Courts / Limerick / Report
Slain biker a "hero who will never be forgotten" court hears as his murderer is jailed for life
Summary
Alan McNamara, 51, of Mountfune, Murroe, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Andrew O'Donoghue. Found guilty last July, McNamara was convicted of killing the Road Tramps member at the club gates on June 20, 2015, during a territorial dispute. Justice Paul McDermott imposed the mandatory life sentence, backdating it to December 1, 2015. McNamara's stepson, Robert Cusack, 28, of Abington, Murroe, pleaded guilty to impeding his stepfather's apprehension. Cusack was sentenced to six years in prison, with 18 months suspended for two years on condition he commits no further crime. The judge noted Cusack's late guilty plea and cooperation with gardai reduced the sentence from seven years. The sentence was backdated to August 14 to account for time in custody. The court heard from the victim's family, who described O'Donoghue as a hero who will never be forgotten. McNamara expressed remorse in a letter to the court. The judge considered McNamara's 11 previous convictions, including assault and drug offenses, and Cusack's three prior road traffic convictions.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Slain biker a "hero who will never be forgotten" court hears as his murderer is jailed for life. Charges or matters: impeding his stepfather's apprehension, was sentenced to six years in prison with 18 months suspended. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- June 20, 2015 Other
- August 14 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 2015 Other
- 2017-10-27 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: impeding his stepfather's apprehension, was sentenced to six years in prison with 18 months suspended (Proven)
Plea: Guilty
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; McNamara's stepson Robert Cusack (28) of Abington, Murroe, who pleaded guilty to impeding his stepfather's apprehension, was sentenced to six years in prison with 18 months suspended. Mr Justice McDermott imposed the mandatory life sentence on McNamara, backdating it to Dec 1, 2015.
Convicted Person
Charges: impeding his stepfather's apprehension, was sentenced to six years in prison with 18 months suspended (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Robert Cusack (28) of Abington, Murroe, who pleaded guilty to impeding his stepfather's apprehension, was sentenced to six years in prison with 18 months suspended. He set the appropriate sentence at seven years but taking into account Mr Cusack's late guilty plea and his cooperation with gardai, he reduced that to six years.
Places mentioned
Topics
Drugs Road Traffic Stage Sentence Violent Crime
Related court reports
- Manager at global IT firm denies company 'lied' about position of former Irish employee
- High Court refuses to surrender Limerick man wanted for alleged human trafficking in Greece
- Tipperary man admits attempted murder
- Volunteer who said he was sacked for warning Church officials of 'rogue' relic traders can't pursue case, WRC rules
- Appearance of tips machine in cafe that pulled in €5k unexplained, tribunal notes
- 'You've to get the morning after pill': man who was 18 when he raped girl (15) gets seven years
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request