In March 2018 the Special Criminal Court granted bail to Martin Aylmer, 31, of Casino Park, Marino, Dublin 3, who faces charges related to the murder of Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub in Dublin 1 on 25 April 2016. Aylmer is charged with participating in or contributing to activity intended to facilitate the commission of the murder by a criminal organisation or its members, and with reckless participation or contribution that could facilitate the murder. The alleged offences occurred between 23 and 25 April 2016. While the court acknowledged concerns about Aylmer being a flight risk, it decided to grant bail, noting that he would remain in custody until the judges review the financial history of the independent surety. The case was adjourned to 13 March 2018.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Sean Walsh, aged 51, was found guilty of membership in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). Walsh had denied being a member on 14 December 2016, but the court accepted evidence from Chief Superintendent Barry McPolin, who testified that he was certain of Walsh's membership based on confidential information. Detective Sergeant Patrick Murphy supplied further evidence, including surveillance reports and a search of a house on Old Commons Road where a bag containing firearms, ammunition, latex gloves and a black woolly hat was found; the hat's DNA matched Walsh's. The court also heard that Walsh had met with co‑accused Joseph Walsh, Michael Gilmartin and a fourth man at Old Commons Road on 29 November and 6 December, and that the group had been involved in a shooting on 7 December. The case was adjourned for sentencing on 16 March.
A 31‑year‑old Dublin man, Martin Aylmer of Casino Park, Marino, was charged at the Special Criminal Court with aiding or contributing to the murder of Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub on 25 April 2016. He faced charges of participating in or contributing to activity intended to facilitate the commission of the murder, and of reckless participation that could facilitate the murder. The alleged offences occurred between 23 and 25 April 2016. Garda David Chapman arrested Aylmer at his home, conveyed him to Bridewell Garda Station, and the court remanded him in custody pending a bail application.
The Regency Hotel shooting trial was adjourned for a month to allow an investigation into the death of Detective Superintendent Colm Fox, who had led the investigation into the fatal shooting at the hotel. Notes written by the late superintendent were handed to the Special Criminal Court and read by the three judges. The trial had previously been adjourned after the court heard that material in the case presented "unprecedented conundrums." The defence had requested copies of emails exchanged between four Gardaí involved. Patrick Hutch, aged 25, is pleading not guilty to the murder of David Byrne, aged 34, at the Regency Hotel on 5 February 2016, and denies possessing three AK‑47 assault rifles. Prosecuting counsel Sean Gillane SC asked the court to receive and read the notes, which were not opened to the court. He said the notes would provide context for an application he would make.
A 21‑year‑old woman, Nikita Murtagh, pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing a loaded CZ model 70 semi‑automatic pistol at Dublin's Connolly train station on 19 July last year. She had handed a shoebox containing the gun to a man, Ciaran Ryan, who was about to board the Dublin‑to‑Belfast train. Ryan was later jailed for three years for possession of the firearm. Murtagh was arrested at a bus stop outside Dublin airport at 6 pm, carrying a handbag with a change of clothes and a passport. At the Special Criminal Court, she was sentenced to three years in jail, backdated to 17 July, with the balance of the sentence suspended. The judge noted her guilty plea, her role as a courier, her "misplaced sense of family loyalty", and her status as a mother of a three‑year‑old child as mitigating factors. She walked free after the suspension was granted.
The Special Criminal Court adjourned the Regency Hotel shooting trial to Thursday after hearing that new material presented "unprecedented conundrums". The trial, which had been scheduled to resume that morning, was delayed because the defence requested copies of emails exchanged between four Gardaí involved in the case. Patrick Hutch, aged 25, pleaded not guilty to the murder of David Byrne, aged 34, at the Regency Hotel on 5 February 2016, and denied possession of three AK‑47 assault rifles linked to the shooting. Michael O'Higgins SC informed the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions had disclosed material that the defence would need to examine further, and he applied for the case to be put back. Sean Gillane SC described the material as presenting "unprecedented conundrums". Judge Tony Hunt, with Judges Patricia Ryan and Ann Ryan, noted that proceedings were continuing behind the scenes even though the trial was adjourned.
At the Special Criminal Court, tributes were paid to Detective Superintendent Colm Fox, who died suddenly at Ballymun Garda Station. The tributes were led by Sean Gillane SC, senior prosecuting counsel in the trial of Patrick Hutch for the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel. The trial, scheduled to resume, was adjourned until Monday. Gillane described Fox as a gentleman, fiercely intelligent, modest, and a respected officer who never raised his voice. He praised Fox's dedication to public service and expressed condolences to his family and colleagues. Michael O'Higgins SC echoed the admiration, noting Fox's universal respect and affection. Judge Tony Hunt, with Judges Patricia and Ann Ryan, joined the sentiments and requested the adjournment. Patrick Hutch, 25, remains pleading not guilty to Byrne's murder and denies possession of three AK‑47 rifles. The case involves a raid during a boxing weigh‑in where armed men, including a woman‑dressed suspect, entered the hotel.
The Special Criminal Court will deliver a verdict on March 2 in the case of Sean Walsh, 51, of Co Cork, who is accused of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army on December 14, 2016. Walsh pleaded not guilty to the charge. The prosecution alleged that Walsh was present at a house on Old Commons Road where a bag containing firearms and ammunition was found, and that his DNA matched a woolly hat recovered from the scene. It further alleged that Walsh met co-accused Joseph Walsh and Michael Gilmartin at a petrol station before they entered a house at Chestnut Drive, Cobh, where a sawn-off shotgun, a 9mm pistol, and ammunition were seized. Joseph Walsh, 36, and Michael Gilmartin, 47, both pleaded guilty to possession of the firearms and ammunition at Chestnut Drive on December 14, 2016. Last week, Joseph Walsh was sentenced to five years and six months for possession of firearms and two years for possession of ammunition. Gilmartin was jailed for five years for possession of firearms and two years for possession of ammunition. Their sentences are to run concurrently and were backdated to December 14, 2016. The matter regarding Sean Walsh remains pending judgment.
Patrick Hutch, aged 25, is pleading not guilty to the murder of David Byrne, aged 34, at the Regency Hotel on 5 February 2016. Hutch is also accused of possessing three AK‑47 assault rifles. The prosecution alleges Hutch was the man dressed as a woman who, along with others in tactical‑style garda uniforms and armed with handguns and assault rifles, raided the hotel during a boxing weigh‑in. The court heard that Hutch did not shoot Byrne but was part of a shared intention to commit the offence. Defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC requested disclosure of emails between four gardai involved in the investigation. The request was delayed because the emails number in the thousands and would need to be downloaded and printed.
Darren Weldon, 46, has appealed his conviction for membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. Weldon, from Kilbarrack in Dublin, pleaded not guilty at the Special Criminal Court on October 14, 2014. He was found guilty by the non-jury court and sentenced to five years imprisonment, with the final year suspended, on January 16, 2017. The prosecution alleged that DNA matching Weldon was found on the number plate of a car that exploded outside Newry courthouse in 2010. Weldon's counsel, Hugh Hartnett SC, argued the trial was corrupted by misdirections, specifically regarding the DNA evidence and association evidence. Hartnett contended the court impermissibly bolstered the DNA sample by finding it was left by primary contact beyond a reasonable doubt. He also challenged the reliance on photos of Alan Ryan, noting that the court incorrectly stated Weldon was in the company of two men with unlawful organisation convictions, a point conceded as incorrect by the DPP's counsel, Paul Greene SC. The DPP argued the conviction was supported by substantial DNA and photo evidence. The Court of Appeal, comprising Mr Justice Alan Mahon, Mr Justice John Edwards, and Mr Justice John Hedigan, reserved its judgement on the appeal.
Patrick Hutch, aged 25, is on trial in the Special Criminal Court for the murder of David Byrne, aged 34, at the Regency Hotel on 5 February 2016. Hutch pleads not guilty and denies owning three AK‑47 assault rifles linked to the shooting. The court heard that the incident occurred during a boxing weigh‑in when a man dressed as a woman, another in a flat cap, and three others in tactical‑style Garda uniforms armed with handguns and assault rifles raided the venue. Prosecutor Sean Gillane SC stated that the prosecution's case is that Hutch was the man dressed as a woman and that he did not fire the shots but was part of a "shared intention" to commit the offence. Following a ruling on Friday that admitted evidence identifying Hutch as the man in the woman's costume, the defence requested a wide range of information. Michael O'Higgins SC for Hutch said the defence needed specific answers.
An Estonian man, Imre Arakas, aged 58, will stand trial at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin next year. He is charged with conspiring to murder James Gately in Northern Ireland between 3 and 4 April last year, an offence under Section 71 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. Prosecutor Paul Greene SC told the court the trial is expected to last six weeks. Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Patricia Ryan and Ann Ryan, set the trial date for 14 January 2019, and the case was also listed for mention on 7 March. Arakas remains in custody.
The Special Criminal Court sentenced two Cork men to prison for firearms offences following a garda investigation into the "New IRA". Joseph Walsh (36) and Michael Gilmartin (47) both pleaded guilty to possession of firearms, including a 9mm parabellum pistol, a magazine, and a double-barrel sawn-off shotgun, as well as ammunition, at Chestnut Drive, Cobh, on September 14, 2016. The court heard that gardai intercepted the pair in December 2016 while monitoring subversive activity, finding the weapons in a bag at Gilmartin's home. Mr Justice Tony Hunt noted mitigating factors, including their early guilty pleas, describing Walsh as a recent recruit and Gilmartin's involvement as limited to logistical support. Walsh was sentenced to five years and six months for possession of firearms and two years for possession of ammunition. Gilmartin received five years for possession of firearms and two years for possession of ammunition. The sentences are to run concurrently and were backdated to December 14, 2016.
In the Special Criminal Court, judges ruled that key prosecution evidence identifying Patrick Hutch as the man dressed as a woman in a photo taken outside the Regency Hotel on the day of David Byrne's murder is admissible. The defence had objected, claiming the two detectives, Fergal O'Flaherty and Jonathan Brady, had not acted separately and that the identification process was tainted. Mr Justice Tony Hunt said there was no evidence the detectives were together when they made the identification, nor that the process was contaminated. Hutch, aged 25, pleaded not guilty to Byrne's murder and to possessing three AK‑47 rifles. The court noted that the detectives had viewed the photo two days after the shooting, with Sergeant Patrick O'Toole supervising and Garda Michael Ryan displaying the image. The trial was adjourned until Monday afternoon.
The Special Criminal Court has ruled that the authorisation of garda listening devices was valid, dismissing defence arguments regarding the application's validity. This decision was issued during the ongoing trial of Edward O'Brien, David Nooney, and Seán Hannaway, who are accused of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army (IRA) on August 8, 2015. Kevin Hannaway and Eva Shannon are co-accused of knowingly rendering assistance to the IRA by assisting in interviews at Riverwood Park, Castleknock, Dublin 15, on August 7 and 8, 2015. All five defendants pleaded not guilty to the respective charges. The prosecution alleged that gardai, acting on confidential information, used surveillance devices to record interviews conducted for the IRA. Defence counsel argued that the District Court judge's authorisation was invalid due to alleged inaccuracies in the senior garda's information, conflicting evidence, and procedural errors under the Criminal Justice Surveillance Act 2009. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, presiding with Justice Robert Haughton and Judge Gerard Griffin, rejected these arguments, stating that the criteria for authorisation are disjunctive and that the senior garda was satisfied the surveillance was necessary for the security of the State. The court found no basis to invalidate the evidence obtained. The trial continues tomorrow.
Two Dublin men, Jonathan Harding (45) and James Walsh (33), were sentenced to ten years and nine years in prison respectively for possessing a lethal arsenal of weapons, including nine revolvers, four pistols, a sub‑machine gun, an assault rifle, and various ammunition magazines. The weapons were discovered on 24 January 2017 at a unit in Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole, which was presented as a logistics company. The men had pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court, and the judge noted that without the guilty pleas they would have received twelve‑year sentences. Harding had a prior six‑year drug‑related sentence in 2004; he received a ten‑year term with one year suspended. Walsh, with previous public‑order convictions, received a nine‑year term with one year suspended. The judge described the arsenal as "enormous potential for death and destruction" and a "lethal arsenal stored for the purpose of organised and very serious crime.".
Ciaran Ryan, 24, of Summerhill, Dublin, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to three years in prison, with four months suspended, for unlawful possession of a CZ model 70 semi‑automatic pistol and two rounds of 7.65 Browning ammunition. The gun and ammunition were recovered by Gardaí at Connolly Station on 19 July last year. Ryan had pleaded guilty in December to the offence. He was acting as a "courier" for the weapon, and there was no evidence he intended to use it. On the day in question, a surveillance operation had been in place around Connolly station. Ryan entered the station at 3:05 pm, bought a ticket, met a woman who handed him a white bag, and boarded the Belfast train at 3:30 pm. Gardaí followed him onto the train, arrested him, and found the gun in a shoebox inside the bag.
Two men were sentenced at the Special Criminal Court for their roles in a mob that intimidated a man and forced his family to leave their home. Declan Duffy, aged 44, was jailed for six years for false imprisonment of Martin Byrne in Rathcoole/Saggart on 9 June 2015, and for assaulting John Roche at the Towers, Garters Lane, Saggart, on the same date. Christopher Maguire, aged 39, received a three‑year suspended sentence for falsely imprisoning Lisa Byrne in the same incident. Both men pleaded guilty. The mob, recruited to intimidate Byrne, forced him to leave his apartment in the Towers complex, assaulted him, and threatened his life. Duffy had prior convictions for false imprisonment and IRA membership, while Maguire had no prior convictions. The judge noted Duffy did not lead the mob and was not armed, and that the mob's violence was intended to supplant the legal process. The sentencing was carried out by Mr Justice Tony Hunt.
A man from County Dublin has had his sentencing adjourned at the Special Criminal Court following a dispute over the facts of a firearms case. Eamon McNamee, aged 37, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence, namely assault causing harm, at Fairgreen in Saggart on 19 January 2013. The prosecution alleges McNamee shot and wounded a man during an operation targeting unlawful IRA activity in Dublin. Evidence presented included gunshot residue analysis and testimony from a detective sergeant. However, the defence has suggested multiple individuals were present at the scene, questioning whether McNamee was the person who fired the shot. The court indicated a Newton hearing may be necessary to resolve the factual disagreement between the prosecution and defence. McNamee was remanded on continuing bail until 5 February to allow the defence to confirm whether such a hearing is required.
Eamonn Cumberton, aged 30, was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court for the murder of 35‑year‑old Michael Barr, the manager of the Sunset House pub in Dublin. On 25 April 2016, two men in "Freddy Kruger" masks entered the pub, shot Barr seven times—five to the head, one to the shoulder and one to the neck—and then fled in a grey Audi. The court found DNA belonging to Cumberton on a baseball cap and a rubber mask recovered from the vehicle, which was later found partially burnt on Walsh Road. Evidence also linked Cumberton to the getaway car and to a flight to Thailand taken shortly after the killing. The judge described the shooting as a deliberate and planned execution, and noted that Cumberton had 37 prior convictions. He was sentenced to life imprisonment, with no mention of a suspended portion or effective custody term. The court expressed sympathy for Barr's family.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 23 January 2018, the prosecution of Patrick Hutch for the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel was examined. The court considered whether evidence that two detectives identified Hutch in a photo would be admissible. The defence argued the identification was tainted, citing the detectives' prior interactions with Hutch and the lack of certainty among other Gardaí. Hutch, aged 25, pleaded not guilty and denied possession of assault rifles. The prosecution maintained that Hutch was the man in a woman's dress in the photo and part of a shared intent to commit the offence. Judge Tony Hunt announced a ruling would be made the following week, with the trial adjourned until 2 February 2018.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 23 January 2018, a barrister for Patrick Hutch, aged 25, denied that two detectives had gone to Ballymun Garda Station to identify him as the man dressed as a woman in a photo taken two days after the Regency Hotel shooting. Hutch is pleading not guilty to the murder of David Byrne, 34, and to possession of three AK‑47 rifles. The prosecution maintains that Hutch was the woman in the photo and that he shared intent to commit the offence, though he did not fire the shots. The barrister argued that the detectives had prior interactions with Hutch and that the identification was not a deliberate search for him. He also claimed the procedure was unfair and that 99.6% of officers who viewed the photo did not recognise Hutch. The court heard these submissions and the case continues.
In the Special Criminal Court, Patrick Hutch, aged 25, pleads not guilty to the murder of Mr Byrne, aged 34, at the Regency Hotel on 5 February 2016. Hutch also denies possession of three AK‑47 assault rifles linked to the shooting. The prosecution alleges Hutch was the man dressed as a woman in a photo taken outside the hotel, and that he was part of a shared intention to commit the offence, though he did not fire the gun. Defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC argues that the identification of Hutch by detectives Fergal O'Flaherty and Jonathan Brady was "sullied and tainted", based on flawed evidence and unfair procedure. He requests exclusion of the identification, citing lack of reliable records, ambiguity in the detectives' statements, and the absence of a clear, documented identification process. The court will hear further submissions tomorrow before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge Ann Ryan.
The Special Criminal Court heard surveillance evidence in the ongoing trial of Edward O'Brien, David Nooney, Seán Hannaway, Kevin Hannaway, and Eva Shannon. All five defendants pleaded not guilty to charges relating to membership of or assisting an unlawful organisation, namely the Irish Republican Army (IRA), on August 7th and 8th, 2015. Detective Garda BK testified that he observed Mr. Nooney and Mr. O'Brien entering and leaving a house in Riverwood Park, Castleknock, Dublin 15, where the prosecution alleges IRA interviews were conducted. Photographs taken by the detective were shown to the judges. Another detective, Detective Garda Y, stated he observed Mr. Nooney meeting two men at a McDonald's in Blanchardstown before they departed in his car. Prosecution counsel Tara Burns SC indicated that covert listening device evidence would be presented regarding the interviews. The trial is currently before Justice Isobel Kennedy, Justice Robert Haughton, and Judge Gerard Griffin. The matter was adjourned and continues tomorrow.
Patrick Kennedy, aged 69, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for unlawful possession of a .455 Colt "New Service" revolver and a .455 Webley Mark 6 revolver with serial number 324736. He pleaded guilty in October at the Special Criminal Court. The offence occurred on 14 September 2013 when Kennedy, acting as a courier, was observed by Gardaí in Dublin's James Street. He had received a beige canvas bag from co‑accused Gary Yeung, who had travelled from Limerick that day. Gardaí followed Kennedy into a pub, searched the bag and found the two firearms. A ballistics examination revealed one gun was rusted but functional and the other was non‑working. Kennedy had three prior convictions, the most recent being an assault in 1978.
A garda informed the Special Criminal Court that Patrick Hutch, 25, accused of murdering David Byrne, 34, at the Regency Hotel on 5 February 2016, was not on his radar. The garda, who had previously interacted with Hutch when he was shot in 2015, could not identify the man dressed as a woman in a photo taken outside the Regency as Hutch. Hutch pleads not guilty to Byrne's murder and denies owning three AK47 assault rifles linked to the shooting. The prosecution alleges Hutch was the woman‑dressed man and part of a "shared intention" to commit the offence. The shooting occurred during a boxing weigh‑in when the woman‑dressed man, a flat‑cap wearer with handguns, and three people in tactical garda uniforms with assault rifles raided the venue. The defence objects to evidence that two detectives identified Hutch as the woman‑dressed man after viewing the photo.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the ongoing trial of five accused individuals, with proceedings continuing before Justice Isobel Kennedy. Kevin Hannaway and Eva Shannon have pleaded not guilty to charges of knowingly rendering assistance to an unlawful organisation, alleged to be the IRA, by assisting in interviews at Riverwood Park, Castleknock, on August 7 and 8, 2015. Edward O'Brien, David Nooney, and Seán Hannaway have pleaded not guilty to membership of the same organisation on August 8, 2015. Prosecution counsel Tara Burns SC read a statement from landlord Paul Keegan, who alleged he lent the property to a friend's relatives as a favour. Keegan described observing men in the house, noting closed curtains and a smell of smoke, before police broke down the door. A National Surveillance Unit detective sergeant testified that he observed David Nooney at the property on August 7 and 8, 2015, including instances of Nooney moving items into the house. The witness stated his brief was solely to observe Nooney and he could not recall being informed the house was under surveillance. The trial is at the charge or pre-trial stage, with no findings, sentences, or finalisations recorded. The matter was adjourned and will continue on Monday.
In the Special Criminal Court, a barrister argued that evidence used to identify Patrick Hutch as the man dressed as a woman outside the Regency Hotel on 5 February 2016 may have been compromised by press coverage. Hutch, aged 25, pleads not guilty to the murder of David Byrne, aged 34, and denies possession of three AK47 rifles. The prosecution maintains Hutch was the woman‑dressed suspect and part of a shared intent to commit the offence. The defence challenges the identification made by detectives Fergal O'Flaherty and Jonathan Brady after viewing a photograph taken by a Sunday World photographer. The barrister contended that a Garda witness, Michael Ryan, could have been influenced by a January 17 Irish Independent report detailing the detectives' identification. The court is hearing the admissibility of this evidence in a voir dire, with the trial set to resume on Monday before Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge Ann Ryan.
The Special Criminal Court heard that Gardai, acting on confidential information, used surveillance devices to listen to conversations at a private house in Riverwood Park, Castleknock, Dublin, on 7 and 8 August 2015. Three people were charged with membership of the IRA and two with assisting the IRA. The prosecution, represented by Tara Burns SC, explained that the house had recently been vacated and was being prepared for new tenants. The owner had agreed to let the house be used by his uncle and nephew for the weekend. Gardai observed the five accused at the house over the two‑day period and arrested them on 8 August. Kevin Hannaway (69), Eva Shannon (60) and Seán Hannaway (48) pleaded not guilty to assisting the IRA, while Edward O'Brien (42), David Nooney (53) and Seán Hannaway (48) pleaded not guilty to membership of the IRA.
During a Special Criminal Court hearing, defence barristers delayed the start of a lengthy trial because they were not informed of their fees and feared they would be paid less than prosecution counsel. The defence team, led by senior barristers Padraig Dwyer, Paul Greene, Hugh Hartnett and Ronan Munro, expressed concern that the pay gap could reach 50 to 75 per cent when the State funds legal fees. Prosecuting counsel Tara Burns was said to be receiving an enhanced fee due to the case's complexity. Justice Isobel Kennedy noted that pay parity had historically existed but was now "set at naught," a claim contested by Mr. Greene. The court postponed the trial's commencement until 2 pm to allow all parties to return and continue the proceedings.
During the Regency Hotel shooting trial, the court heard that about 500 Gardaí viewed a photo of a man dressed as a woman holding a gun outside the hotel on the day of the fatal shooting. Two detectives, Fergal O'Flaherty and Jonathan Brady, identified the man as Patrick Hutch, 25, who is pleading not guilty to the murder of David Byrne, 34, and to possession of three AK‑47 rifles. The prosecution alleges Hutch was the woman in the photo and part of a shared intention to commit the offence, though he did not fire the gun. The defence objects to the identification evidence, noting that 498 Gardaí did not recognise Hutch and that no records were kept of whether they knew him. The hearing continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Patricia Ryan and Ann Ryan presiding.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Detective Garda Jonathan Brady testified that he and colleague Fergal O'Flaherty had identified a man in a photo taken outside the Regency Hotel as Patrick Hutch, a 25‑year‑old from Dublin 1. The photo, taken by a Sunday World photographer during a boxing weigh‑in on 5 February 2016, showed a man wearing a wig and holding a gun. Brady claimed he "immediately recognised" Hutch and had known him since youth, noting prior Garda records of Hutch's minor incidents. He denied that he and O'Flaherty were separated during the identification. The court heard Brady's statements and cross‑examined him on the timing and context of the identification, noting that the evidence was being considered for admissibility in the trial of Hutch's murder charge. The trial continues under Judge Tony Hunt.
The Special Criminal Court trial was adjourned because three accused were unable to travel from Belfast due to bad weather. Kevin Hannaway, aged 69, is charged with knowingly assisting an unlawful organisation, the Irish Republican Army, by interviewing persons involved in IRA‑related criminal activity on 7 and 8 August 2015. Eva Shannon, aged 60, faces the same charge for those dates. Edward O'Brien, David Nooney, and Seán Hannaway are each charged with membership of the IRA on 8 August 2015. Justice Isobel Kennedy postponed the hearing until the next morning, and none of the accused have yet been arraigned.
During a Special Criminal Court hearing on 16 January 2018, the court considered evidence relating to the fatal shooting at the Regency Hotel in Dublin on 5 February 2016. The prosecution alleged that a raid on the hotel involved a man dressed as a woman, a man in a flat cap, and three individuals in tactical‑style Garda uniforms carrying assault rifles. CCTV footage showed two men in fake Garda uniforms shooting David Byrne (34) as he fled. Patrick Hutch (25) was identified by the prosecution as the man dressed as a woman and was charged with murder, though he denied both the shooting and possession of three AK‑47 assault rifles. Garda Finbar Fleming reported that a crowd of about twenty to thirty people outside the hotel was "extremely hostile" and offered no information. Sergeant Noel Nolan also described the crowd as "very agitated" and hostile.
The Special Criminal Court viewed CCTV footage of the fatal shooting of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel, Dublin, on 5 February 2016. The footage shows men in Emergency Response Unit (ERU) gear, including a man in a flat cap and a man in a wig, exiting a silver van and entering the hotel via the laundry room. Three men, referred to as "Tacs 1, 2 and 3," wearing tactical‑style Garda uniforms and helmets, carried assault rifles and entered the lobby. "Tac 1" shot Byrne, who was seen crawling toward the reception. "Tac 2" later pointed a rifle at a BBC journalist and shot Byrne again before moving toward the laundry‑room door. Witnesses, including journalists and hotel staff, described the scene as chaotic, with gunfire and men shouting "Get down, get fucking down." The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge Ann Ryan.
A man dressed as a woman fired shots inside the Regency Hotel in Dublin on 5 February 2016, the Special Criminal Court heard on the second day of the trial of Patrick Hutch, charged with the murder of David Byrne. Witnesses described the attackers' arrival disguised as gardaí, with one person wearing a blonde wig and the other a cap. A boxing weigh-in was underway when shooting began. Mel Christie, former president of the Boxing Union of Ireland, told the court that initial gunfire caused panic before two men dressed as police entered the room. He said one of these men then opened fire on a person in the crowd. Other witnesses corroborated accounts of the gunman in the wig and the shooter disguised as a garda. The accused, aged twenty-five, denies murder and denies possessing three AK47 assault rifles in connection with the fatal shooting.
Patrick Kennedy, aged 69, will be sentenced by the Special Criminal Court later this month. He pleaded guilty in October to unlawful possession of a .455 Colt "New Service" revolver and a .455 Webley Mark 6 revolver (serial 324736) found on James Street, Dublin 8, on 14 September 2013. Kennedy acted as a courier for two guns during a planned transfer of firearms between IRA members. Garda surveillance captured Kennedy handing a beige canvas bag with an LV logo to co‑accused Gary Yeung, who had previously been jailed for five years with three suspended for possession of firearms. Kennedy later entered a pub, placed the bag at his feet, and Gardaí searched it, discovering the two firearms. A ballistics report noted one gun was rusted but functional, the other non‑working. Kennedy has three prior convictions, the latest being an assault in 1978. He remains on bail until 22 January, when sentencing will occur.
Joseph Walsh and Michael Gilmartin, who pleaded guilty to firearms offences linked to a garda investigation into the "New IRA," had their sentencing adjourned until February 5. The co-accused admitted to possessing a 9mm parabellum pistol, a magazine, a double-barrel sawn-off shotgun, and ammunition at Chestnut Drive, Cobh, on September 14 last year. They also admitted to an assault at Cork Circuit Court. At the sentence hearing, the court heard that Walsh initially took a "no comment attitude" but later stated he had a "fair idea" the bag contained something illegal. Walsh has previous convictions, including assault causing harm in 2013 and a suspended sentence in 2010. Gilmartin, who also initially remained silent, later told gardai he feared for his life. He has only previous Road Traffic Act convictions. Defence counsel for Walsh highlighted his guilty plea and a reference from a former employer. Counsel for Gilmartin argued he was of outstanding good character, suffered from health issues, and was not a "prime mover" in the offences. Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges Patricia Ryan and Ann Ryan, stated they had a "fair bit to think about" and adjourned the matter. The case was not concluded or finalised at this stage.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Patrick Hutch, aged 25, was tried for the murder of David Byrne, 34, at the Regency Hotel in Dublin on 5 February 2016. The prosecution described the incident as a "resourced, carefully planned, targeted, murderous attack." Hutch allegedly entered the hotel in a silver van with a man wearing a flat cap and a man in a blonde wig. CCTV showed the trio carrying handguns and assault rifles, firing shots that caused panic. Byrne was shot twice by men in garda‑style uniforms while lying on the reception desk. Hutch denied the murder charge and denied possession of three AK‑47 rifles. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, was set to resume the following day.
In a Special Criminal Court sentence hearing, Jonathan Harding, 45, of McNeill Court, Sallins, and James Walsh, 33, of Neilstown Drive, Clondalkin, were found guilty of possessing an arsenal of firearms and ammunition. The weapons, recovered on 24 January 2017 at a unit in Greenogue Business Park, included nine revolvers, four pistols, a sub‑machine gun, an assault rifle, an AK‑47, and over a thousand rounds of ammunition. The men were arrested after a surveillance operation that followed their travel in a Ford Transit van to the park. Harding had two prior convictions, including a six‑year sentence for drug possession, while Walsh had previous public order offences. The court remanded both men in custody until 30 January, when sentencing will occur.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Eamonn Cumberton, aged 30, pleaded not guilty to the murder of 35‑year‑old Michael Barr, who was shot seven times at the Sunset House pub on 25 April 2016. The prosecution, led by Dominic McGinn SC, argued that a partially burnt Audi found near the crime scene was linked to the shooting and that a mask and baseball cap recovered from the vehicle contained Cumberton's DNA, which he could not explain. McGinn also cited Cumberton's travel to Thailand shortly after the murder, arriving at Dublin airport without luggage, as evidence of his involvement. Cumberton's defence, represented by Bernard Condon SC, dismissed the DNA and travel evidence as unreliable, arguing that the DNA could have been deposited indirectly and that the Thailand trip was irrelevant. Judge Tony Hunt remanded Cumberton in custody until the court will deliver judgement on 29 January 2018.
The Special Criminal Court set a trial for 19 November 2018 for Declan McDermott and Martin Manning, accused of possessing four kilograms of TNT and an RGD33 grenade head at Spring Garden St on 2 June 2017. McDermott also faces a charge of membership in an unlawful organisation, the IRA. The court noted a third co‑accused, John O'Brien, 55, has not yet requested a trial date. All three men were remanded in custody and the case was listed for mention again on 23 March.
Two men from Cork, Joseph Walsh, 36, and Michael Gilmartin, 46, admitted to possessing firearms and ammunition. They pleaded guilty to holding a 9mm parabellum pistol, a suitable magazine, and a double‑barrel sawn‑off shotgun, along with 14 rounds of 9mm ammunition and eight shotgun cartridges. The items were found at Chestnut Drive, Cluain Ard, Newtown, Cobh, on 14 September last year. Judge Tony Hunt, with Judges Patricia Ryan and James Faughnan, remanded them in custody until 11 January, when sentencing will occur.
Ciaran Ryan, 24, from Summerhill, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a CZ model 70 semi‑automatic pistol and two rounds of 7.65 Browning calibre ammunition. The items were recovered by Gardaí at Connolly Station on 19 July. During the sentencing hearing, Detective Garda Gary Dunne described how a surveillance operation had been set up around Connolly station. At 3:05 pm Ryan entered the station, bought a ticket and went to the waiting area for the Belfast train due to depart at 3:30 pm. He met a woman who handed him a white bag; she was pushing a buggy with a child. After she left, Ryan boarded the train. Gardaí followed him onboard and arrested him.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, defence counsel Bernard Condon SC has applied for a not‑guilty direction in the murder trial of Eamonn Cumberton, 30, who is accused of killing 35‑year‑old Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub on 25 April 2016. Cumberton was shot seven times at the bar counter. The prosecution alleges that Cumberton is "inextricably linked" to items recovered from a silver Audi, a partially burnt‑out getaway car, and that these items are linked to the shooting. Condon argues that the evidence of Cumberton travelling to Thailand the day after the murder is "incredibly weak" and that the prosecution has not proved Cumberton was not the last wearer of a rubber mask found in the car. DNA matches on a rubber mask and a baseball cap are cited by the prosecution, who say no innocent explanation has been offered. Eamonn Cumberton pleaded not guilty. Sunset House pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 19 December 2017, DNA evidence linking Eamonn Cumberton, aged 30, to a rubber mask found in a suspected getaway car was accepted. The court had earlier heard that the DNA profile on the mask was "one in a thousand million times more likely" to belong to Mr Cumberton and two unknown persons rather than to three unknown persons. Mr Cumberton, of Mountjoy Street, Dublin 7, had pleaded not guilty to the murder of 35‑year‑old Michael Barr, who was shot seven times at the Sunset House pub on 25 April 2016. The prosecution argued that Mr Cumberton was "inextricably linked" to items recovered from a silver Audi, partially burnt‑out near the scene, and that those items were "inextricably linked" to the shooting.
Brian Rattigan, 38, was convicted in a Special Criminal Court of directing a €1 million heroin supply from prison. He pleaded not guilty to possession of heroin and two counts of possession for sale or supply on Hughes Road South, Walkinstown, on 21 May 2008. The court found him the director of a drugs gang and sentenced him to 17 years, back‑dated to June 2008, to run concurrently with a life sentence for the murder of 21‑year‑old Declan Gavin. The murder conviction was later quashed by the Supreme Court. Rattigan's appeal against the drug conviction is scheduled for 5 June 2025. The appeal is solely against conviction; counsel expects it to finish in under a day. Rattigan was not present at the hearing. The trial relied on evidence of a €1 million heroin haul, mobile phone texts detailing drug distribution, and a diary found in his prison cell.
During a Special Criminal Court hearing, Declan Duffy (44) and Christopher Maguire (39) pleaded guilty to false imprisonment and assault. Duffy admitted assaulting security guard John Roche, who was injured and forced to leave his home in the Towers complex, while Maguire pleaded guilty to false imprisonment of Lisa Byrne. The court heard that Duffy and seven men forced Martin Byrne, a former security guard, to leave his apartment at the Towers on 9 June 2015, assaulting him and threatening his life. Roche was also assaulted and a garda was called after a witness reported the incident. Duffy has prior convictions for false imprisonment, IRA membership and a 2010 murder conviction in England. Maguire had no prior convictions. The court remanded Duffy in custody and ordered Maguire to remain on bail until sentencing on 29 January.
A trial date of 2 October 2018 has been set at the Special Criminal Court for five men charged in connection with the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly. The 35-year-old was fatally shot outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, County Meath on 6 March 2013. Books of evidence were served on the defendants during proceedings before the non-jury court. Michael McDermott of Ballinagh, County Cavan faces charges including murder, membership of an unlawful organisation, and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. Kevin Braney of Tallaght, Dublin and Frank Murphy of Bettystown, County Meath face similar charges. Laurence Murphy of Bettystown and Ray Kennedy of Blanchardstown, Dublin are charged with membership of an unlawful organisation. The trial is estimated to last up to ten weeks. Additional legal representation has been approved for each defendant.
Nikita Murtagh, aged 20, is applying to the Special Criminal Court to have a charge of unlawful possession of a CZ 70 semi‑automatic pistol, two rounds of 7.65 Browning ammunition and a shotgun cartridge dismissed. The items were allegedly seized by gardai at Connolly train station on 19 July. Murtagh is making the application under Section 4E of the Criminal Justice Act 1999. Judge Tony Hunt, with Judges Patricia Ryan and James Faughnan, will rule on the application on 21 December. She remains remanded in custody until that date.