Courts / Dublin / Report

Husband solicited man to murder women after discovering wife's 'intimate' messages

Date
2022-11-01

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 35‑year‑old Bryan Kennedy pleaded guilty to soliciting a man, referred to as 'AL', to murder Canadian couple Stephanie Poirier and her partner Clara Houdebrummette. Kennedy claimed he was motivated by a sense of betrayal after discovering intimate Facebook messages between his then‑wife and the couple. He allegedly paid AL €8,000 and later demanded additional money, threatening his wife and children. Kennedy admitted to hacking his wife's messages to portray the couple as "to be killed" and to have them "painted". He also claimed he had backed out of the plan and intended to kill the couple himself. Kennedy faces a maximum of 10 years' imprisonment on both charges and is awaiting sentencing for possession of child pornography. The court ordered a probation report and care provisions for his three children. The matter was adjourned to 16 January 2023.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Husband solicited man to murder women after discovering wife's 'intimate' messages. Charges or matters: soliciting a man, who can only be referred to as 'AL' by court order, to murder Stephanie Poirier on a date unknown between October 1, 2019, and January 11, 2020, both dates inclusive, within the State. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

October 1, 2019 Incident
January 11, 2020 Incident
January 10, 2020 Other
January 13, 2020 Other
February 11, 2020 Incident
January 16, 2023 Adjournment
2022-11-01 Publication

Why: Photo: Collins) A Dublin man solicited another man to murder a woman and her partner because he felt "betrayed" after discovering intimate online messages between the Canadian couple and his wife, the Central Criminal Court has heard. CNI source report

Case subjects

Bryan Kennedy

Defendant

Charges: soliciting a man, who can only be referred to as 'AL' by court order, to murder Stephanie Poirier on a date unknown between October 1, 2019, and January 11, 2020, both dates inclusive, within the State (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Mr Dwyer told Ms Justice Caroline Biggs that Kennedy was facing a maximum of 10 years' imprisonment on both charges.; Ms Justice Biggs adjourned the matter to January 16, 2023, for an update on the reports required and remanded Kennedy on continuing bail, to which there was no garda objection.