Courts / Dublin / Report
Man admits having gun in connection with attempted murder of mum
Summary
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 27 May 2022, Joseph Byrne, aged 33, pleaded guilty to possessing a G9A Grand Power semi‑automatic handgun and Luger Barnaul ammunition with intent to endanger life, relating to an incident on 6 March 2021 in Bluebell, Dublin 12. The offence involved the attempted murder of Sinead Connolly, who was shot and left paralysed below the chest. Byrne admitted the gun was used in the attack that left Connolly permanently disabled. The court set a sentence hearing for 29 July, while the prosecution requested a hearing on 21 July to assess readiness, noting Connolly would be present from the National Rehabilitation Hospital. Byrne's case follows that of Dean McCarthy, who was jailed for 15 years for the same attempted murder and similar firearm offences.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man admits having gun in connection with attempted murder of mum. Charges or matters: possession of a firearm, to wit, a G9A Grand Power semi-automatic handgun, with intent to endanger life on March 6, 2021 at Bluebell in Dublin 12; 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; Ms Connolly's attempted murder on March 6, 2021; 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. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- March 6, 2021 Incident
- July 29 Hearing Or Sentence
- July 21 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2022-05-27 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: possession of a firearm, to wit, a G9A Grand Power semi-automatic handgun, with intent to endanger life on March 6, 2021 at Bluebell in Dublin 12; 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; Ms Connolly's attempted murder on March 6, 2021; 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 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Last month, Dean McCarthy was jailed for 15 years after he pleaded guilty to Ms Connolly's attempted murder on March 6, 2021.
Defendant
Charges: possession of a firearm, to wit, a G9A Grand Power semi-automatic handgun, with intent to endanger life on March 6, 2021 at Bluebell in Dublin 12; 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: Mr Justice Paul McDermott set a date of July 29 for Byrne's sentence hearing.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
- Bernard Curtis House
- National Rehabilitation Hospital
- La Touche Road
- Dublin
Topics
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