Courts / Roscommon / Report
Notorious garda murderer threw keg at jeweller's window, court hears
Summary
Pat McCann, a 70-year-old convicted garda murderer, appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court at the sentencing stage for criminal damage. He pleaded guilty to throwing a keg against the window of John Brereton Jewellers on Grafton Street on July 23, 2015, causing over €8,300 in damage. McCann was originally sentenced to death in 1980 for the capital murder of Garda Henry Byrne and Detective Garda John Morley during an armed robbery near Loughglynn, Co Roscommon. His sentence was commuted to 40 years, and he was released in 2013. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the matter until April 7 to allow for a probation report, noting McCann's extensive custody history and consistent criminal conduct since release. The prosecution highlighted 12 previous convictions, including arson and burglary, and stated McCann was intoxicated during the offence. Defence counsel Diarmaid McGuinness SC cited McCann's mental health history, his remorse, and his willingness to repay damages using pension funds. The court heard McCann has been in custody since December and hopes to secure accommodation with an adult child upon release. The matter was adjourned, not concluded.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Notorious garda murderer threw keg at jeweller's window, court hears. Charges or matters: criminal damage at John Brereton Jewellers on July 23, 2015. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- July 23, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- July 7, 1980 Incident
- April 7 Adjournment
- 2017-03-14 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: criminal damage at John Brereton Jewellers on July 23, 2015 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: McCann was sentenced to death by hanging in 1980 for the capital murder of Garda Henry Byrne, who was shot dead in the aftermath of an armed robbery near Loughglynn, Co Roscommon on July 7, 1980. Another man, Colm O'Shea, was also sentenced to death.; Judge Melanie Greally adjourned the matter until April 7 to allow for a probation report, noting: "I'm clearly not dealing with an average case." "Mr McCann has spent, if not the majority of his adult life, then a very large portion of his adult life in custody," the judge said. "Following his release he has engaged in criminal conduct on a reasonably consistent basis." Garda Maria O'Hara told Mad
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Supreme Court
Topics
Burglary Stage Sentence Theft Violent Crime
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