Courts / Dublin / Report
Eight years for conspirator 'intimately involved' with Kinahan cartel murder plot
Summary
Liam Brannigan, 37, was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years' imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court for conspiring to murder Gary Hanley. Mr Justice Paul Coffey described Brannigan as having a central role in the Kinahan Cartel plot, noting his culpability was high due to his management and oversight of the plan. The sentence includes a suspension of the final six months, conditional on Brannigan completing his degree at UCD or a vocational course in prison. The sentence was backdated to November 6, 2017. Brannigan was the fifth person jailed for this conspiracy. Previously, Luke Wilson pleaded guilty to conspiracy and unlawful possession of a Beretta, receiving 11 years; Alan Wilson pleaded guilty to conspiracy, receiving six years; Joseph Kelly pleaded guilty to conspiracy and a weapons charge, receiving 12 years; and Dean Howe pleaded guilty to conspiracy, receiving six years. The court found that Brannigan was at the centre of the plot, which was foiled when gardai intercepted a vehicle containing a loaded pistol near Hanley's home. The judge highlighted the elaborate nature of the plan and the imminent danger to Hanley. Detective Superintendent David Gallagher praised the convictions as significant successes against organised crime.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Eight years for conspirator 'intimately involved' with Kinahan cartel murder plot. Charges or matters: conspiring to murder Mr Hanley; unlawful possession of a Beretta, was jailed for 11 years; Alan Wilson was given six years; Joseph Kelly, who also admitted a weapons charge, was jailed for 12 years and; unlawful possession of a Beretta, was jailed for 11 years; Alan Wilson was given six years; Joseph Kelly, who also admitted a weapons charge, was jailed for 12 years and Dean Howe was jailed for six years; being at the "centre of the wheel" of the Kinahan Cartel plot to gun down Mr Hanley. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- September 15 Hearing Or Sentence
- November 6, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
- February 3 Incident
- December 3 Hearing Or Sentence
- November 6th, 2017 Incident
- November 6 2017 Other
- February 24 Hearing Or Sentence
- October 6th, 2017 Incident
- 2020-04-24 Publication
Why: Mr Justice Coffey said it was "overwhelmingly probable" that the object Brannigan threw was the PB3 phone and that he discarded it "because he was the person who used it" to speak with his co-conspirators in the Volkswagen caddy that night. CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: conspiring to murder Mr Hanley; unlawful possession of a Beretta, was jailed for 11 years; Alan Wilson was given six years; Joseph Kelly, who also admitted a weapons charge, was jailed for 12 years and (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; Joseph Kelly, who also admitted a weapons charge, was jailed for 12 years and
Convicted Person
Charges: conspiring to murder Mr Hanley; unlawful possession of a Beretta, was jailed for 11 years; Alan Wilson was given six years; Joseph Kelly, who also admitted a weapons charge, was jailed for 12 years and Dean Howe was jailed for six years; being at the "centre of the wheel" of the Kinahan Cartel plot to gun down Mr Hanley (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; Joseph Kelly, who also admitted a weapons charge, was jailed for 12 years and Dean Howe was jailed for six years. The Special Criminal Court previously heard that Howe, who was jailed for six years, had supervised those lower down the the chain of command in the plot.
Convicted Person
Charges: conspiring to murder Mr Hanley; unlawful possession of a Beretta, was jailed for 11 years; Alan Wilson was given six years; Joseph Kelly, who also admitted a weapons charge, was jailed for 12 years and (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; Joseph Kelly, who also admitted a weapons charge, was jailed for 12 years and
Convicted Person
Charges: conspiring to murder Mr Hanley; unlawful possession of a Beretta, was jailed for 11 years; Alan Wilson was given six years; Joseph Kelly, who also admitted a weapons charge, was jailed for 12 years and (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; Joseph Kelly, who also admitted a weapons charge, was jailed for 12 years and
Places mentioned
- Special Criminal Court
- Dean Howe. The Special Criminal Court
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Court
- Philipsburgh Avenue
- Hanover Lane
- Francis Street
Topics
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