Courts / Dublin / Report

Lee Canavan jailed for life for role in 'Daithi Douglas' murder

Date
2021-06-03

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Crumlin

County
Dublin

Summary

The Special Criminal Court has sentenced Lee Canavan to life imprisonment for his role in the murder of David 'Daithí' Douglas, who was shot at Shoestown in Dublin 1 on July 1, 2016. Canavan, who pleaded not guilty, was found guilty of murder based on his active participation in a shared intention to kill, though the court did not find sufficient evidence to conclude he was the triggerman. He was concurrently sentenced to five years for criminal damage to a stolen Suzuki Swift used as a getaway vehicle. Both sentences were backdated to May 2020, when Canavan was taken into custody following a European Arrest Warrant. The court noted that Canavan's prior drug possession convictions were not aggravating factors. This conviction marks the fourth individual jailed in connection with the killing. Previously, Frederick 'Fat Freddie' Thompson was jailed for life in 2018; Nathan Foley pleaded guilty and received six years in 2019; and Gareth Brophy was jailed for ten years in 2020 for acting as a getaway driver. The judge extended free legal aid to cover any potential appeal.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Lee Canavan jailed for life for role in 'Daithi Douglas' murder. Charges or matters: murdering Mr Douglas, who died after sustaining injuries to his chest, neck, back, torso, elbow and jaw at Shoestown, Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 1, on July 1, 2016; assisting a criminal organisation by driving one of four cars and buying mobile phones used in the offence. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

July 1, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
May 19, 2020 Incident
June 2016 Incident
May 2020 Incident
February 2020 Incident
July 1 Hearing Or Sentence
July 4, 2016 Incident
July 11 Other
2021-06-03 Publication

Why: He said Canavan's intent was to "destroy" the Suzuki in order to tie up loose ends and minimise his connection to the murder. CNI source report

Case subjects

Daithí' Douglas

Defendant

Charges: murdering Mr Douglas, who died after sustaining injuries to his chest, neck, back, torso, elbow and jaw at Shoestown, Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 1, on July 1, 2016; assisting a criminal organisation by driving one of four cars and buying mobile phones used in the offence (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Outcome: In 2018, gangster Frederick 'Fat Freddie' Thompson (41) was jailed for life by the Special Criminal Court for the murder of Mr Douglas. Passing judgement, Judge MacGrath said that Canavan was guilty of the murder due to his "active participation" in the "shared intention" of the murder of Mr Douglas. *****Previous***** At the trial, Sean Gillane SC, prosecuting, stressed that the actions of Canavan could not be "divorced" from the actions of Thompson, Brophy and Foley, who have all been jailed in connection with the murder Mr Gillane said that there was "overwhelming evidence" in the case and the only rational conclusion to be drawn was that Mr Douglas' murder had been "meticulously planned".

Fat Freddie' Thompson

Convicted Person

Charges: assisting a criminal organisation by driving one of four cars and buying mobile phones used in the offence (Alleged Or Contested)

Outcome: Fat Freddie' Thompson (41) was jailed for life by the Special Criminal Court for the murder of Mr Douglas. Passing judgement, Judge MacGrath said that Canavan was guilty of the murder due to his "active participation" in the "shared intention" of the murder of Mr Douglas. *****Previous***** At the trial, Sean Gillane SC, prosecuting, stressed that the actions of Canavan could not be "divorced" from the actions of Thompson, Brophy and Foley, who have all been jailed in connection with the murder Mr Gillane said that there was "overwhelming evidence" in the case and the only rational conclusion to be drawn was that Mr Douglas' murder had been "meticulously planned".

Gareth Brophy

Convicted Person

Outcome: Gareth Brophy (26) was jailed in February 2020 for ten years also by the Special Criminal Court for his role as getaway driver. Passing judgement, Judge MacGrath said that Canavan was guilty of the murder due to his "active participation" in the "shared intention" of the murder of Mr Douglas. *****Previous***** At the trial, Sean Gillane SC, prosecuting, stressed that the actions of Canavan could not be "divorced" from the actions of Thompson, Brophy and Foley, who have all been jailed in connection with the murder Mr Gillane said that there was "overwhelming evidence" in the case and the only rational conclusion to be drawn was that Mr Douglas' murder had been "meticulously planned".

Lee Canavan

Convicted Person

Plea: Not guilty

Outcome: Credit: Collins) The Special Criminal Court has jailed Dublin man Lee Canavan for life for his role in the murder of David 'Daithí' Douglas, who was "executed" at a city centre shoe shop five years ago. Canavan, a father of a three-year-old girl, was concurrently jailed for five years for the criminal damage to the getaway vehicle, a stolen Suzuki Swift, in Sandymount three days after the shooting.

Nathan Foley

Convicted Person

Charges: assisting a criminal organisation by driving one of four cars and buying mobile phones used in the offence (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Nathan Foley (22) of Maryland, Dublin 8, was jailed for six years after he pleaded guilty to assisting a criminal organisation by driving one of four cars and buying mobile phones used in the offence. Passing judgement, Judge MacGrath said that Canavan was guilty of the murder due to his "active participation" in the "shared intention" of the murder of Mr Douglas. *****Previous***** At the trial, Sean Gillane SC, prosecuting, stressed that the actions of Canavan could not be "divorced" from the actions of Thompson, Brophy and Foley, who have all been jailed in connection with the murder Mr Gillane said that there was "overwhelming evidence" in the case and the only rational conclusion to be drawn was that Mr Douglas' murder had been "meticulously planned".