Courts / Dublin / Report

Second man admits having handgun in connection with attempted murder of Dublin mum

Date
2022-07-26

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Paul Mooney, 34, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to possession of a G9A Grand Power semi-automatic handgun and Luger Barnaul ammunition at Bernard Curtis House, Bluebell, Dublin 12, on March 6, 2021. The charges alleged he possessed the items in circumstances giving rise to a reasonable inference of unlawful purpose. Mooney was remanded on continuing bail, with the matter listed for mention on October 4. Joseph Byrne, 33, previously pleaded guilty to possessing the same firearm with intent to endanger life and possessing the ammunition on the same date. Byrne's sentence hearing is scheduled for Friday. Dean McCarthy, 33, was jailed for 15 years last April after pleading guilty to the attempted murder of Sinead Connolly on March 6, 2021. Ms Connolly, who was left paralysed below the chest, described McCarthy as an "evil, sadistic and cowardly bully" who led a campaign of abuse against her. Prosecution counsel Anne-Marie Lawlor SC told Mr Justice David Keane that Ms Connolly is confined to a wheelchair and anxious to have the matter disposed of. The court proceedings involve distinct pleas and procedural stages for each defendant, with Mooney's case currently at the bail remand stage and Byrne's awaiting sentencing.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Second man admits having handgun in connection with attempted murder of Dublin mum. Charges or matters: possession of a firearm and ammunition, to wit, a G9A Grand Power semi-automatic handgun and Luger Barnaul ammunition, in such circumstances as to give rise to a reasonable inference that he had not got it in his possession for a lawful purpose at Bernard Curtis House, Bluebell in Dublin 12 on March 6, 2021; possession of the same firearm with intent to endanger life in Bluebell on the same date; 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. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

March 6, 2021 Incident
October 4 Adjournment
2022-07-26 Publication

Case subjects

Dean McCarthy

Defendant

Charges: possession of a firearm and ammunition, to wit, a G9A Grand Power semi-automatic handgun and Luger Barnaul ammunition, in such circumstances as to give rise to a reasonable inference that he had not got it in his possession for a lawful purpose at Bernard Curtis House, Bluebell in Dublin 12 on March 6, 2021; possession of the same firearm with intent to endanger life in Bluebell on the same date; 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 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Last April, Dean McCarthy was jailed for 15 years after he pleaded guilty to Ms Connolly's attempted murder on March 6, 2021.; The matter was listed for mention on October 4 and Mooney was remanded on continuing bail.

Joseph Byrne

Defendant

Charges: possession of the same firearm with intent to endanger life in Bluebell on the same date; 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: Byrne's sentence hearing will take place on Friday.; The matter was listed for mention on October 4 and Mooney was remanded on continuing bail.

Paul Mooney

Defendant

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: The matter was listed for mention on October 4 and Mooney was remanded on continuing bail.