Courts / Dublin / Report
Jim Mansfield Jnr taken into custody for perverting course of justice
Summary
Jim Mansfield Jnr was remanded in custody by the Special Criminal Court after being found guilty of perverting the course of justice. The 54-year-old pleaded not guilty to two charges: conspiring to falsely imprison Martin Byrne and directing Patrick Byrne to destroy CCTV footage. The court acquitted Mansfield on the conspiracy charge, finding insufficient evidence that he knew Dessie O'Hare and Declan Duffy planned to kidnap Byrne. However, he was convicted of perverting the course of justice for ordering the destruction of footage showing him with Byrne on the morning of the kidnapping. Mr Justice Alex Owens stated that while Mansfield knowingly involved O'Hare and Duffy in asset recovery efforts, the court could not exclude the possibility that he was misled regarding the kidnapping plot. O'Hare was jailed for seven years in 2019 and Duffy for six years in 2018 for falsely imprisoning Byrne. Following the verdict, the court refused Mansfield's request to remain on bail and remanded him in custody. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 7.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Jim Mansfield Jnr taken into custody for perverting course of justice. Charges or matters: perverting the course of justice by ordering the destruction of CCTV footage showing him with his former employee on the morning that he was kidnapped by terrorists Dessie O'Hare and Declan 'Whacker' Duffy; conspiring with one or more persons to falsely imprison Martin Byrne on a date unknown between January 1, 2015 and June 30, 2015. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- February 7 Incident
- June 9, 2015 Incident
- January 1, 2015 Other
- June 30, 2015 Other
- June 12, 2015 Adjournment
- May 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2022-01-17 Publication
Why: Mr Justice Owens said Mansfield told Patrick Byrne, Martin Byrne's brother, to destroy the footage because he knew Mr Byrne had been kidnapped by people with whom Mansfield was directly involved. CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: perverting the course of justice by ordering the destruction of CCTV footage showing him with his former employee on the morning that he was kidnapped by terrorists Dessie O'Hare and Declan 'Whacker' Duffy; conspiring with one or more persons to falsely imprison Martin Byrne on a date unknown between January 1, 2015 and June 30, 2015 (Proven)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; O'Hare was jailed for seven years in 2019 for falsely imprisoning Mr Byrne. Duffy was jailed for six years in 2018 for the same offence.; The court refused and remanded him in custody.
Places mentioned
- Special Criminal Court
- Finnstown House
- Tasaggart House
- Tassagart House
- Dublin
- Keating Park
- Newcastle Road
- Keating Park
Topics
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