Gangland murder conspirator can be named

A Dublin man has been permitted to be named following a ruling at the Central Criminal Court regarding his admission to conspiracy to murder. Cailean Crawford, aged 25, of Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty to conspiring with others to murder Wayne Whelan at Griffeen Glen Park, Lucan between May and November 2019. Crawford's legal team sought reporting restrictions to protect his identity ahead of an unrelated trial scheduled for June 2022, but Justice Michael White rejected the application. Three other men, including Wayne Ryan of Longford, also admitted involvement in the conspiracy this week. Ryan pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of Whelan on September 4, 2019. All four defendants were remanded in custody pending sentencing on July 12. Whelan survived the initial shooting but was killed in a subsequent attack two months later.