Courts / Dublin / Report

Mum was on phone to son when he was shot dead

Summary

In a Central Criminal Court sentencing hearing, Ivona Shortt, mother of Thomas Farnan, 37, recounted the shock of her son's murder on 25 April 2016. She described calling him when he asked her to "hang on" as a visitor approached the front door of their Kilcronan Close apartment. Minutes later she learned Thomas had been shot dead by a caller. Shortt described the event as a "devastating act of brutality" that will haunt her family forever. The court heard that Lorcan Merriman, 26, pleaded guilty to disposing of the gun used in the shooting, leading the Director of Public Prosecutions to drop the murder charge. Merriman, already serving a five‑year sentence for possession of a sub‑machine gun, was sentenced again on 30 March. The hearing also included statements from Thomas's partner Elaine Heffernan, his son Sean O'Connor, and sister Jenny Farnan, all expressing grief and a desire for justice.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Mum was on phone to son when he was shot dead. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• April 25, 2016 Other
• May 2016 Incident
• March 30 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2022-03-16 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report