Courts / Dublin / Report

'It's down to you and your hands. You are not sorry': Mum left paralysed in attempted murder to gun supplier

Date
2022-07-29

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

At the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Paul McDermott remanded Joseph Byrne in custody until October 6 for sentencing. Byrne, 33, pleaded guilty to possessing a G9A Grand Power semi-automatic handgun with intent to endanger life and possessing Luger Barnaul ammunition on March 6, 2021, at Bluebell, Dublin 12. The court heard that Byrne provided the firearm to Dean McCarthy, who was jailed for 15 years last April after pleading guilty to the attempted murder of Sinead Connolly. Ms Connolly, who was left paralysed, rejected Byrne's apology during her victim impact statement, stating he facilitated the attack. Earlier this week, Paul Mooney, 34, also pleaded guilty to possessing the same firearm and ammunition at the same location. The judge ordered that Byrne remain in custody pending his final sentence hearing in October.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'It's down to you and your hands. You are not sorry': Mum left paralysed in attempted murder to gun supplier. 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 semi-automatic handgun in connection with the attempted murder of Ms Connolly; 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

When:

March 6, 2021 Incident
March 14 Hearing Or Sentence
October 6 Adjournment
2022-07-29 Publication

Why: She told the judge that she spent three-and-a-half months in ICU and underwent several surgeries because of life threatening bleeding due to multiple gunshot wounds. 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 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 semi-automatic handgun in connection with the attempted murder of Ms Connolly; 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 (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.; Mr Justice McDermott remanded Byrne in custody until October 6, when he will be sentenced.

Joseph Byrne

Defendant

Plea: Guilty

Paul Mooney

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 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty