The Special Criminal Court examined CCTV footage on Monday as part of the trial relating to the abduction and assault of Kevin Lunney, a director of Quinn Industrial Holdings, in September 2019. Detective Garda Alan Jones spent three days presenting video evidence compiled during the garda investigation, covering locations across Dublin, Cavan, Westmeath and Louth. Prosecution counsel Sean Guerin SC indicated that footage allegedly documents interactions between individuals and vehicles connected to the alleged offences. One sequence purportedly shows a Renault Kangoo van deposited at a yard in Duleek, County Meath on October 23rd, 2019. Defence counsel challenged the admissibility of the CCTV material. Three men have pleaded not guilty to false imprisonment and intentionally causing serious harm: Alan O'Brien, aged 40, and Darren Redmond, aged 27, both of East Wall, Dublin, and Luke O'Reilly, aged 67, of Kilcogy, County Cavan. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Kenneth Donohoe and Darren Murphy, accused of murdering gangland figure Eamon Kelly, has heard evidence of a burning Lexus car allegedly connected to the fatal shooting. Kelly, 65, was shot four times in the back on December 4, 2012, near his home in north Dublin. Both accused have pleaded not guilty to the murder and to the possession of a firearm, a Glock pistol, with intent to endanger life, on the same date and location. Evidence presented includes testimony from Garda Sergeant Sinead Downey, who arrived at the scene to find the car on fire, and witness accounts linking the vehicle to the shooting. Dr Marie Cassidy, the retired State Pathologist, confirmed that Kelly died from four gunshot wounds to the back. The trial continues with further evidence expected. Sean Connolly was previously jailed for life in 2015 for the murder of Kelly. The matter is currently at the sentence stage, with no finalisation yet.
The Special Criminal Court has sentenced Lee Canavan to life imprisonment for his role in the murder of David 'Daithí' Douglas, who was shot at Shoestown in Dublin 1 on July 1, 2016. Canavan, who pleaded not guilty, was found guilty of murder based on his active participation in a shared intention to kill, though the court did not find sufficient evidence to conclude he was the triggerman. He was concurrently sentenced to five years for criminal damage to a stolen Suzuki Swift used as a getaway vehicle. Both sentences were backdated to May 2020, when Canavan was taken into custody following a European Arrest Warrant. The court noted that Canavan's prior drug possession convictions were not aggravating factors. This conviction marks the fourth individual jailed in connection with the killing. Previously, Frederick 'Fat Freddie' Thompson was jailed for life in 2018; Nathan Foley pleaded guilty and received six years in 2019; and Gareth Brophy was jailed for ten years in 2020 for acting as a getaway driver. The judge extended free legal aid to cover any potential appeal.
The Special Criminal Court has rejected jurisdictional arguments regarding the trial of four men accused of false imprisonment and causing serious harm to Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney. Counsel for the accused argued the court had become a permanent structure not permitted by its founding legislation, contending the DPP's role in selecting cases bypassed the Oireachtas. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh, dismissed these claims, stating the court's jurisdiction is established by legislation and the DPP's documentation was in order. He noted that arguments concerning the Oireachtas's failure to revisit the 1972 proclamation were political matters outside the court's remit. The trial is scheduled to proceed. The accused are Luke O'Reilly (67), Darren Redmond (27), Alan O'Brien (40), and an unnamed man aged 40, who cannot be named due to unrelated pending trials. They are charged with false imprisonment and causing serious harm to Mr Lunney on September 17, 2019, at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, Co Cavan. Allegations state Mr Lunney was abducted, his leg broken, doused in bleach, and had letters carved into his chest before being dumped in Co Cavan. The court confirmed the matter will continue in the ordinary way.
The Special Criminal Court has adjourned proceedings in the trial of four men charged with the false imprisonment of Quinn Industrial Holdings executive Kevin Lunney. A jurisdictional application is to be heard tomorrow on behalf of one of the accused. Sean Guerin SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, indicated the argument would require approximately one day. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge David McHugh, has previously rejected several applications to postpone the trial. Luke O'Reilly, aged 67, of Mullahoran Lower, Kilcogy, County Cavan; Darren Redmond, aged 27, of East Wall, Dublin; and Alan O'Brien, aged 40, also of East Wall, Dublin, along with a fourth accused man aged 40, are charged with false imprisonment and causing serious harm to Mr Lunney at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, County Cavan on 17 September 2019. The four men have not yet been arraigned.
The Special Criminal Court served a Book of Evidence on Graham Whelan, a 38‑year‑old father of four, who faces ten non‑scheduled offences including drug trafficking and money laundering. Whelan was arrested in a penthouse at the South Dublin Intercontinental Hotel, where officers found €1,275 in cash he claimed came from "up his Swiss roll". He is charged with converting, transferring, handling, acquiring, possessing or using €1,275 and €2,140, a luxury watch, a tick list, a mobile phone, cocaine and cannabis, and with concealing the source of money used to refurbish property at Walkinstown Avenue between August 2018 and May 2019. He appeared on strict bail, wearing a grey suit, and did not speak at the hearing. A curfew was relaxed to 7 am‑9 pm to accommodate his children. The case was adjourned to 10 June, with trial expected by September.
The Special Criminal Court has found Lee Canavan guilty of the murder of David 'Daithí' Douglas, who was shot at Shoestown, Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 1, on July 1, 2016. Canavan, 31, had pleaded not guilty to the charge, alleging he was part of a joint enterprise to murder Mr. Douglas, who died from injuries to his chest, neck, back, torso, elbow, and jaw. The court ruled that while it could not be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Canavan was the gunman, he was guilty due to his active participation in the shared intention to kill. He was also found guilty of criminal damage to a Suzuki Swift on July 4, 2016, an act intended to destroy evidence. The prosecution, led by Sean Gillane SC, argued the murder was meticulously planned and that Canavan's actions were inextricably linked to those of co-defendants. Frederick 'Fat Freddie' Thompson was previously jailed for life for the murder. Nathan Foley pleaded guilty to assisting a criminal organisation and was jailed for six years. Gareth Brophy was jailed for ten years for his role as a getaway driver. The court emphasized the coordinated use of four vehicles and the removal of the pistol's serial number. Canavan's conviction completes the prosecution of the entire group involved in the killing.
The Special Criminal Court will hear the trials of Jason Reed (39), Thomas Rooney (41) and Catherine Dawson (44) following the seizure of €550,000 in cash during searches of cars and a house in Drogheda and elsewhere in the north‑east. The DPP applied under Section 40 of the Criminal Justice Act for a non‑jury trial, and Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Michael Walsh granted the application. None of the accused were present at the hearing, but they are required to appear on 21 December when a trial date will be set. All three are charged with money laundering and possession of the proceeds of crime. Reed is accused of laundering €32,330 and £390 (≈€441) found at his home; Rooney and Dawson are charged with possession of €245,840 in cash in a bag on the same date; all three were previously granted bail by a District Court.
Jonathan Hawthorn, a 47‑year‑old former IRA member, was convicted by the Special Criminal Court for membership in the Irish Republican Army after an FBI agent uncovered a Dublin plot to purchase a grenade and Semtex online. Hawthorn had received a fake DHL delivery of the items, which were disguised as Play Doh, and was arrested at St James Hospital in September 2016. The court imposed a headline sentence of six and a half years, later reduced to five years when mitigating factors were considered. Hawthorn appealed, arguing the sentence was excessive and that he was not in a senior leadership role. His counsel cited the court's sentencing parameters, noting that the maximum term for membership is eight years and that a term of 64 months to eight years is reserved for the most serious cases. The Court of Appeal rejected the appeal, affirming the sentence as appropriate for a "significant player" in the organisation.
During a Special Criminal Court hearing on 7 July 2020, the trial of Edward McDonnell, 55, of Waterside Apartments, New Ross, was presented. McDonnell pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of a Grand Power G9 semi‑automatic pistol and to having the weapon with intent to endanger life. Garda Joseph Enright testified that he had observed a silver Toyota Avensis driven by Stephen Little, 46, on 11 September 2019, and that a loaded handgun was found under the passenger seat of the vehicle the day before McDonnell was forcibly removed. Enright also described items that fell from McDonnell's lap upon arrest, including baseball hats, balaclavas, gloves, a red petrol can and a long‑handled lighter. The court heard that a surveillance operation, led by Detective Inspector Noel Browne, had been underway in north Dublin from 11 September, culminating in the discovery of the firearm and related items. The trial was scheduled to continue on Thursday.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Edward McDonnell, 55, of Waterside Apartments, New Ross, was arraigned on two charges of unlawful possession of a Grand Power G9 semi‑automatic pistol and possession of that weapon with intent to endanger life. The prosecution, represented by Sean Gillane SC, presented evidence from a Garda surveillance operation that began on 11 September 2019 in north Dublin. The operation involved a Toyota Avensis driven by Stephen Little and an unknown male, and a navy‑coloured Audi parked at Lein Park, Harmonstown. On 13 September, Garda Jonathan O'Leary discovered a loaded handgun under the Avensis passenger seat, removed its magazine, and later returned it to the seat. On 14 September, McDonnell allegedly exited the Avensis, approached the Audi, took a key, and entered the vehicle before being arrested. During the arrest, items such as two balaclavas, two black caps, two pairs of gloves, a red petrol can, and an encrypted phone were recovered. Edward McDonnell pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court heard the case of Derek Devoy, 37, who was arrested for possessing a Makarov submachine gun and a Yugoslavian M75 hand grenade with intent to endanger life. Devoy also pleaded guilty to assaulting a garda and a garda sergeant, and to possessing an explosive substance. The incident began when three unarmed gardaí on patrol received a 999 call about Devoy in Doon Court. A chase led to a family house on Crannogue Road where Devoy was found sitting on a toilet with the gun. The firearm discharged, narrowly missing Sergeant Andrew O'Connor and Garda Niall Minnock, and a grenade lay on the floor. Gardaí restrained Devoy, who was later taken to Ballymun Garda Station and then hospital for a perforated ulcer. CCTV footage of Devoy with the gun and grenade was shown to the court. The case was adjourned to 23 July for sentencing.
The Special Criminal Court will deliver a verdict next month in the case of Paul Norton (31) from Cromcastle Court, Coolock, Dublin 17, who is accused of dropping a loaded handgun during a chase through the Stardust Memorial Park on October 5th, 2019. Norton has pleaded not guilty to the unlawful possession of a handgun and ammunition. The trial has heard that the State's case relies on recognition by two detectives, Det Gda Keith Cassidy and Det Gda Jason Flynn, who both identified Norton during the chase. They stated that Norton exited the driver's side of a Volkswagen Passat and looked directly at their windscreen. The detectives, who have 13 years of experience working in Coolock, said they simultaneously recognized Norton. However, the defense, led by Mr Michael Bowman SC, argued that there was a lack of physical description of the suspect in any Garda statement and that the evidence was insufficient.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Paul Norton, aged 31, pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of a Beretta handgun and 31 rounds of 9mm ammunition found in a black drawstring bag at Stardust Memorial Park, Coolock, on 5 October 2019. Gardaí Detective Jason Flynn recounted a high‑speed chase that began when a navy blue Passat was spotted in a cul‑de‑sac off Bunratty Road. The vehicle collided with a traffic island, and Norton exited the car. Flynn pursued Norton into the park, where Norton dropped the bag while attempting to escape. The bag contained the handgun, a full clip of ammunition, and an additional round in the breech. No forensic evidence linked the weapon or ammunition to Norton, and he was arrested on 13 October 2019. The trial was scheduled to continue the following day.
Jonathan Hawthorn, a 45‑year‑old former IRA member, was convicted of membership in an unlawful organisation and sentenced to five years' imprisonment in October 2018. He appealed on the basis that six witnesses, including an undercover FBI agent and Garda National Surveillance Unit officers, had been granted anonymity. The Court of Appeal held that anonymity was permissible under the Special Criminal Court's rules and that the defence was not disadvantaged. The court noted that the witnesses' anonymity was granted for operational and safety reasons, and that the trial's fairness was not compromised. Consequently, the appeal was dismissed, and Hawthorn's conviction and sentence were upheld. The decision reaffirmed that the Special Criminal Court may grant anonymity to witnesses when justified by security concerns.
The Special Criminal Court has adjourned the trial of Jim Mansfield Jnr, of Tasaggart House, Garters Lane, Saggart, Co Dublin, to October 5 due to complications with witness availability caused by the Covid-19 crisis. The trial was originally scheduled for April 20 on charges of conspiring with one or more persons to falsely imprison Martin Byrne on a date unknown between January 1, 2015 and June 30, 2015, both dates inclusive. Additionally, Mansfield Jnr is charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice by directing Patrick Byrne to destroy recorded CCTV footage, with the alleged intention of perverting the course of public justice in relation to the false imprisonment of Martin Byrne at Finnstown House Hotel, Newcastle Road, Lucan, Co Dublin between June 9, 2015 and June 12, 2015. The matter was adjourned following concerns over witness availability during the pandemic. Mansfield Jnr, who is currently on bail, was present in court for the brief mention. In December, he was granted legal aid after the Special Criminal Court heard that he had had a €6 million judgment against him.
The Special Criminal Court has expressed its wishes for a quick recovery for solicitor Niall Murphy, who is 43 and reportedly in critical condition after contracting Covid‑19. Murphy has a history of handling high‑profile criminal and civil cases, many linked to the Troubles, and has previously practised in the court. On Monday, Judge Tony Hunt, together with Judges Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Gerard Griffin, conveyed the court's best wishes to the father of three, noting that Murphy was "very seriously ill." The court was also managing several other cases that day.
Martin Aylmer, aged 33, bought six prepaid mobile phones in the run‑up to the murder of Michael Barr, 35, at the Sunset House pub on 25 April 2016. One phone was found beside a burned‑out getaway car used in the killing. Aylmer was captured on CCTV buying the phone in Dublin's Ilac Shopping Centre two days before the shooting. He claimed the phones were for drug trafficking. He pleaded guilty to assisting a criminal organisation in a serious offence. The Special Criminal Court sentenced him to three years and nine months, with the final year suspended, but the Court of Appeal re‑sentenced him to six years with the final 15 months suspended, citing his assistance to a gang that committed murder as an aggravating factor. Aylmer was required to enter a good‑behaviour bond for the suspended period. The case remains under appeal for the murder conviction of Eamonn Cumberton.
At the Special Criminal Court, Gareth Brophy was sentenced for his role in the 2016 murder of David Douglas. Brophy, who pleaded guilty to helping facilitate the murder, was jailed for ten years by Mr Justice Paul Coffey. The sentence was backdated to November 18, 2018, when Brophy entered custody. The final six months of the term were suspended on the condition that Brophy enters a vocational course while in prison. Additionally, the court ordered Brophy to enter a peace bond of €100 for three years from his release. The judge noted Brophy played a critical role as the getaway driver, describing the killing as a gangland execution-style murder. In related proceedings, Frederick Thompson was found guilty of the murder in August 2018 and sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment. Nathan Foley, who pleaded guilty in November 2018 to helping a criminal organisation carry out the murder, was jailed for six years. The court expressed its deepest sympathies to the family of the deceased.
The Special Criminal Court has convicted Liam Brannigan (37) of conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between September 15 and November 6, 2017. Brannigan, who pleaded not guilty, was found to be the user of the PB3 phone, which the judge described as central to managing the Kinahan Cartel-linked plot. The court relied on covert audio, phone data, and CCTV showing Brannigan discarding the PB3 phone shortly before his arrest. Four co-accused previously pleaded guilty to the same offence. Luke Wilson (24) and Joseph Kelly (35), who were arrested with a loaded 9mm Beretta, silencer, and ammunition, were jailed for 11 and 12 years respectively; both also admitted weapons charges. Alan Wilson (39) was sentenced to six years. Dean Howe (34) remains to be sentenced on March 3. Brannigan's sentencing is scheduled for February 24. The judge noted the overwhelming evidence connecting Brannigan to the conspiracy, including recorded conversations identifying him as "Branner" and his role in coordinating the operation. The matter is now at the sentencing stage for Brannigan, while Howe's case is adjourned for future sentencing.
Martin Aylmer, 32, of Casino Park, was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison for supplying six pre‑paid mobile phones to the Kinahan crime group, which were used in the 2016 murder of Michael Barr. The Special Criminal Court found that one phone was found beside the getaway car used in the killing, and CCTV footage showed Aylmer buying the phone two days before the shooting. He pleaded guilty to aiding a criminal organisation, but the judge could not prove he knew a murder would occur and found no evidence he moved firearms. Aylmer, who had two prior minor convictions, is now appealing on the grounds that the sentence was unduly lenient. The Director of Public Prosecutions argued that Aylmer's provision of "vital tools" and delivery of the phones to a lock‑up that later contained firearms and bleach demonstrated his assistance in a well‑planned, cold‑blooded assassination. The Court of Appeal will review the sentence.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Laurence Murphy and Ray Kennedy, both charged in connection with the killing of Peter Butterly, entered legal argument regarding the retention of mobile phone data under the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011. This legal challenge is linked to the case of convicted murderer Graham Dwyer, whose appeal against a High Court declaration that the Act breached EU law is due before the Supreme Court in December. Murphy and Kennedy pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation, styled the IRA, on March 6, 2013. Kennedy is additionally charged with carrying out an act intending to pervert the course of justice by destroying a mobile telephone SIM card. The prosecution alleges the killing was meticulously planned. Four men—Kevin Braney, Edward McGrath, Sharif Kelly, and Dean Evans—have already received life sentences for the murder. Michael McDermott and Frank Murphy, the latter being Laurence Murphy's brother, have also been jailed for their roles in the killing. The trial continues before Ms Justice Tara Burns, Judge Sarah Berkeley, and Judge Michael Walsh.
The Special Criminal Court trial of Laurence Murphy and Ray Kennedy, both accused of IRA membership on March 6, 2013, continued with the court listening to a secret audio recording from a KFC in Charlestown. Both men pleaded not guilty to the membership charge; Mr. Kennedy also faces a charge of perverting the course of justice by destroying a SIM card. The prosecution alleges the men attended a "debrief" meeting the day after the murder of Peter Butterly. The court heard that gardai surveillance identified Kevin Braney, Frank Murphy, and Laurence Murphy at the outlet. Kevin Braney was previously sentenced to life imprisonment for the premeditated murder of Mr. Butterly, a finding he had denied. Frank Murphy, a brother of the accused, was jailed for three years, with the final year suspended, after pleading guilty to impeding the prosecution of State witness David Cullen. Other individuals, including Edward McGrath, Sharif Kelly, and Dean Evans, received life sentences for the murder. The trial, presided over by Ms Justice Tara Burns, Judge Sarah Berkeley, and Judge Michael Walsh, was adjourned and resumes next Wednesday.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Mr Justice Paul Coffey, Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Judge James Faughnan ruled that CCTV footage and covert audio recordings from six cars, collected during a Kinahan cartel investigation, may be admitted as evidence in the conspiracy to murder trial of Liam Brannigan, 37, who is charged with conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between 15 September and 6 November 2017. Brannigan pleaded not guilty. The State, represented by Seán Gillane SC, intends to use the material to show Brannigan was fully aware of the plot. Brannigan's counsel, Giollaiosa O Lideadha SC, had sought exclusion on grounds of unlawful procurement and privacy breaches, but the court found the evidence relevant and probative, and that the recordings were lawfully made and unaltered. The court also heard from Detective Superintendent William Johnson about the deployment of listening devices and the integrity of the chain of evidence.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence in the ongoing trial of Michael Brady, 54, who has pleaded not guilty to all nine counts on the indictment. He is charged with possessing €1.5 million worth of cocaine, €1.26 million worth of heroin, an assault rifle, and more than 180 rounds of ammunition at a property in Sallins, Co Kildare, on January 24, 2017. Prosecution counsel stated that forensic evidence links the accused to the items and the address. During interviews, Brady told gardai that he and his brother, Declan Brady, lived separate lives and were like "chalk and cheese." Brady denied possessing the ammunition found in the house and stated he did not know about firearms found at a separate location. His brother, Declan Brady, 52, previously pleaded guilty to possessing 15 firearms and more than 4,000 rounds of ammunition at the same address on the day in question. Declan Brady is currently awaiting sentence. The court heard that gardai conducted a search of the property, finding drugs and a firearm under a bed. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul Coffey, sitting with Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge David McHugh.
The Special Criminal Court refused to exclude the testimony of former murder accused David Cullen, who has become a State witness, from the trial of Kevin Braney, accused of murdering Peter Butterly. The defence argued Cullen was a 'parody of a witness' and his evidence was riddled with inconsistencies, but the court found the circumstantial evidence supporting his testimony—such as CCTV footage, the recovered firearm and ammunition, and surveillance of Braney's car—sufficient to establish a prima facie case. The court also rejected two other defence applications: one to acquit Braney on related firearms charges and another to discharge the judges. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul Coffey with Judges Martin Nolan and James Faughnan, continues with Cullen's evidence admitted. Braney, aged 44, has pleaded not guilty to the murder and to possession of a 9mm Beretta pistol and ammunition. The prosecution closed its case on Monday.
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence that the 62‑year‑old Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan was murdered on 22 December 2016 after trading his BMW X5 for a Ford Mondeo, which was later sold at Merlin Car Auctions. Garda Stephen Hughes identified Jason Keating (27) in CCTV from the auction on 20 December, showing Keating and a woman in a green Renault Megane. Keating, who lives on Lower Main Street, Rush, pleaded not guilty to Kirwan's murder. The court also considered evidence that a 'Gotek 7' tracking device was placed under Kirwan's Ford Mondeo on 23 December, having previously tracked his BMW from 8 November. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, continues tomorrow.
The Special Criminal Court has heard evidence regarding the provenance of mobile phone records in the ongoing trial of Thomas Fox, Regina Keogh, and Jonathan Keogh, who are accused of murdering Gareth Hutch. All three defendants have pleaded not guilty to the murder charge; Mr Fox has additionally denied unlawfully possessing a Makarov 9mm handgun. The prosecution alleges the killing was premeditated, with Mr Keogh and an accomplice acting as shooters, while Mr Fox and Ms Keogh planned the offence. Retired Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Kirwan testified that gardai made 38 requests for call data records and purchase details for phones allegedly linked to the accused, including two SIM cards found in a Honda Civic associated with Mr Keogh. Maureen King, CEO of iTrust Ethics, confirmed that accurate records were retrieved from a secure Garda email address. Detective Garda Niall Hodgins testified that he obtained a mobile phone from Mr Fox's partner during a search and later attended Mater Hospital when Mr Fox required medical attention after a self-harm attempt in his cell. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges Patricia Ryan and Michael Walsh.
The Special Criminal Court heard CCTV footage of alleged gunmen and vehicles linked to the murder of Gareth Hutch. Prosecutors identified a silver Skoda Octavia, a black BMW, a silver Honda Civic, a black Toyota Avensis and a white Ford transit van as connected to Jonathan Keogh (32) and Thomas Fox (31). They claimed Keogh threatened Hutch the evening before the shooting, Fox and Regina Keogh planned the murder, and Keogh and another man, Mr AB, were the shooters. Footage showed the black BMW leaving Wellington Street and parking in Avondale House carpark, the Honda Civic arriving at Champions Avenue, and the Skoda Octavia arriving from Ballymun. The fatal shooting was captured as Hutch entered his car at 9.56 am. After the shooting, Keogh and AB fled in the BMW, which later burned out at Dubber Cross. The trial continues with the accused pleading not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court rejected the defence's applications in the trial of three men accused of IRA membership and a man and woman accused of assisting in interviews for the organisation. David Nooney (53), Seán Hannaway (48) and Edward O'Brien (42) pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation, the Irish Republican Army, on 8 August 2015. Kevin Hannaway (69) pleaded not guilty to knowingly rendering assistance to the IRA by helping Hannaway interview persons involved in IRA‑organised criminal activities on 7 and 8 August 2015, and Eva Shannon (60) pleaded not guilty to the same offence on those dates. After the prosecution closed its case, the defence sought to have the case dismissed or to obtain a not‑guilty verdict. Justice Isobel Kennedy, Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge Gerard Haughton refused these applications, allowing the trial to proceed.
The Special Criminal Court is reviewing defence applications in a trial involving three men accused of IRA membership and a man and woman accused of assisting IRA interviews. David Nooney, 53, Seán Hannaway, 48, and Edward O'Brien, 42, plead not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation, the Irish Republican Army, on 8 August 2015. Kevin Hannaway, 69, and Eva Shannon, 60, plead not guilty to knowingly assisting an unlawful organisation by helping interview people involved in IRA‑related criminal activity on 7 and 8 August 2015 at Riverwood Park, Castleknock. The prosecution closed its case the day before, after which defence counsel filed applications arguing the case should not proceed. The court listened to the defence submissions and the State's counter‑arguments, with Justice Isobel Kennedy, Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge Gerard Haughton noting they needed time to consider the material and would rule the following afternoon.
During the Special Criminal Court trial of three Dubliners accused of murdering 36‑year‑old Gareth Hutch, it was reported that Gardaí executed a search warrant at Facebook Ireland and received armed support from the Emergency Response Unit during a high‑risk entry at a suspect's home. Hutch, nephew of Gerry "the Monk" Hutch, was shot dead on 24 May 2016 outside Avondale House flats on North Cumberland Street, Dublin, after four gunshot wounds from a single weapon. The accused—Thomas Fox (31), Regina Keogh (41), and Jonathan Keogh (32)—have pleaded not guilty. Garda Gareth Norton testified that he entered Fox's home on 24 May, seized clothing, ashtrays, glasses, memory cards, SIM packs, USB sticks, a Samsung tablet, and an iPhone 5. He also reported a high‑risk entry at a fourth suspect's house on 11 June, where the suspect was arrested and handcuffed.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, the court ruled that the identification of two defendants accused of IRA offences was not 'dock identification'. Detective Sergeant Padraig Boyce, of the Special Detective Unit, had identified several individuals, including the accused, in more than a dozen photographs for Tara Burns SC. The defendants – Kevin Hannaway (69) and Eva Shannon (60) – pleaded not guilty to assisting an unlawful organisation, the IRA, during interviews at Riverwood Park, Castleknock, on 7 and 8 August 2015. Other co‑accused – David Nooney (53), Seán Hannaway (48) and Edward O'Brien (42) – also pleaded not guilty to membership of the IRA on 8 August 2015. The prosecution argued that Gardaí used surveillance devices to listen to conversations in the house, which were related to failed IRA operations. Det. Sgt. Boyce testified that the photographs showed the defendants and that he had spoken to Ms. Shannon on the day, confirming her name.
The Special Criminal Court heard that Gareth Hutch, 36, died of multiple gunshot wounds after being shot in the carpark of Avondale House flats on North Cumberland Street, Dublin, on 24 May 2016. He suffered four gunshot injuries: two to the back of the neck, one to the lower back and one to the right of the upper chest. The post‑mortem, conducted by Professor Marie Cassidy, confirmed the injuries and noted that all bullets were recovered. Three bullets travelled from back to front, the fourth lodged in his left arm. Hutch lost over 2.5 litres of blood and was not intoxicated. Three men—Thomas Fox (31), Regina Keogh (41) and Jonathan Keogh (32)—are on trial for his murder, all pleading not guilty. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, continues with the prosecution alleging pre‑meditated planning and involvement of the accused in the shooting.
In the Special Criminal Court, Frederick 'Freddie' Thompson, 37, pleaded not guilty to the 2016 murder of David Douglas. The court heard that Thompson had been warned that his refusal to explain his presence in two alleged 'spotter' cars could lead to inferences used as corroboration. He gave a 'no comment' reply to questions about his possession of a silver Ford Fiesta, a key, a mobile phone, DNA evidence on an air freshener and hand sanitiser, and his presence in a blue Mitsubishi Mirage. The judges rejected a defence application to exclude private CCTV footage, stating that the cameras did not breach his constitutional right to privacy. The trial continues before Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Flann Brennan and Judge Gerard Griffin.
The Special Criminal Court ruled that Frederick 'Freddie' Thompson's claim of a constitutional right to privacy over CCTV footage was "bordering on the absurd." The court was hearing a defence application to exclude private CCTV footage that the State said linked Thompson to the murder of shoe shop manager David Douglas on 1 July 2016. Thompson, 37, pleaded not guilty. The prosecution presented evidence that Thompson's DNA was found in two alleged 'spotter' cars used in the shooting and that CCTV footage identified him as a driver and as walking across Meath Street that afternoon. The court rejected the argument that the footage breached Thompson's privacy, noting that the cameras merely recorded eye‑witness activity and that the State's interest outweighed any expectation of privacy. The judges declined to rule the evidence inadmissible, and the trial continues before Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Flannan Brennan and Judge Gerard Griffin.
In the Special Criminal Court, the prosecution argued that Freddie Thompson, 36, was one of several conspirators in the carefully planned murder of David Douglas on 1 July 2016. Thompson, who lives on Loreto Road, Maryland, pleaded not guilty. The court was presented with evidence that four vehicles operated together that day, including a Mercedes that carried the shooter and was later burned, a Ford Fiesta, a Mitsubishi Mirage, and a Suzuki Swift, the latter also set on fire. Fingerprint and DNA evidence linked Thompson to the rearview mirrors of the Mirage and Fiesta, a card in the Mirage's glove box, an inhaler in the Mitsubishi, and an air freshener and hand sanitizer in the Fiesta. Witnesses described a man in black approaching the shoe shop, firing several shots, and fleeing. The trial, presided over by Justice Tony Hunt, is expected to last up to two weeks.
The Special Criminal Court adjourned the murder trial of Frederick "Freddie" Thompson, 36, to Wednesday. Thompson, who lives on Loreto Road, Maryland, is charged with the July 1, 2016 shooting death of 55‑year‑old David Douglas on Bridgefoot Street, Dublin. The court had expected the trial to last two weeks. Thompson's defence, Michael O'Higgins SC, argued that most of the case would not be disputed and that the focus would be on the implications rather than the facts, but noted a significant disclosure issue. Justice Tony Hunt granted the adjournment and remanded Thompson in custody until the new date.
The Special Criminal Court is hearing a second day of legal argument in the case of Kevin Braney, 44, and Ciaran Maguire, 30, who have pleaded not guilty to membership of the Irish Republican Army. Defence counsel are challenging evidence supplied by the National Surveillance Unit. The prosecution alleges that one of the accused told a man in Longwood, County Meath, that they were the IRA and threatened to shoot him if he did not drop a claim against a former employer. The hearing will continue on Monday before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge Flann Brennan.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Kevin Braney, 44, and Ciaran Maguire, 30, both pleaded not guilty to charges of Irish Republican Army membership. The prosecution alleged that one accused told a man in Longwood, County Meath, that they were the IRA and threatened to shoot him if he did not drop a claim against a former employer. Defence counsel objected to evidence from the National Surveillance Unit. The case will continue tomorrow before Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge Flann Brennan.
In the Special Criminal Court, two Dublin men, Kevin Braney, 44, and Ciaran Maguire, 30, were tried for alleged IRA membership. Both pleaded not guilty. The prosecution alleged that one accused told a man in Longwood, County Meath, that they were the IRA and threatened to shoot him if he did not drop a claim against a former employer. Defence counsel objected to the arrests of Braney and Maguire. The hearing continued tomorrow before Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge Flann Brennan.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Kevin Hannaway (69) of Collin Mill, Belfast, and Eva Shannon (60) of Oakman Street, Belfast, pleaded not guilty to charges of knowingly aiding an unlawful organisation, the Irish Republican Army (IRA), by assisting in interviews with individuals involved in IRA‑organised criminal activities. The alleged interviews took place at Riverwood Park, Castleknock, Dublin 15, on 7 and 8 August 2015. Additionally, Edward O'Brien (42) of Hazelcroft Road, Finglas, Dublin 11, David Nooney (53) of Coultry Green, Ballymun, Dublin 11, and Seán Hannaway (48) of Linden Gardens, Belfast, pleaded not guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation on 8 August 2015. The prosecution, represented by Tara Burns SC, argued that Gardaí, acting on confidential information, used surveillance devices to record conversations in the house at Riverwood Park. After reviewing the audio recordings, the prosecution planned to present evidence on voice attribution.
The Special Criminal Court has rejected an application by Nikita Murtagh, a 20-year-old woman from Sheriff Street, Dublin 1, to dismiss a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm. Ms. Murtagh is alleged to have possessed a CZ model 70 semi-automatic pistol, two rounds of 7.65 Browning calibre ammunition, and a shotgun cartridge. These items were allegedly recovered by gardai at Connolly Station on July 19th. Last week, counsel Michael O'Higgins SC submitted the application under Section 4E of the Criminal Justice Act 1999. Presiding Judge Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges Patricia Ryan and James Faughnan, dismissed the application today. The court subsequently fixed a trial date for January 30th. Ms. Murtagh was remanded in custody until that date. The matter remains at the pre-trial stage, with the charges alleged and contested, and no plea, finding, or sentence has been recorded.
During the murder trial of Eamonn Cumberton, accused of killing 35‑year‑old Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub, a forensic scientist from Forensic Science Ireland raised concerns about the software used to calculate the likelihood that Cumberton's DNA was found on a rubber mask taken from the getaway car. The prosecution argued that the mask's mixed DNA profile, comprising two major contributors and a trace third contributor, linked Cumberton to the car and the shooting. The scientist said the probability that the DNA came from Cumberton and two unknown persons was "one in a thousand million times more likely" than from three unknown persons. Bernard Condon, Cumberton's counsel, objected to the evidence's admissibility, and the matter is being heard in a voir dire to decide whether the DNA evidence can be admitted. The trial is before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge James Faughnan. Eamonn Cumberton pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court adjourned the trial of 36‑year‑old Eamon McNamee of Lucan, County Dublin, charged with possession of a firearm with intent to commit assault causing harm at Fairgreen, Saggart, on 19 January 2013. The trial, originally set to open on 7 December 2017, was postponed until Monday to allow the defence to complete requested forensic examinations. Prosecutor Annemarie Lawlor SC indicated the case could finish within five days if it began on Monday. Judge Isobel Kennedy, with Judges Sinead Ni Chúlacháin and Cormac Dunne, granted the adjournment and remanded McNamee on bail.
In the Special Criminal Court, the trial of Eamonn Cumberton, aged 30, for the murder of Michael Barr, 35, at the Sunset House pub, has progressed to evidence about a suspected getaway vehicle. Barr was shot seven times at the bar counter on 25 April 2016. The prosecution argues that Cumberton is "inextricably linked" to a silver Audi found near the scene, partially burnt, and that items recovered from the car are "inextricably linked" to the shooting. Evidence was presented by Dublin Fire Brigade members: Brian Burke reported seeing the Audi on Walsh Road, Drumcondra, with fire damage to the front seats; Peter Conroy removed an empty petrol can from the driver's seat but did not enter the rear. Terence O'Brien noted that the crew had no reason to approach the rear doors. Detective Garda Gary McDonnell observed that no one touched the car after it arrived on a tow‑truck. Eamonn Cumberton pleaded not guilty. Sunset House pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court refused bail to 20‑year‑old Nikita Murtagh, charged with unlawful possession of a CZ 70 pistol, two rounds of 7.65 Browning ammunition and a shotgun cartridge recovered by gardai at Connolly Station on 19 July. The State objected on grounds that she might commit a further serious offence or be a flight risk. Judge Isobel Kennedy, with Judges Patricia Ryan and James Faughnan, ruled that the court was not satisfied to grant bail, noting it was probable she would seek to evade justice if released.
In the Special Criminal Court, the trial of Eamonn Cumberton, aged 30, for the murder of 35‑year‑old Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub, has progressed to the hearing of DNA evidence. The prosecution presented a full DNA profile from a cigarette butt seized at Bridewell Garda Station, where Cumberton had been taken after his arrest at Dublin Airport on a bench warrant. Forensic Science Ireland's Rodney Lakes also analysed a rubber mask recovered from the alleged getaway car, finding a mixed DNA profile of two men. The DNA from the cigarette butt could not be excluded as a contributor to the mask's mixed profile. The court is hearing legal arguments on the admissibility of this evidence, with the trial continuing before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge James Faughnan. The defence is challenging the legality of Cumberton's arrest. The case remains in the voir dire stage. Eamonn Cumberton pleaded not guilty. Sunset House pleaded not guilty.
The Special Criminal Court has adjourned the trial of Eamonn Cumberton, 30, who is accused of murdering Michael Barr, 35, the manager of the Sunset House pub in Dublin, on 25 April 2016. Cumberton pleaded not guilty. The prosecution argues that Cumberton is "inextricably linked" to items recovered from a partially burnt-out car near the scene, and that those items are "inextricably linked" to the shooting. The court announced that the trial will resume on Monday before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, with Judges Patricia Ryan and James Faughnan presiding.
During the Special Criminal Court trial of Eamonn Cumberton, 30, accused of murdering 35‑year‑old Michael Barr at the Sunset House pub on 25 April 2016, the court heard further witness statements. Stephen Clifford, who was organising a raffle in the pub that night, testified that he saw two men in rubbery Halloween masks approach Barr and place a gun to his head. Clifford described the men as standing "on top of him" and noted that the masks resembled an old man's face. James Fogarty also gave evidence, recalling a car that drove onto a path on Walsh Road, with three people exiting and flames appearing on the passenger side. Fogarty said one of the individuals may have dropped a shiny object near the car, and that the group ran toward a silver car. The trial continues. Eamonn Cumberton pleaded not guilty.