Courts / Dublin / Report
"Policy" of surveillance gardai to not take notes "can't be let slide", defence tell plot trial
Summary
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 26 November 2019, defence counsel for Liam Brannigan, a 37‑year‑old from Bride Street, Dublin, argued that the Garda surveillance officers' policy of not taking notes during the Kinahan cartel conspiracy‑to‑murder investigation was unacceptable and should not be allowed to slide. He contended that officers had claimed to have made identifications in the witness box that were not previously recorded, and that some had referred to other sources before asserting an identification. Brannigan is charged with conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between 15 September and 6 November 2017 and has pleaded not guilty. The defence sought to exclude evidence from surveillance officers and phone charts that linked secretly recorded conversations in bugged cars to specific individuals, arguing that the lack of notes undermined the fairness of the evidence.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: "Policy" of surveillance gardai to not take notes "can't be let slide", defence tell plot trial. 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 2nd, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
- September 4th, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
- October 26th, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2019-11-26 Publication
Why: "And presumably it's a green light which the NSU believed they had because many said they've been working at the NSU for 18 to 20 years without taking notes and appeared shocked at the suggestion they should be taking notes. CNI source report
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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