Courts / Dublin / Report

Woman avoids jail over false alibi for partner who lured gangster Whelan to his death

Summary

Lacey O'Connor, 30, of Rowlagh Park, Clondalkin, appeared for sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on an offence of perverting the course of justice. She pleaded guilty to giving a false account of the movement of a suspect during the murder investigation in November 2019. O'Connor had told gardai that her then-partner, Anthony Casserly, was with her at the time of the fatal shooting of Wayne Whelan. However, CCTV and mobile phone records contradicted this, showing Casserly left the home during the relevant period. Judge Orla Crowe noted that O'Connor provided false information in a two-page document and sat through seven garda interviews. The judge acknowledged O'Connor's role as the sole carer for a young child, her subsequent co-operation with gardai, and her lack of prior criminal record. While the headline sentence was two years imprisonment, reduced to 18 months in light of her guilty plea, Judge Crowe suspended the sentence in its entirety for four years. O'Connor was bound to keep the peace for that period. This sentencing follows earlier proceedings where Casserly pleaded guilty to participating in or contributing to the murder of Whelan and was sentenced to seven years in January. Christopher Moran also pleaded guilty to being the getaway driver after the shooting. The court emphasized that O'Connor's false statement was exposed through technology and gardai investigation.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Woman avoids jail over false alibi for partner who lured gangster Whelan to his death. Charges or matters: being the getaway driver after the shooting; participating in or contributing to the murder of Whelan; giving a false account of the movement of a suspect during the murder investigation in November 2019. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• November 18, 2019 Other
• November 2019 Incident
• 2022-06-16 Publication

Why: Sentencing Casserly (25) of Rowlagh park, Clondalkin last January to a seven-year prison term, Mr Justice David Keane said Casserly used his friendship to lower Whelan's guard, which would have been up because of a previous attempt to murder him. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report