Courts / Dublin / Report

Kinahan Cartel member Wilson claims he was taking instructions from dissidents

Date
2021-11-29

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Alan Wilson, a member of the Kinahan criminal gang, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to conspiracy to murder and an offence under the Firearms Act. He admitted to possessing a .38 calibre Smith & Wesson revolver and a .32 calibre Zastava semi-automatic pistol between July 24 and July 26, 2010, in circumstances giving rise to the reasonable inference that he possessed them for an unlawful purpose. The prosecution alleged he provided firearms and getaway cars for the attempted murders of Brian Masterson, Wayne Barrett, and Austin Purcell at The Player's Lounge in Dublin 3 on July 26, 2010. Wilson claimed he was acting on instructions from dissident republicans. The Director of Public Prosecutions agreed to drop three attempted murder charges against him. Wilson also pleaded guilty in 2019 to conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between September 15 and November 6, 2017, for which he was jailed for six years and is due for release in May next year. The court noted his diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. The matter is at the sentencing stage. Ms Justice Tara Burns, presiding with Judge James Faughnan and Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin, will hear pleas in mitigation from Wilson's senior barrister Padraig Dwyer before passing sentence on December 15.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Kinahan Cartel member Wilson claims he was taking instructions from dissidents. Charges or matters: conspiracy to murder; an offence under the Firearms Act of possession of a .38 calibre Smith & Wesson revolver and a .32 calibre Zastava semi-automatic pistol on dates between July 24 and July 26, 2010, in circumstances that give rise to the reasonable inference that he possessed them for an unlawful purpose; the attempted murders of Brian Masterson, Wayne Barrett and Austin Purcell at The Player's Lounge Public House, Fairview Strand, Fairview, Dublin 3 on July 26, 2010; conspiring to murder Gary Hanley at a location within the State between September 15 and November 6, 2017. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

July 26, 2010 Incident
July 24 Incident
September 15 Hearing Or Sentence
November 6, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
December 15 Other
2021-11-29 Publication

Case subjects

Alan Wilson

Defendant

Charges: conspiracy to murder; an offence under the Firearms Act of possession of a .38 calibre Smith & Wesson revolver and a .32 calibre Zastava semi-automatic pistol on dates between July 24 and July 26, 2010, in circumstances that give rise to the reasonable inference that he possessed them for an unlawful purpose; the attempted murders of Brian Masterson, Wayne Barrett and Austin Purcell at The Player's Lounge Public House, Fairview Strand, Fairview, Dublin 3 on July 26, 2010; conspiring to murder Gary Hanley at a location within the State between September 15 and November 6, 2017 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: He was jailed for six years by the Special Criminal Court and is due for release from that sentence in May next year. Ms Justice Tara Burns, presiding, with Judge James Faughnan and Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin, will hear pleas in mitigation from Wilson's senior barrister Padraig Dwyer before they pass sentence on December 15.