Christopher Devine sentenced to life for Michael Tormey’s murder

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Christopher Devine was sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering his brother-in-law, Michael Tormey, in Ballyfermot in January 2022. Devine had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, arguing that cocaine intoxication and a substance-induced psychotic disorder affected his responsibility. A jury rejected those defences and convicted him of murder earlier in December 2025.

The court heard that Devine shot Tormey five times in the front garden of his home. In sentencing him, Ms Justice Melanie Greally described the killing as an act of immense brutality and treachery. Devine’s defence counsel said he wished to convey remorse and regret for his actions.