Courts / Dublin / Report
Phone attributed to plot accused contacted Kinahan cartel gunman
Summary
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 22 November 2019, evidence was presented that a phone attributed to Liam Brannigan, a 37‑year‑old accused of conspiring to murder Gary Hanley, was used to contact Kinahan cartel gunmen eight times on the day of Brannigan's arrest. The court heard that Brannigan's phone also communicated with Alan Wilson seven times that same night. Brannigan, who pleaded not guilty, was arrested on 6 November 2017 near Hanley's home, where police seized a Beretta. The prosecution claimed Brannigan had thrown the phone into church grounds before his arrest, a claim contested by his defence. The case also involved three other men—Joseph Kelly, Luke Wilson and Alan Wilson—who had previously pleaded guilty to the same conspiracy and received sentences ranging from six to twelve years for murder conspiracy and weapons offences. The trial remains ongoing.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Phone attributed to plot accused contacted Kinahan cartel gunman. Charges or matters: conspiring to murder Gary Hanley at a location within the State between September 15th and November 6th, 2017; the same offence and been jailed; conspiring to murder Mr Hanley; unlawful possession of a Beretta, was jailed for 11 years; Alan Wilson was given six years and Joseph Kelly, who also admitted a weapons charge, was jailed for 12 years. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- September 15th Incident
- November 6th, 2017 Incident
- October 2017 Incident
- October 3rd, 2017 Incident
- 2019-11-22 Publication
Case subjects
Background Person
Charges: conspiring to murder Mr Hanley; unlawful possession of a Beretta, was jailed for 11 years; Alan Wilson was given six years and Joseph Kelly, who also admitted a weapons charge, was jailed for 12 years (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Luke Wilson, who also pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a Beretta, was jailed for 11 years; Alan Wilson was given six years and Joseph Kelly, who also admitted a weapons charge, was jailed for 12 years.
Background Person
Charges: conspiring to murder Mr Hanley; unlawful possession of a Beretta, was jailed for 11 years; Alan Wilson was given six years and Joseph Kelly, who also admitted a weapons charge, was jailed for 12 years (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Luke Wilson, who also pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a Beretta, was jailed for 11 years; Alan Wilson was given six years and Joseph Kelly, who also admitted a weapons charge, was jailed for 12 years.
Convicted Person
Charges: conspiring to murder Gary Hanley at a location within the State between September 15th and November 6th, 2017; the same offence and been jailed; conspiring to murder Mr Hanley; unlawful possession of a Beretta, was jailed for 11 years; Alan Wilson was given six years and Joseph Kelly, who also admitted a weapons charge, was jailed for 12 years (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Background Person
Charges: the same offence and been jailed; conspiring to murder Mr Hanley; unlawful possession of a Beretta, was jailed for 11 years; Alan Wilson was given six years and Joseph Kelly, who also admitted a weapons charge, was jailed for 12 years (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Luke Wilson and Alan Wilson, have previously all pleaded guilty to the same offence and been jailed. Luke Wilson, who also pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a Beretta, was jailed for 11 years; Alan Wilson was given six years and Joseph Kelly, who also admitted a weapons charge, was jailed for 12 years.
Places mentioned
- Special Criminal Court
Topics
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