Courts / Dublin / Report
€20k offered for setting up Kinahan cartel hits, Special Criminal Court hears
Summary
The Special Criminal Court heard evidence regarding a plot by the Kinahan organised crime group to murder Patrick 'Patsy' Hutch. At a sentence hearing, Michael Burns, Ciaran O'Driscoll, and Stephen Curtis admitted to facilitating the intended killing. Burns pleaded guilty to passing instructions, acting as a communications conduit, transporting members, and planning the shooting. O'Driscoll pleaded guilty to acting as a look-out and assisting in planning. Curtis admitted to providing mobile phones, SIM cards, and credit, and assisting in planning. The court heard that the gang paid €20,000 for setting up hits and maintained a hierarchical structure. Detective Superintendent David Gallagher detailed the three-stage plan, including a staging post, a ruse to lure the victim, and a getaway route. The court accepted that the gang is involved in execution-type murders. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Dermot Dempsey, remanded the three men in custody until June 29, when they will be sentenced. In a related matter, Mark Capper was jailed for seven-and-a-half years for providing vehicles and reconnaissance. Previously, Gary Thompson, Glen Thompson, and Robert Browne were sentenced to 12 years and six months, 12 years and six months, and 11 years and six months, respectively, for planning the murder.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: €20k offered for setting up Kinahan cartel hits, Special Criminal Court hears. Charges or matters: passing instructions to one or more members of a criminal organisation and of acting as a conduit for communications by providing phones; agreeing to act as a look-out and to helping plan the intended shooting. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- February 1 Incident
- March 10, 2018 Incident
- March 21, 2018 Incident
- June 29 Adjournment
- July 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2020-05-29 Publication
Why: Det Insp Gallagher explained that the investigation focused on "disrupting and dismantling" the capabilities of the criminal organisation. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: passing instructions to one or more members of a criminal organisation and of acting as a conduit for communications by providing phones; agreeing to act as a look-out and to helping plan the intended shooting (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Dermot Dempsey, remanded the three men in custody until June 29, when they will be sentenced.
Defendant
Defendant
Convicted Person
Outcome: Mark Capper (31), who "poured cold water on" and withdrew from a plan to murder Mr Hutch three days before the proposed killing, was yesterday jailed by the Special Criminal Court for seven-and-a-half years. He is the fourth member of the hit team to be jailed.
Defendant
Charges: passing instructions to one or more members of a criminal organisation and of acting as a conduit for communications by providing phones; agreeing to act as a look-out and to helping plan the intended shooting (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Dermot Dempsey, remanded the three men in custody until June 29, when they will be sentenced.
Defendant
Defendant
Charges: passing instructions to one or more members of a criminal organisation and of acting as a conduit for communications by providing phones; agreeing to act as a look-out and to helping plan the intended shooting (Alleged Or Contested)
Outcome: Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Dermot Dempsey, remanded the three men in custody until June 29, when they will be sentenced.
Places mentioned
- Special Criminal Court
- Avondale House
- Cumberland Street
- Dublin
- Seville Place
- Plunkett Drive
- Phibsboro Road
- Champions Avenue
- Stoney Road
- Gardiner Street
Topics
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