Courts / Dublin / Report

Organised Crime "foot soldiers" jailed for "shambolic" murder plot

Date
2018-07-30

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Two organised crime 'foot soldiers', Gary Gleeson (34) and Stephen Dunne (39), have been sentenced to 12 years each, with one and two years suspended respectively, for their involvement in a 'shambolic' and 'ill-prepared' plot to murder Dublin man Michael Frazer. The sentences were handed down at the Special Criminal Court following guilty pleas in May to possession of a 9mm Luger semi-automatic pistol and 10 rounds of 9mm calibre ammunition with intent to endanger life. The court heard that during an operation targeting organised crime in Dublin in August 2017, armed detectives intercepted the men's van, which contained a loaded firearm 'ready for use'. The court was told that the men had discussed aiming for 'head shots' or they would not get paid, and that a transcript of their conversation was described as a 'disturbing document' containing a 'graphic description' of their intentions. The judge noted that the men's drug use was clearly audible on secret recordings. Defence counsel for both men highlighted mitigating factors, including their guilty pleas, Gleeson's violent offending history, and Dunne's long-term heroin addiction and mental health issues. The sentences were backdated to August 7, 2017, when the men were arrested. The court also heard that Dunne's DNA was found on a SIM card linked to a tracking device under Mr Frazer's van, and that the men had been contracted and paid to carry out the attack by senior figures in the organised crime group.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Organised Crime "foot soldiers" jailed for "shambolic" murder plot. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

August 7, 2017 Incident
July 28 Other
August 7 Hearing Or Sentence
July 13 Hearing Or Sentence
June 22 Hearing Or Sentence
2018-07-30 Publication

Case subjects

Gary Gleeson

Convicted Person

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Defence counsel Michael O'Higgins SC, for Gleeson, told the court at a sentence hearing on July 13 that on the bare facts of the case it could be said his client was caught "red-handed" but this would have been time consuming to prove in a trial. During their detention, DNA was taken from both men to use for forensic analysis in the course of the investigation.

Organised Crime

Defendant

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: At last month's sentence hearing on June 22, Detective Inspector David Gallagher from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, summarised the facts of the case. During their detention, DNA was taken from both men to use for forensic analysis in the course of the investigation.

Stephen Dunne

Convicted Person

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Gleeson was today jailed for twelve years with one year suspended while his co-accused Dunne was sentenced to twelve years in prison, with two years suspended. Michael Bowman SC, for Dunne, said at the sentence hearing on July 13 that it was manifestly clear his client had struggled with heroin addictions for in excess of 20 years.