Courts / Dublin / Report
'I would have killed the bastard': court hears of arrest of murdered man's father
Summary
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Stephen Little, 47, and Edward McDonnell, 56, were charged with unlawful possession of a Grand Power G9 semi‑automatic pistol and intent to endanger life. The case stemmed from a gun seizure on a Dublin estate on 14 September 2019. Gardaí recovered a loaded handgun under the passenger seat of an Audi, along with a red petrol can, a long‑handled lighter, two balaclavas, two baseball caps, and two pairs of gloves. Little's son, Sean, 22, had been shot dead in May 2019, an event that prompted Little to make a statement to police that "had you given me another hour I would have killed the bastard that killed him." McDonnell denied knowledge of the firearm. Both men were remanded in custody pending sentencing on 31 August. The court noted that Little had one prior traffic offence and McDonnell had 47 prior convictions, including robbery, sexual assault and assault causing harm. Stephen Little pleaded guilty. Edward McDonnell pleaded guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'I would have killed the bastard': court hears of arrest of murdered man's father. Charges or matters: unlawful possession of a Grand Power G9 semi-automatic pistol at Lein Park, Harmonstown, Dublin 5 on September 14, 2019 and will be sentenced next month at the non-jury court; having a loaded semi-automatic weapon on the Dublin estate, just hours after his defence counsel Mr Bowman made an application to the non-jury court to direct a verdict of not guilty. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- September 14, 2019 Incident
- May 21, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- September 11, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- September 11 Other
- September 12 Other
- September 13 Hearing Or Sentence
- September 14 Other
- July 13 Hearing Or Sentence
- August 31 Adjournment
- 2020-07-21 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: unlawful possession of a Grand Power G9 semi-automatic pistol at Lein Park, Harmonstown, Dublin 5 on September 14, 2019 and will be sentenced next month at the non-jury court; having a loaded semi-automatic weapon on the Dublin estate, just hours after his defence counsel Mr Bowman made an application to the non-jury court to direct a verdict of not guilty (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Edward McDonnell (56) of Waterside Apartments, New Ross in Co Wexford had pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a Grand Power G9 semi-automatic pistol at Lein Park, Harmonstown, Dublin 5 on September 14, 2019 and will be sentenced next month at the non-jury court. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding, with Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Dermot Dempsey, remanded both men in custody until August 31, when they will be sentenced.; Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding, with Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Dermot Dempsey, remanded both men in custody until August 31, when they will be sentenced.
Convicted Person
Charges: unlawful possession of a Grand Power G9 semi-automatic pistol at Lein Park, Harmonstown, Dublin 5 on September 14, 2019 and will be sentenced next month at the non-jury court; having a loaded semi-automatic weapon on the Dublin estate, just hours after his defence counsel Mr Bowman made an application to the non-jury court to direct a verdict of not guilty (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Stephen Little (47) of Kilbarron Avenue, Kilmore, Dublin 5 and Edward McDonnell (56) of Waterside Apartments, New Ross in Co Wexford had pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a Grand Power G9 semi-automatic pistol at Lein Park, Harmonstown, Dublin 5 on September 14, 2019 and will be sentenced next month at the non-jury court. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding, with Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Dermot Dempsey, remanded both men in custody until August 31, when they will be sentenced.; Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding, with Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Dermot Dempsey, remanded both men in custody until August 31, when they will be sentenced.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Wexford
- Balbriggan
- Dublin estate
- DPP's view
- Dublin
- Dublin estate
- Special Criminal Court
- Lein Park
- Lein Road
- Dublin
- Hanover Street
- Howth Road
- Lein Park
- Pearse House
- garda later at Clontarf Garda Station
Topics
Stage Sentence Theft Violent Crime
Related court reports
- Man charged with having 56k child abuse images and videos remanded on bail
- Ex-Dáil hopeful's allegations against former employer 'complete fantasy', WRC told
- Mater must pay €10k to worker who said he was wrongly accused of abusing patient
- 'I think we know I won't be getting bail' - Daniel Kinahan charged with directing criminal organisation
- Letting agent who claimed alleged domestic violence victim abandoned tenancy by fleeing to refuge must pay €14.7k
- 77-year-old with 470 convictions told Luas staff to 'f**k off'
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request