judge panel that McDermott would not need a trial date, which had been set for later that month, and could instead be arraigned on the charge. The registrar read the indictment to McDermott, who answered "Guilty". Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Patricia Ryan and Ann Ryan, remanded McDermott on continuing bail until 29 April, when he will be sentenced. John O'Brien, aged 56, and Martin Manning, whose personal details are not disclosed, also admitted to possessing the same explosive materials on 2 June 2017 and will likewise be sentenced on 29 April.
In April 2016, Larry Behan, 41, owner's son of a quarry in Rathcoole, opened the quarry gates to IRA members John Roche and John Brock, allowing them to take 57 kg of homemade explosives and 38 kg of Kemegel industrial explosives. Behan had previously found the explosives while cleaning an old shed and believed they would be disposed of. He was arrested on 14 April for possession of an explosive substance but later pleaded guilty in March 2019 to knowingly rendering assistance to the IRA in the possession of explosives. The Special Criminal Court heard that Behan was naive, had no prior convictions, and was taken advantage of, fearing for his life. He was remanded on continuing bail until 29 April 2019. The case was heard by a three‑judge panel, including Mr Justice Tony Hunt.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, John O'Brien, 56, of North Great Clarence Street, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty to a new charge of assisting an unlawful organisation with an explosive. The charge, under section 21A of the Offences Against the State Act 1939 and section 49 of the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) Act 2005, alleges that on 2 June 2017 he knowingly rendered assistance to an unlawful organisation in furtherance of an unlawful object, namely possession of an explosive substance that was not held for a lawful purpose. O'Brien had previously been charged in December 2017 with possession of ten 400‑gram blocks of TNT and the explosive head of an RGD33 hand grenade. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Patricia Ryan and Ann Ryan, recorded his guilty plea and remanded him on continuing bail until 29 April, when sentencing will occur.
Paul Beatty, 32, was arrested in Dublin's north inner city with a loaded .38 special calibre Smith & Wesson revolver wrapped in a plastic bag. He had previously admitted unlawful possession of a firearm in 2018 and had a seven‑year sentence from 2010 for the same offence. Beatty was under surveillance after Garda confidential information indicated firearm activity. On 2 June 2018, while cycling along the Royal Canal, he was observed by Garda Damien Broughan, who pursued him. Beatty fled, threw the bag onto a footpath, and was tackled by the detective. The bag contained the revolver and five rounds of ammunition. Ballistics confirmed the gun was in good condition but its serial number was obliterated. Beatty denied the offence during interviews. He has 71 prior convictions, including endangerment, drug possession and dangerous driving. The court noted he was an "important and trusted member" of an organised crime gang. Paul Beatty pleaded guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, John Roche (55) and John Brock (46) were found guilty of possessing 167 kg of explosives in the boot of a car on Naas Road, Dublin 12, on 13 April 2016. The court noted the explosives included 57 kg of ANFO and thirty‑eight 2.5 kg rolls of Kemegel industrial explosives, amounting to roughly three‑quarters of the 227 kg of ANFO used in the Omagh bombing of 15 August 2008, which killed 29 people. Detective Sergeant Tom Power compared the Naas Road bomb to other large bombs, such as a 30 kg ANFO keg found in Finnstown House hotel and a 50 kg ANFO keg in Kilcurry Church, both in May 2014. The court also heard that 18 detonators were found under the front passenger seat. Mr Brock had a prior firearms conviction from 2008, while Mr Roche had no prior convictions. The sentencing was adjourned to Friday morning. John Brock pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, John Roche (55) and John Brock (46) were found guilty of possessing 167 kg of explosives in a black Skoda Fabia. Gardaí discovered four plastic bags of homemade explosives and 18 detonators under the front passenger seat on Naas Road. Roche claimed he had no knowledge of the explosives and denied being at Behans Quarry, but the judge deemed his denials "totally incredible" and concluded he had full control of the vehicle's contents. Brock, a front‑seat passenger, also denied knowledge but was found to have been aware of the bulky load. Both men were remanded pending sentencing, with the court noting they acted in concert to transport the explosives, contravening the Explosive Substances Act 1883. John Roche pleaded not guilty. John Brock pleaded not guilty.
Nathan Foley, aged 20, was jailed for a year after a prison officer found a mobile phone in his cell, the eighth time in two years. He was due to appear before the Special Criminal Court on charges of facilitating the murder of David Douglas in July 2016. Foley declined an interview with Gardaí but said through his legal team that he had the phone to call his family before sentencing. He had previously pleaded guilty to having a mobile while a prisoner, with 34 convictions including drug offences and seven phone‑related offences. In January 2019 he was jailed for six years for participating in or contributing to the murder of Mr Douglas. Judge Melanie Greally ordered the 12‑month term to run consecutively with the six‑year sentence, citing his history of drug addiction and repeated phone offences. The judge noted that prior sentences had not deterred him.
Former INLA member Dessie O'Hare, known as "The Border Fox", was remanded in custody until April 11 for sentencing by the Special Criminal Court. O'Hare (62), of Newtownhamilton, County Armagh, pleaded guilty to assaulting John Roche, causing him harm, and falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at Rathcoole and Saggart on June 9, 2015. The court was asked to take two further counts of false imprisonment concerning Byrne's wife and son into consideration. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Patricia Ryan and Ann Ryan, stated that despite a "thought-provoking" plea in mitigation, a non-custodial sentence was an "unlikely outcome". O'Hare told gardai he was employed by Jim Mansfield Junior to evict Byrne and his family. He has four previous convictions, including a 40-year sentence in 1988 for false imprisonment and assault causing grievous bodily harm, from which he was released in 2008. In a related matter, former Republican paramilitary Declan "Whacker" Duffy was sentenced to six years imprisonment last year after pleading guilty to the same assault on Roche and false imprisonment of Byrne. Three other men have also been jailed for the attack.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, defence counsel Dominic McGinn SC argued that it was "inconceivable" that Gardaí would have missed an assault rifle and ammunition during a search of a Kildare house on 24 January 2017. He cited the fact that a landlord's nephew later found a rifle, ammunition and drugs in the base of a bed, four days after the Gardaí search. Michael Brady (54) is charged with possession of €1.5 million worth of cocaine, €1.26 million worth of heroin and over 180 rounds of ammunition at a property in Sallins, Co Kildare. He pleaded not guilty to all seven counts. The court found him not guilty of possessing an assault rifle and the State withdrew a charge of three ammunition magazines. Brady's brother, Declan Brady (52), pleaded guilty to possession of 15 firearms and over 4,000 rounds of ammunition at Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole, Co Dublin. Michael Brady was acquitted.
Two men have been convicted and sentenced by the Special Criminal Court in connection with the 2013 murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly. Michael McDermott of Ballinagh, County Cavan, received four years imprisonment with the final six months suspended after pleading guilty to assisting an unlawful organisation in the killing. Frank Murphy of County Meath was sentenced to three years with the final year suspended after pleading guilty to impeding the apprehension of a prosecution witness. Mr Butterly, aged thirty-five, was fatally shot outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston on 6 March 2013. Four other men have previously received life sentences for his murder. The three-judge panel took into account both men's guilty pleas, clean records, and family circumstances when determining sentences. Both sentences were backdated to reflect time already spent in custody.
In the Special Criminal Court, Michael Brady, 54, of Blackrock, Co Dublin, was directed to be found not guilty of possessing an assault rifle by Mr Justice Paul Coffey. The judge ruled there was no evidence beyond reasonable doubt linking Brady to the rifle, which was found concealed in a bed base at Sallins Bridge, Co Kildare, on January 24, 2017. Although DNA from skin cells matching Brady was found on socks containing ammunition, an expert noted this did not exclude the possibility that another person placed the rounds in socks Brady had worn. The judge further stated there was no evidence establishing when Brady accessed the bed or when the rifle was placed there. The State also withdrew a separate charge regarding the possession of three ammunition magazines. Brady had pleaded not guilty to all nine counts on his indictment, which included allegations of possessing €1.5 million worth of cocaine and €1.26 million worth of heroin. Separately, his brother, Declan Brady, 52, pleaded guilty last month to possessing 15 firearms and more than 4,000 rounds of ammunition at Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole, Co Dublin, on the same date. Declan Brady is currently awaiting sentence. The trial for Michael Brady continues on Monday.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, two Dublin men, John Brock (46) and John Roche (55), were found to have acted in concert when they retrieved and transported 165 kg of explosives in a black Skoda Fabia. Gardaí had discovered four bags of explosives in the boot and 18 detonators under the front passenger seat on the Naas Road. The prosecution argued that the men possessed 57 kg of homemade ammonium nitrate fuel mix and thirty‑eight 2.5 kg rolls of Kemegel industrial explosives. Evidence from the National Surveillance Unit showed the car and its occupants were monitored from 5.55 pm on 13 April 2016, with the men stopping at Behans Quarry at 6.59 pm. Forensic analysis confirmed the items were explosives, and the court was instructed to infer the men's knowledge from their conduct and statements. Both men were remanded on continuing bail until 5 April, when judgment will be delivered. John Brock pleaded not guilty. John Roche pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the trial of John Brock, 46, and John Roche, 55, who have pleaded not guilty to the alleged possession of 57kg of homemade ammonium nitrate fuel mix explosives and thirty-eight 2.5kg rolls of Kemegel industrial explosives at Naas Road, Dublin 12, on April 13, 2016. Prosecution witnesses testified that armed gardai recovered four bags of explosives and 18 detonators from a black Skoda Fabia stopped on the Naas Road. Detective Sergeant Thomas Power stated that Army Disposal Unit Commandant Oisin Dawson subsequently detonated the Kemegel packets in the Glen of Imaal. Forensic scientist Dr John O'Shaughnessy confirmed the samples were explosives under the Explosive Substances Act 1883. Sergeant Raymond Tadhg of the Special Detective Unit testified that during an interview, Brock was asked to account for the explosives, detonators, and his presence at Behans Quarry. Brock gave no reply and declined to sign the interview memorandum. Prosecution counsel Anne-Marie Lawlor SC informed the court, presided over by Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Patricia Ryan and Ann Ryan, that the prosecution case had closed. The matter was adjourned and the trial continues.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, armed Gardaí seized four bags of explosives and 18 detonators from a black Skoda Fabia on Naas Road. The vehicle's driver, John Brock (46), and owner, John Roche (55), denied knowledge of the 150 kg of explosives found. They were charged with possession of 57 kg of homemade ammonium nitrate fuel mix and thirty‑eight 2.5 kg rolls of Kemegel industrial explosives. Gardaí, acting on intelligence that IRA members might possess explosives, stopped the car at 7 p.m. on 13 April 2016. Brock was handcuffed after being asked to exit the vehicle, while Roche was forced to lie face‑down and was also handcuffed. Both men were arrested under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. John Brock pleaded not guilty. John Roche pleaded not guilty.
Two Dublin men, John Brock, 46, and John Roche, 55, were arrested on 13 April 2016 after a gardai stop of a black Skoda Fabia on Naas Road. The vehicle contained 18 detonators, 57 kg of homemade ammonium nitrate fuel mix and thirty‑eight 2.5 kg rolls of Kemegel industrial explosives. The Special Criminal Court heard the men's movements on that day, with evidence from the National Surveillance Unit showing them at Behans Quarry, Windmillhill, and the N7. The prosecution, led by Anne‑Marie Lawlor SC, presented ballistic evidence and observations of the men's failure to answer questions. Both pleaded not guilty. The court ruled that NSU members must remain anonymous, and the trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, is scheduled to continue for one week.