A man on trial at the Special Criminal Court for the murder of a father-of-two was removed from proceedings in an ambulance after falling unwell before the hearing commenced. Frank Murphy, aged fifty-eight, of McDonough Caravan Park, Bettystown, County Meath, is one of three defendants charged in connection with the fatal shooting of Peter Butterly outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, County Meath, on March 6th, 2013. The thirty-five-year-old victim was shot in view of schoolchildren awaiting transport. Paramedics assessed Mr Murphy outside the courtroom and conveyed him by stretcher to the waiting ambulance. His barrister assured the three-judge court that his client was not deliberately absenting himself. The trial, which began in October, was adjourned until afternoon to allow Mr Murphy's solicitor to receive instructions once his medical situation had been clarified. Mr Murphy has pleaded not guilty to murder and to firearm possession charges. Two co-accused, Michael McDermott of County Cavan and Kevin Braney of Dublin, also deny the allegations against them.
In a non‑jury Special Criminal Court hearing on 22 November 2018, Nathan Foley, aged 20, pleaded guilty to aiding a criminal organisation in the murder of David Douglas, 55, who was shot six times on 1 July 2016 at the counter of his partner's shop on Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 8. Foley admitted that between 1 and 4 July 2016 he participated in or contributed to activities intended to facilitate the commission of the murder, an offence under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. He was also charged with damaging a car on 4 July 2016 at Strand Road, Dublin 4. The court, presided over by Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Sinead Ni Chualachain and Cormac Dunne, remanded Foley in custody until 5 December 2018 for sentencing. The case also noted that Frederick "Freddie" Thompson, 37, had been found guilty of Douglas's murder in August 2018 and sentenced to life imprisonment.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Damhan McFadden and Julian Flohr, both accused of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the IRA, continued with a ruling on the lawfulness of a stop and search. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Cormac Dunne, ruled that the roadside stop of the men's vehicle and their subsequent removal to Manorhamilton Garda Station were legal and valid. This decision followed defence applications arguing that contradictory accounts from Gardaí regarding the reason for the stop rendered the search inadmissible. Prosecution counsel countered that the evidence was consistent and credible. The court heard that Gardaí recovered a mortar round from a "Spiderman" themed backpack during the search. McFadden, 29, of Ballysadare, pleaded not guilty to the charge. Flohr, 37, of Caltragh, made no reply when the charge was put to him, resulting in the court entering a not guilty plea on his behalf. The trial, which concerns alleged offences committed on August 14, 2016, is ongoing and was scheduled to continue the following day.
Two men from County Sligo have had their vehicle stop and search challenged as unlawful at the Special Criminal Court. Julian Flohr, aged 37, of Rusheen Ard, Caltragh, and Damhan McFadden, aged 29, of Kilmacowen, Ballysadare, face charges of membership of an unlawful organisation on 14 August 2016. A mortar round was recovered from their vehicle near Dromahair in County Leitrim. During a voir dire hearing, defence counsel argued that gardaí provided inconsistent accounts of why the car was stopped and that the lawfulness of the search remained unproven. They submitted that the prosecution had failed to establish credible grounds for the stop. The prosecution contended the gardaí's evidence was consistent and that reasonable suspicion of drugs offences only formed after the vehicle was stopped. The three-judge court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, reserved judgment on the admissibility of the search. Damhan McFadden pleaded not guilty.
Two men from County Sligo are on trial at the Special Criminal Court charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. Julian Flohr, aged 37, of Caltragh, and Damhan McFadden, aged 29, of Ballysodare, were arrested on 14 August 2016 following the discovery of a mortar round in a children's backpack during a vehicle search in the Dromahair area of County Leitrim. The prosecution alleges that gardaí recovered the device, wrapped in black material, from behind the driver's seat of a black Saab car. McFadden pleaded not guilty to the charge; Flohr's silence was recorded as a not guilty plea. The prosecution case, opened by Fiona Murphy SC, will rely on garda evidence, interviews conducted under the Offences Against the State Act, and searches of the accused men's homes. Evidence heard today from Garda Eamonn McDonnell described the circumstances of the discovery and subsequent examination of the item. The trial, before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and two other judges, is expected to last three weeks.
An Estonian man, Imre Arakas, 59, pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to conspiring to murder James Gately in Northern Ireland between 3 and 4 April last year. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Cormac Dunne, accepted his plea and vacated a previously scheduled trial date. Arakas was remanded in custody until 30 November, when sentencing will occur. A governor's report was ordered, and a European Arrest Warrant from Lithuania was endorsed for charges pending there.
Luke Wilson, aged 23, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to 11 years' imprisonment for conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between 15 September and 6 November last year. Wilson admitted in July that he had planned the murder and had also pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a Beretta handgun with intent to endanger life on 6 November. The firearm offence carried a headline sentence of 16 years, but Wilson received 12 years with the final year suspended for three years. He also received a six‑year concurrent sentence for the conspiracy charge. The judge noted Wilson's history of drug use, a traumatic childhood, and his early guilty plea as mitigating factors. Wilson's sentence was back‑dated to his arrest on 6 November 2017. The case involved other defendants charged with the same conspiracy and firearm offences. The court highlighted the Garda investigation and the interception of a vehicle used in the plot.
The Special Criminal Court will resume the Regency Hotel shooting trial in December, with the first session scheduled for December 3. Senior prosecuting counsel Sean Gillane SC confirmed that the final report on the death of lead investigating Garda Detective Superintendent Colm Fox has been received and will be reviewed early next week. The report contains extensive material that the court must examine. Patrick Hutch, aged 26, is listed for trial in December; his defence counsel, Justin McQuade BL, noted that the defence had been told the report would be available around October 22, which has caused frustration. Hutch is accused of murdering David Byrne, aged 34, at the Regency Hotel on February 5, 2016, and of possessing three AK‑47 assault rifles. He has pleaded not guilty to the murder and denies the rifle possession.
The belief evidence of Detective Chief Superintendent Anthony Howard that Conor Metcalfe (28) was a member of the IRA on November 24, 2015, forms the central point of the case against him, the Special Criminal Court has heard. Metcalfe, who is charged with membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, has not entered a plea and a not guilty plea has been entered on his behalf. Anne-Marie Lawlor SC, closing the prosecution case, stated that Howard's belief evidence is supported by inferences drawn from Metcalfe's failure to answer material questions during interviews, following the invocation of Section 2 of the Offences Against the State Act. Lawlor highlighted the nexus between Metcalfe and Patrick Brennan, who was jailed for four years for IRA membership in 2005, and David Nooney, who was jailed for three years and nine months for IRA membership earlier this year. She also referenced Metcalfe's fingerprint being found on a document at David Murray's home, where Murray was jailed for four and a half years for IRA membership in 2017. Paul Greene SC, defending Metcalfe, argued that the case has unusual aspects and that the appropriate verdict is not guilty. He contended that the questions put to Metcalfe failed to meet standards and that Howard's belief evidence should be weighed carefully. The matter was adjourned, with Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding, sitting with Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Judge Cormac Dunne, remanding Metcalfe on continuing bail until December 19, when the court will deliver judgement on the case.
Conor Metcalfe, 28, of Clondalkin, Dublin 22, is standing trial in the Special Criminal Court on a charge of membership of the IRA on November 24, 2015. As the accused made no reply when the charge was put, the court entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. Detective Chief Superintendent Anthony Howard, head of the Special Detective Unit, gave belief evidence that Metcalfe was an IRA member on that date, claiming privilege over the underlying material to protect state security. He stated he relied on no material regarding Metcalfe's arrest or detention. Fingerprint evidence linked Metcalfe to a document found in the home of David Murray, who was convicted of IRA membership in 2017 and jailed for four and a half years. Metcalfe denied IRA membership, surveillance activities, and knowledge of convicted IRA member Kenneth Donohue during interviews where he invoked Section 2 of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act, 1998. The prosecution will formally close its case on Thursday morning before closing speeches commence. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Judge Cormac Dunne.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the trial of Conor Metcalfe, 28, of Clondalkin, Dublin 22, who is charged with membership of the IRA on November 24, 2015. As the accused made no reply to the charge, the court entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. Detective Garda Colm Finnerty testified that he was present when Detective Sergeant Padraig Boyce forced entry into Metcalfe's home with a search warrant. Metcalfe was arrested after failing to comply with directions to show his hands. During the search, Gardaí found items including books with an IRA connection, an IRA keyring, a signed proclamation, and an Alan Ryan memorial society invitation. The prosecution also referenced confidential information regarding a document found in the bedroom of David Murray, who was convicted of IRA membership in 2017 and jailed for four and a half years. Additionally, Det Sgt Boyce observed Patrick Brennan, who was jailed for four years for IRA membership in 2005, leaving the property. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Judge Cormac Dunne.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Jonathan Keogh, 33, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the deliberate and callous murder of Gareth Hutch, 35, who was shot dead outside Avondale House flats on 24 May 2016. Keogh was found to have fired the fatal shots in a cold‑blooded manner and to have been involved in almost every aspect of the planning. Thomas Fox, 31, was also convicted of murder and sentenced to life, found to have contributed to the planning and acted under Keogh's direction. Regina Keogh, 41, mother of five, was convicted of murder for colluding with her brother to facilitate the killing and received a mandatory life sentence. The court noted Keogh's 22 prior convictions, Fox's 106 prior convictions, and the evidence of Keogh's involvement in the planning and execution of the murder. The sentencing followed a nine‑week trial that ended in July.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Thomas Fox, aged 31, was found guilty of contributing to the murder of Gareth Hutch, aged 36, who was shot dead on 24 May 2016 outside Avondale House flats. The court accepted the prosecution's case that Fox, a subordinate of Jonathan Keogh, acted under Keogh's influence and direction. Fox denied the murder but was convicted of unlawfully possessing a Makarov 9 mm handgun on the day of the shooting. The court rejected Fox's defence of withdrawal and coercion, stating there was no evidence of a clear intention to leave the criminal enterprise. Additionally, Regina Keogh, aged 41, was found guilty of colluding with her brother to cause serious injury to Hutch, based largely on testimony from Mary McDonnell. Both convictions were delivered by a three‑judge panel led by Justice Tony Hunt.
Jonathan Keogh, 33, was found guilty of the murder of Gareth Hutch at the Special Criminal Court. The non-jury court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, determined that Keogh fired the fatal shots in a "cold-blooded manner" and played a central role in planning the killing. The court rejected Keogh's denial, finding that the evidence pointed "firmly and unequivocally" to his involvement. The verdict relied on circumstantial evidence, including DNA links to a black BMW used in the attack and CCTV footage of Keogh purchasing cleaning supplies, which corroborated the testimony of protected witness Mary McDonnell. The court noted that the plan was in place by May 2016, when mobile phones were acquired. While Keogh was convicted, the court has yet to deliver verdicts for co-accused Thomas Fox and Regina Keogh, both of whom have also denied the murder charge. The matter regarding Fox and Regina Keogh remains pending, with the court still to determine their findings. The trial concluded with Keogh's conviction, but the overall case is not fully finalised until the remaining verdicts are delivered.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 1 November 2018, the court ruled that members of the National Surveillance Unit (NSU) must give evidence in secret and be identified only by initials to protect their safety. The case involved Conor Metcalfe, 28, charged with membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Metcalfe was arraigned but remained silent, and the court entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. The prosecution presented evidence from NSU detectives who had observed Metcalfe rummaging under a stolen white Renault Kangoo van on 3 June 2014, retrieving a key, and driving away. The hearing also covered related surveillance of a blue BMW driven by Kenneth Donohue, a convicted IRA member, and the involvement of other individuals in the van's theft and modification. The trial was scheduled to continue on Monday before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and two other judges.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 31 October 2018, Conor Metcalfe, aged 28, was arraigned on a charge of membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). He remained seated, did not stand, and gave no answer when the registrar asked him to plead. The presiding judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, accepted the silence as a not guilty plea. Metcalfe was wearing a white jumper and had a book with him, which he read during the court's discussion of a trial issue. The prosecution, represented by Annemarie Lawlor SC, opened its case by stating that Detective Chief Superintendent Tony Howard would testify that Metcalfe was an IRA member on the relevant date. The State's case also included two Section 2 interviews of Metcalfe under the Offences Against the State Act, allowing the court to draw inferences from his failure to answer questions about alleged IRA membership.
The Court of Appeal has upheld the prison sentence of Dylan Cahill, a 24-year-old from Lower Irishtown, Clonmel, Co Tipperary, who pleaded guilty to serious firearms and explosives offences. Cahill admitted to possessing a .380 calibre Colt semi-automatic pistol and four rounds of ammunition, as well as two improvised explosive devices, or pipe-bombs, at Sradrine, Glefarne, Co Leitrim, on May 13, 2015. These admissions were made at the non-jury Special Criminal Court, where Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, presiding with Judges Sinead Ni Chulachain and James Faughnan, sentenced him to six years in prison, with the final year suspended. The appeal, heard by President Mr Justice George Birmingham alongside Ms Justice Máire Whelan and Ms Justice Marie Baker, was dismissed. Mr Justice Birmingham stated there was no basis to suggest the mandatory minimum sentence for firearm possession constituted an error in principle. He characterized the carrying of a semi-automatic pistol, ammunition, and a pipe bomb in furtherance of the activities of the IRA as a very serious offence. Consequently, the Court of Appeal confirmed the original disposal, maintaining the effective custody period and suspended portion as originally imposed by the Special Criminal Court.
The Special Criminal Court has adjourned the delivery of its judgment in the trial of three Dubliners accused of murdering Gareth Hutch. Presiding Judge Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges Patricia Ryan and Michael Walsh, announced at 4.20pm that the verdicts would continue next Friday at 10.30am, as he had spent five hours reviewing evidence against Jonathan Keogh with approximately 40 pages remaining. The court had previously indicated the judgment would take four to five hours. The prosecution contends that Jonathan Keogh threatened to kill Mr Hutch the evening before the shooting, while Thomas Fox and Regina Keogh were instrumental in planning the murder. It is alleged that Mr Keogh and another man, identified as Mr AB, were the shooters. All three co-accused—Mr Fox, Ms Keogh, and Mr Keogh—have pleaded not guilty to the charge of murdering Mr Hutch. Additionally, Mr Fox has denied unlawfully possessing a Makarov 9mm handgun on May 23, 2016. The trial concerns the shooting death of Mr Hutch, who died from four gunshot injuries outside Avondale House flats on May 24, 2016. Prosecution counsel Paul Burns SC described the killing as a premeditated act involving considerable thought and preparation. The matter was adjourned and is not yet concluded.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Jonathan Hawthorn, 45, of Ballintyre Downs, Dublin, was convicted of membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA) after an FBI agent uncovered a Dublin-based plot to purchase a grenade and Semtex on the Dark Web. The court found that Hawthorn received a fake delivery of explosives, photographed on a balcony at Dolphin House, and was later arrested with a dummy grenade and fake Semtex in a sports bag. He was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, backdated to 16 July when he entered custody. His co-accused, James Geraghty (61) and Donal O'Ceallaigh (33), were found not guilty of IRA membership. The judge noted Hawthorn's prior public order convictions and family circumstances as mitigating factors, but emphasized the seriousness of his deliberate conduct involving explosive materials. The case highlighted the use of undercover FBI operations and Garda surveillance to intercept the illicit purchase and delivery of weapons.
Ryan Glennon, 28, of Dublin, was convicted by the second Special Criminal Court in 2016 for membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The court found his fingerprints on a handcart and his DNA on gloves at his parents' holiday home in Courtown, Co. Wexford, where explosives and rockets were stored. He was sentenced to six years' imprisonment on 5 December 2016. In October 2018, the Court of Appeal upheld the conviction and the sentence, ruling that Glennon was an "active service" member of an unlawful organisation and had engaged in activities that could endanger many lives. The appeal was dismissed, with the court noting that mitigation factors such as a guilty plea or cooperation were not present. The final sentence remained six years, with no reduction or suspension applied.
Jason Keating (27), of Rush, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to facilitating a criminal organisation in the murder of Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan. Keating had previously pleaded not guilty to the murder charge, which has been the subject of a trial since October 2. The State Solicitor informed the court that the DPP directed a new charge under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, which Keating admitted. Prosecutors requested a nolle prosequi be entered on the original murder count at the sentencing stage. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Sinead Ni Chualachain and Cormac Dunne, remanded Keating in custody until November 22 for sentencing. The judge noted the court would require details on Keating's assistance and state of mind. He referenced the recent sentencing of Martin Aylmer (31) to three years and nine months for a similar offence involving the murder of Michael Barr. Mr Justice Hunt described the new charge as useful for providing sentencing flexibility in cases where defendants do not directly commit the act. The matter was adjourned until November 22.
During a search of Jason Keating's family home on Lissadell Road, Drimnagh, Dublin 12, Gardaí discovered an envelope containing €3,200 in cash, three empty mobile phone boxes, a car key, a Ford Focus, and a blue‑grey McKenzie hoodie. The search, executed on 2 May 2017 after a warrant issued on 1 May, was carried out by a team led by Detective Sergeant Maeve O'Sullivan. Keating, aged 27, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan, who was shot six times on 22 December 2016 in a Ford Mondeo at St Ronan's Drive, Clondalkin. The murder is linked to a feud between two criminal factions, though Kirwan had no ties to either side. The Special Criminal Court heard the evidence and the case will continue before the three‑judge panel.
In the murder case of Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan, forensic expert Shelina Jilani testified that she could not definitively exclude Jason Keating (27) from being the unknown subject in CCTV footage from Neilstown Shopping Centre taken shortly after the December 22 shooting. Jilani, working for Acume Forensic Ltd, compared three images of Keating taken while he was in Garda custody with the limited facial portion visible in the CCTV. She identified three matching features—a narrow nasal bridge, a full oval face, and abdominal fullness—but concluded that the evidence provided only limited support for identifying Keating. She acknowledged that clothing and lack of unique features made the identification highly subjective and that the CCTV quality was poor. Judge Tony Hunt noted that the footage does not eliminate Keating but also does not implicate him. Jason Keating pleaded not guilty.
Martin Aylmer, 31, of Dublin 3, was sentenced to three years and nine months imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court for participating in activity intended to facilitate the murder of Michael Barr. Aylmer pleaded guilty in July to assisting a criminal organisation in the April 2016 shooting of Barr, the manager of the Sunset House pub. The court found that Aylmer purchased mobile phones used in the crime and visited a lock-up premises, though it could not be established that he knew a murder was planned. Presiding Judge Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges Sinead Ni Chulachain and Cormac Dunne, noted Aylmer's assistance was not at the higher end of the scale and applied a 25% discount for his early guilty plea. The final sentence includes one year suspended, with the judge stating it is appropriate for Aylmer to serve the last portion of his sentence in the community. This follows the January sentencing of Eamonn Cumberton, who was jailed for life after being found guilty of Barr's murder. Chief Superintendent Sean Ward stated the investigation remains live, with two individuals yet to be spoken to, while highlighting the significance of prosecuting those who facilitate organised crime.
The trial of Jason Keating, who has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan, continued before the Special Criminal Court. Expert witness Professor David Last testified regarding a 'Gotek 7' electronic tracking device found under Mr Kirwan's Ford Mondeo. The prosecution alleges the tracker was placed under the vehicle to monitor movements leading up to the December 22, 2016, shooting in Clondalkin, Dublin 22. Professor Last explained that the device recorded its position 'much more frequently' from 3.13pm on the day of the shooting, indicating the owner was actively commanding location requests. He detailed the device's journey from France to Dublin Port in October 2016, noting it appeared near St Ronan's Drive on December 21 and 22. Under cross-examination, the expert acknowledged that such devices are commonly used to track spouses and that location data can contain errors. The court heard that Mr Kirwan, a 62-year-old with no connection to the criminal factions involved in the alleged feud, was shot six times while sitting in his car with his partner, Bernadette Roe. The trial is presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges Sinead Ni Chualachain and Cormac Dunne. The matter was adjourned and continues tomorrow.
Two men, Colin Casey, 32, and Daniel Hegarty, 24, appeared before the Special Criminal Court on 8 October 2018 charged in connection with the murder of Aidan "The Beast" O'Driscoll, 37, who was shot on 7 December 2016 in Blackpool, Cork. Both men were charged under the Offences Against the State Act. Casey faced four charges: impeding the apprehension or prosecution of the alleged killers by collecting them from Redemption Road after they arrived in a silver Nissan Almera, driving them from that location in a white Vauxhall Astra, burning out the Nissan and the Vauxhall, and driving them away in a red Opel Astra.
Three men have been arraigned at the Special Criminal Court on charges of murdering a dissident republican shot dead outside a public house in Meath over five years ago. Michael McDermott, aged 58, of Ballinagh, County Cavan; Kevin Braney, aged 43, from Dublin; and Frank Murphy, aged 58, of Bettystown, County Meath, have all pleaded not guilty to murder. McDermott and Braney also deny possessing a 9mm semi-automatic pistol and ammunition in March 2013, while Murphy denies possession of the same firearm and rounds on the date of the killing itself. The prosecution opened its case before three judges, outlining that the victim was shot multiple times in a carpark whilst in his vehicle, with witnesses present. The court heard that a stolen vehicle was used in the attack and subsequently recovered. The prosecution indicated that accomplice evidence will feature prominently, noting that a protected witness will testify regarding the planning and execution of the murder. The trial is expected to last approximately ten weeks.
In a Special Criminal Court murder trial, Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan, aged 62, was shot six times by a gunman in the driveway of his Dublin home on 22 December 2016. The attacker, Jason Keating, 27, has pleaded not guilty. Kirwan suffered eight gunshot wounds to his head, right arm, chest and abdomen, including a fatal wound to the chest that damaged a major blood vessel. He was seated in his Ford Mondeo with partner Bernadette Roe when the attack occurred. Deputy State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan testified that Kirwan's body was examined on 23 December, confirming the wounds and the absence of alcohol or drugs. The prosecution alleges a 'Gotek 7' tracking device linked Keating to the scene. The case is set to continue before Mr Justice Tony Hunt.
In a Special Criminal Court case, three Dubliners—Jonathan Keogh, Thomas Fox, and Regina Keogh—are accused of murdering 36‑year‑old Gareth Hutch on 24 May 2016. Hutch was shot four times as he entered his car outside Avondale House flats on North Cumberland Street. The prosecution alleged that Keogh threatened Hutch the evening before the shooting, while Fox and Keogh planned the murder and that Keogh and another man, Mr AB, carried out the shooting. Fox, Keogh and Keogh have pleaded not guilty and denied unlawful possession of a Makarov handgun on 23 May 2016. The trial closed in July; Judge Tony Hunt postponed the verdicts, now scheduled for 26 October, citing the case's complexity and the need for careful deliberation. The judge promised the judgments would be read in four to five hours. The prosecution's closing remarks described the killing as a premeditated act rather than a spur‑of‑the‑moment attack.
The Special Criminal Court heard that Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan, aged 62, was murdered on 22 December 2016 outside his Clondalkin home after being shot six times by Jason Keating, 27, who pleaded not guilty. Kirwan was driving a Ford Mondeo when the assailant, armed with a Makarov pistol, fired at him. Kirwan's partner, Bernadette Roe, was present but unharmed. The prosecution presented evidence that a tracking device had been attached to Kirwan's car weeks before the killing, showing movements from London to Dublin and eventually to St Ronan's Drive. CCTV footage linked a Renault Megane, owned by Keating, to a car auction and a white Peugeot van used by the gunman. The case was presented as circumstantial, with the court to hear further evidence over a four‑week trial.
Martin Aylmer, 31, was convicted in July for aiding a criminal organisation in the murder of Michael Barr, the manager of the Sunset House pub, on 25 April 2016. A mobile phone he had purchased two days earlier was found dropped beside the getaway Audi A6, linking him to the crime. CCTV showed Aylmer buying three prepaid phones at Ilac Shopping Centre and another three at a shop on Moore Street, all unregistered. The phone was used for calls after the shooting. Aylmer's fingerprints were found on a bleach bottle at a lock‑up premises visited by him on 24 April, where firearms and cleaning products were seized. He was arrested on 17 June, exercised his right to silence, and was remanded in custody until 15 October for sentencing. The case was the first prosecution under the 2006 organised crime legislation for this offence. Eamonn Cumberton, 30, had already been jailed for life for the same murder. Martin Aylmer pleaded guilty.
Frederick 'Freddie' Thompson, 37, of Dublin, was found guilty by the Special Criminal Court of the murder of David Douglas on July 1, 2016, on Bridgefoot Street. Thompson had pleaded not guilty to the charge. The non-jury court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, determined that Thompson was involved in an intricate, pre-planned execution, specifically driving a Ford Fiesta used for surveillance and coordination, though the prosecution did not allege he fired the shots. The court rejected the defence argument that the circumstantial evidence was insufficient, noting that Thompson's failure to answer garda questioning regarding his movements and possession of vehicles and items constituted a significant factor. Thompson was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment, backdated to November 1, 2016, when he first entered custody. His legal representative, Michael O'Higgins SC, stated that Thompson intends to appeal the decision. Detective Superintendent Paul Cleary noted that the victim's family was satisfied with the verdict, while the investigation into the case remains ongoing.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, the judges announced that a verdict in the murder trial of Frederick 'Freddie' Thompson, accused of killing David Douglas, will now be delivered on September 3, rather than the earlier date of October 1. Thompson, 37, pleaded not guilty to the murder that occurred on 1 July 2016 when Douglas was shot six times at Shoestown. The prosecution's case relies on DNA found in two alleged 'spotter' cars and CCTV footage identifying Thompson as a driver. Thompson's counsel, Michael O'Higgins, argued that the delay since the trial's conclusion in May had disadvantaged his client and could impair a safe verdict. The court rejected this claim, noting that the delay mainly affects the preparation of reasons for judgment rather than the decision itself. The verdict will be announced on the scheduled date of September 3.
Donal O'Hara (26), of Glin Park, Coolock, Dublin 17, has been sentenced to three years imprisonment with one year suspended by the Special Criminal Court for his role in a coordinated intimidation and assault on June 9, 2015. O'Hara pleaded guilty to assaulting John Roche at The Towers, Garter Lane, Saggart, County Dublin, and to falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at the same location. The court heard that O'Hara was part of a large group who confronted Mr Byrne following a deteriorated business relationship, subsequently assaulting Mr Roche when he attempted to prevent their entry to the complex. CCTV footage and forensic evidence linking O'Hara to the assault were presented. Mr Justice Tony Hunt noted O'Hara was the "brawn and not the brains" of the operation and considered his youth, early guilty pleas, and remorse as mitigating factors. The sentence is to run consecutively to a previous aggravated burglary conviction. O'Hara will be subject to probation supervision for two years upon release.
Two Dublin men, Kevin Braney (44) and Ciaran Maguire (30), were convicted of IRA membership by the Special Criminal Court and sentenced to four years and six months and four years and eleven months respectively. The court found that on 13 July 2017 they travelled from Dublin to an estate in County Meath, where they threatened an accident victim, claiming to be the IRA and threatening to shoot him if he did not withdraw a claim. The victim, who had fallen from a roof and suffered fractures, had filed a claim against his former employer over unpaid wages and hospital bills. Evidence from CCTV and the National Surveillance Unit corroborated the men's travel and threat. The judge relied on belief evidence from Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Maguire, concluding beyond reasonable doubt that the men were IRA members and had threatened the victim. The sentences were back‑dated to 2 August 2017 when the men entered custody. Kevin Braney was acquitted.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Jonathan Hawthorn, 45, of Ballintyre Downs, was convicted of membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA) for September 14, 2016. He was photographed receiving a mock grenade delivery set up by Gardaí to resemble a real explosive, and he was found in possession of the dummy items in a sports bag when arrested later that day. Hawthorn's refusal to answer questions about the fake explosives was deemed sufficient evidence of his membership. His co‑accused, James Geraghty, 61, and Donal O'Ceallaigh, 33, walked free after the court found no evidence of IRA membership. The verdict was delivered by Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, with Judges Gerard Griffin and Gerard Haughton, and Hawthorn will be sentenced next October. The case involved an FBI‑led dark‑web operation that monitored a user named Meat Cleaver, who ordered Semtex and other weapons to be disguised as Play‑Doh and delivered to Geraghty's address.
Dean Evans, 27, of Raheny, Dublin, received a mandatory life sentence at the Special Criminal Court for the murder of Peter Butterly. Evans pleaded guilty to shooting Butterly outside The Huntsman Inn, Gormanstown, Co Meath, in March 2013. He was extradited from Spain in April after failing to appear for a trial scheduled in January 2017. Evans expressed remorse, stating he made decisions as a younger man that he would not make today. The court heard from the victim's widow, who described the family's trauma. Evans is the third person to receive a life sentence for this murder, following convictions for Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly. Frank Murphy, 58, of Bettystown, Co Meath, also appeared at the Special Criminal Court today, where he was charged with firearms offences arising out of the events at the Huntsman Inn. Previous firearms charges against Murphy were struck out. Three other men, Kevin Braney, Michael McDermott, and Frank Murphy, are due to go on trial later this year on the same murder charge.
Kevin Hannaway, a 70‑year‑old from Belfast, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to three years and nine months in prison for aiding the IRA in interrogations that led to arrests. The court reduced the original six‑year sentence because of his age and serious PTSD, which includes anxiety attacks, heart problems, nightmares and physical symptoms triggered by prison conditions. Hannaway was one of several men interned at a secret base in Derry in 1971 where he endured inhumane treatment, including white noise and deprivation of sleep, food and drink. The European Court of Human Rights described that treatment as inhumane and degrading. The court also sentenced his co‑accused: Seán Hannaway to five years and six months, David Nooney to three years and nine months, Edward O'Brien to 16 months, and Eva Shannon to four years. All five were granted legal aid for appeal. Eva Shannon was found guilty. Kevin Hannaway was convicted.
A Dublin man has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court for possessing a 9mm Beretta handgun and silencer. Andrew O'Keeffe, aged 29, from Drumcliff Road, Cabra West, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty in June to the offence at Kylemore Way in Inchicore on 6 September 2017. The incident occurred during a confrontation with armed gardai in which an officer discharged seven rounds after a jeep drove towards officers restraining O'Keeffe on the ground. Mr Justice Tony Hunt noted a headline sentence of twelve years but reduced it to nine years with one year suspended, taking into account O'Keeffe's early guilty plea and longstanding drug addiction. The judge remarked on O'Keeffe's extensive criminal history spanning seventy-one previous convictions. The sentence was backdated to 6 September 2017 when O'Keeffe entered custody. The court heard O'Keeffe was not the driver of the vehicle from which the weapon was discarded.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, judges announced that verdicts for the three Dubliners accused of murdering 36‑year‑old Gareth Hutch will be delivered on 8 October. Hutch was shot dead on 24 May 2016 outside Avondale House flats, suffering four gunshot wounds. The prosecution alleged that Jonathan Keogh (33) threatened Hutch the evening before, while Thomas Fox (31) and Regina Keogh (41) planned the murder and that Keogh and another man, Mr AB, fired the shots. Fox, Keogh and Regina have pleaded not guilty. Fox denied unlawfully possessing a Makarov handgun on 23 May. Mrs McDonnell (45) was initially arrested on suspicion of murder but later charged with withholding information; that charge was withdrawn and she received immunity. The court described the trial as "long" and noted it involved three trials within a trial, with priority given to the case of Frederick 'Freddie' Thompson. The judges will consider evidence against each co‑accused before delivering the verdicts.
Two organised crime 'foot soldiers', Gary Gleeson (34) and Stephen Dunne (39), have been sentenced to 12 years each, with one and two years suspended respectively, for their involvement in a 'shambolic' and 'ill-prepared' plot to murder Dublin man Michael Frazer. The sentences were handed down at the Special Criminal Court following guilty pleas in May to possession of a 9mm Luger semi-automatic pistol and 10 rounds of 9mm calibre ammunition with intent to endanger life. The court heard that during an operation targeting organised crime in Dublin in August 2017, armed detectives intercepted the men's van, which contained a loaded firearm 'ready for use'. The court was told that the men had discussed aiming for 'head shots' or they would not get paid, and that a transcript of their conversation was described as a 'disturbing document' containing a 'graphic description' of their intentions. The judge noted that the men's drug use was clearly audible on secret recordings. Defence counsel for both men highlighted mitigating factors, including their guilty pleas, Gleeson's violent offending history, and Dunne's long-term heroin addiction and mental health issues. The sentences were backdated to August 7, 2017, when the men were arrested. The court also heard that Dunne's DNA was found on a SIM card linked to a tracking device under Mr Frazer's van, and that the men had been contracted and paid to carry out the attack by senior figures in the organised crime group.
Luke Wilson, 23, from Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between 15 September and 6 November last year, and to unlawful possession of a Beretta handgun with intent to endanger life on 6 November at Philipsburgh Avenue, Fairview. Alan Wilson, 39, Liam Brannigan, 37, and Joseph Kelly, 35, were also charged with conspiring to murder Mr Hanley on the same occasion. Alan Wilson and Joseph Kelly faced additional charges of conspiracy to murder an unknown person or persons at the 74 Talbot public house between 11 and 15 September last year. Joseph Kelly was also charged with possession of a Beretta handgun and fifteen rounds of ammunition with intent to endanger life on 6 November at Philipsburgh Avenue. A trial date for Alan Wilson was set for 7 October 2019, while Brannigan's case will be mentioned on 8 October and Kelly's hearing was adjourned to October.
In the Special Criminal Court, the defence for Regina Keogh (41) argued that key prosecution witness Mary McDonnell (45) was a "willing participant" in the alleged murder of Gareth Hutch. Defence counsel Patrick Gageby SC submitted that McDonnell, who was granted immunity after a charge of withholding information was withdrawn, downplayed her role to secure a "great bargain." He contended she told untruths to gardai and the court, pointing the finger at Keogh, her "stalwart" friend. The prosecution alleges Keogh and Thomas Fox (31) planned the shooting, while Jonathan Keogh (32) and an accomplice were the shooters. All three defendants, who have pleaded not guilty to murdering Hutch, were remanded in custody by Mr Justice Tony Hunt until Monday for legal submissions. Fox has also denied unlawfully possessing a Makarov 9 mm handgun. The defence highlighted inconsistencies in McDonnell's testimony regarding her coercion and the provision of rubber gloves, suggesting she fabricated evidence to minimize her liability. The court is currently hearing closing submissions in this non-jury trial concerning the May 2016 shooting outside Avondale House flats in Dublin.
In the Special Criminal Court, Jonathan Keogh, aged 32, was defended by Sean Guerin SC, who likened the prosecution's case to a "Jackson Pollock" painting, arguing it was a chaotic collection of evidence lacking analysis. Guerin highlighted that Keogh had been involved in a public row with Gareth Hutch the day before Hutch's murder on 24 May 2016, and that Keogh had received threats from Gardaí. He contested the reliability of Mary McDonnell's testimony, which placed Keogh at Avondale House on the morning of the shooting, and questioned her identification of Keogh from CCTV footage. Guerin also noted that McDonnell had been granted immunity and that her evidence was "unreliable." The prosecution alleged Keogh threatened Hutch, that Thomas Fox and Regina Keogh planned the murder, and that Keogh and another man, Mr AB, were the shooters. All three pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, three men—Jonathan Hawthorn, James Geraghty, and Donal O'Ceallaigh—were charged with membership in the Irish Republican Army. Prosecutor Paul Greene presented evidence that an undercover FBI agent monitored a dark‑web transaction where a user named Meat Cleaver ordered weapons to be disguised as Play Doh and delivered to Geraghty's address. Gardai intercepted the delivery on 14 September 2016, photographing Hawthorn receiving the package and finding fake explosives in his socks. Geraghty claimed his granddaughter found the parcel and that it contained toys, while his defence argued no evidence linked him to the order and that the address was used without his knowledge. Hawthorn's counsel contended he was unaware of the contents and that the prosecution failed to test the Play Doh or socks for fingerprints or DNA. O'Ceallaigh's defence highlighted his denial of IRA membership and lack of evidence against him. The court was set to deliver verdicts on 31 July. Jonathan Hawthorn pleaded not guilty. James Geraghty pleaded not guilty. Donal O'Ceallaigh pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, a prosecution barrister argued that three Dubliners—Jonathan Keogh (32), Regina Keogh (41) and Thomas Fox (31)—planned and executed the murder of Gareth Hutch (36) on 24 May 2016. The barrister claimed the accused believed Hutch posed a threat to their safety and that the killing was pre‑planned, not a spur of the moment act. He presented evidence that Keogh threatened to kill Hutch the evening before, that Fox and Keogh were involved in planning, and that Keogh and another man, AB, were the shooters. The prosecution also alleged that Regina Keogh helped secure a flat for surveillance and that Mary McDonnell, a protected witness, identified the gunmen. All three accused pleaded not guilty. The court heard evidence of a heated exchange between Keogh and Hutch the day before, and of the accused's presence at McDonnell's flat the night before the shooting.
Martin Aylmer, 31, of Casino Park, Marino, Dublin 3, pleaded guilty today to facilitating the murder of Michael Barr, 35, the manager of the Sunset House pub in Dublin 1, which occurred on 25 April 2016. Aylmer admitted that between 23 and 25 April 2016 he participated in or contributed to activities that could facilitate the commission of the murder by a criminal organisation or its members. He also admitted reckless conduct that could facilitate the murder. The prosecution, led by Dominic McGinn SC, presented the first count to the Special Criminal Court, where Aylmer was arraigned and pleaded guilty. Judge Tony Hunt remanded him on continuing bail until his sentencing hearing on 1 October, noting that his guilty plea would be treated as an early plea with significant credit. The case is the first prosecution under the 2006 organised‑crime legislation. Eamonn Cumberton, 30, was jailed for life in January for the same murder.
A Dublin man has pleaded guilty to assault and false imprisonment at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin. Donal O'Hara (26), of Glin Park, Coolock, Dublin 17, admitted assaulting John Roche and causing him harm at The Towers, Saggart on 9 June 2015. He also admitted falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne at locations in Rathcoole and Saggart on the same date. The court heard that Mr Byrne was forcibly removed from a meeting and brought to his residence where Mr Roche was subsequently dragged from a nearby house and assaulted by multiple men. CCTV footage was presented to the court, and forensic evidence linked O'Hara to the assault. His defence counsel acknowledged the gravity of the offence but urged leniency given his age. O'Hara, who has previous convictions for assault and aggravated burglary, was remanded in custody pending sentencing on 31 July.
Lawyers for Frederick 'Freddie' Thompson, accused of murdering David Douglas, expressed concern to the Special Criminal Court about the delay in delivering a verdict. Judge Tony Hunt, with Judges Patricia Ryan and Michael Walsh, had earlier indicated that the court would not be able to issue a judgment until 1 October, despite the trial concluding at the end of May. The case, involving complex legal issues and a "heavy trial," required a detailed, reasoned verdict. Thompson, 37, pleaded not guilty on 1 July 2016 after being shot six times at his partner's shop on Bridgefoot Street. The prosecution did not allege Thompson fired the shots but presented DNA evidence linking him to two "spotter" cars and CCTV footage identifying him as a driver. The court heard that four vehicles, including a Mercedes, a Ford Fiesta, a Mitsubishi Mirage and a Suzuki Swift, operated in concert on the day of the murder.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Kevin Braney (44) and Ciaran Maguire (30) were found guilty of IRA membership. The men had denied membership on August 2, 2017, but evidence from Detective Chief Superintendent Tom Maguire and CCTV showed they travelled from Dublin to an estate in County Meath on July 13, 2017. There, they threatened an accident victim, claiming to be the IRA and saying they would shoot him if he did not withdraw a claim against a former employer. The victim, who had suffered a fall and injuries, had filed a claim for unpaid wages and hospital bills. The court, satisfied beyond reasonable doubt of the men's IRA membership, found the threat a planned, joined enterprise to intimidate. Both men were remanded in custody until sentencing on July 31. The offence carries a maximum sentence of eight years. The court noted the men's family circumstances and prior convictions but did not yet impose a sentence.