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'Danger to society' gets 15 years for 'obliterating' neighbour's life in gun murder bid

Date
2022-04-26
Stage
Sentence
Court
The Central Criminal Court
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

Dean McCarthy, aged 33, was sentenced to 16 years in prison with the final year suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to attempted murder of neighbour Sinead Connolly, 34, on 6 March 2021. He also received concurrent sentences of eight years for possession of a firearm and six years for possession of ammunition. The court heard that McCarthy burst into Connolly's flat with a loaded G9A Grand Power handgun, shot her five times, and that the incident occurred while her eight‑year‑old daughter was hidden under a kitchen table. Connolly sustained a burst fracture of the T3 vertebra, became paraplegic, and remains in a rehabilitation hospital. McCarthy had a history of abuse toward Connolly, including verbal insults and physical aggression, and had previously been convicted of knife possession, criminal damage and traffic offences.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Danger to society' gets 15 years for 'obliterating' neighbour's life in gun murder bid. Charges or matters: possession of a firearm, to wit, a G9A Grand Power semi-automatic handgun, with intent to endanger life on the same date at the same location; having in his possession Luger Barnaul ammunition, in such circumstances as to give rise to a reasonable inference that he had not got in his possession for a lawful purpose on the same occasion. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Why: Mr Justice McDermott referred to the victim's request that four men call over to McCarthy's flat because of the escalating situation in the previous months between them. CNI source report

Case subjects

Dean McCarthy

Defendant

Charges: possession of a firearm, to wit, a G9A Grand Power semi-automatic handgun, with intent to endanger life on the same date at the same location; having in his possession Luger Barnaul ammunition, in such circumstances as to give rise to a reasonable inference that he had not got in his possession for a lawful purpose on the same occasion (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Dean McCarthy, who is Ms Connolly's neighbour, with an address at Bernard Curtis House, Bluebell Road, Dublin 12 appeared in court today to be sentenced, having pleaded guilty last January to her attempted murder on March 6, 2021. McCarthy was sentenced to 16 years in prison with the final year suspended for a period of two years.

Sinead Connolly

Convicted Person

Charges: possession of a firearm, to wit, a G9A Grand Power semi-automatic handgun, with intent to endanger life on the same date at the same location; having in his possession Luger Barnaul ammunition, in such circumstances as to give rise to a reasonable inference that he had not got in his possession for a lawful purpose on the same occasion (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Photo: Collins) A "danger to society" who led a campaign of abuse against his neighbour before leaving her permanently paralysed in an attempted gun murder that "obliterated" her life has been jailed for 15 years. Dean McCarthy, who is Ms Connolly's neighbour, with an address at Bernard Curtis House, Bluebell Road, Dublin 12 appeared in court today to be sentenced, having pleaded guilty last January to her attempted murder on March 6, 2021.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • The Central Criminal Court
Facility
  • Bernard Curtis House
  • St James's Hospital
  • Mater Hospital
  • National Rehabilitation Hospital
Residence
Garda Station
  • Tom Cooney of Kilmainham Garda Station

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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