"Family man" jailed for his part in kneecapping

A 37-year-old man from Lucan has been sentenced to six years imprisonment at the Special Criminal Court for his involvement in a shooting incident in County Dublin. Eamon McNamee pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence, namely assault causing harm, relating to an incident at Fairgreen, Saggart on 19 January 2013. The court heard evidence that a man was shot in the leg at the location after being brought there by McNamee and others. Gardaí recovered a bullet from the scene and identified firearms residue on McNamee's person that matched residue found on the injured party's clothing. McNamee declined to answer questions during police interviews. The case proceeded through the Special Criminal Court following a dispute over factual elements. The defence had questioned whether McNamee was the person who fired the shot, given multiple individuals were present at the scene, though McNamee's guilty plea ultimately resolved the matter without requiring a full hearing on contested facts. Sentencing the three-judge court reduced the headline sentence from eight years and six months to six years, with the final two years suspended. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy noted that McNamee's public disassociation from unlawful organisations was a rare undertaking before the court and a significant mitigating factor. The judge also emphasised that McNamee held the lowest rank within the chain of command involved in the operation. McNamee was further ordered to enter into a €1,000 bond to keep the peace for five years following release. The court's leniency reflected his cooperation through his guilty plea and his stated break from unlawful activity, distinguishing his case from those involving more senior figures or active participation in criminal organisations.