Courts / Dublin / Report

Man jailed for binning gun used in attempted murder of Sinead Connolly

Date
2022-12-05

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Paul Mooney (35), of Ring Street, Inchicore, Dublin 8, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for his role in the aftermath of an attempted murder. Mooney pleaded guilty to possessing a G9A Grand Power semi-automatic handgun and Luger Barnaul ammunition at Bernard Curtis House, Bluebell, Dublin 12, on March 6, 2021. Mr Justice Paul McDermott noted that while Mooney was not directly involved in the shooting of Sinead Connolly, he disposed of the firearm openly and without hesitation. The court heard that Connolly was left paralysed after being shot by Dean McCarthy (33), who was jailed for 15 years for attempted murder. Co-accused Joseph Byrne (33) was jailed for nine-and-a-half years for possessing the handgun with intent to endanger life. Mooney, who had nine previous convictions, received a headline sentence of eight years. Considering mitigating factors including remorse and assistance to gardaí, the judge imposed a prison term of six years. The final 12 months of the sentence were suspended for two years, conditional on Mooney keeping the peace, engaging with victim impact and alcohol/drug awareness programmes, and following probation service directions. The sentence was backdated to October 6, 2022.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man jailed for binning gun used in attempted murder of Sinead Connolly. 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. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

March 6, 2021 Incident
October 6, 2022 Other
2022-12-05 Publication

Case subjects

Dean McCarthy

Convicted Person

Outcome: Dean McCarthy (33), with an address at Bluebell, who was jailed for 15 years for Ms Connolly's attempted murder. A co-accused, Joseph Byrne (33), La Touche Road, Bluebell, Dublin 12, was jailed for nine-and-a-half years for possession of a G9A Grand Power semi-automatic handgun with intent to endanger life.

Joseph Byrne

Convicted Person

Outcome: Joseph Byrne (33), La Touche Road, Bluebell, Dublin 12, was jailed for nine-and-a-half years for possession of a G9A Grand Power semi-automatic handgun with intent to endanger life.

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

Outcome: In passing sentence, Mr Justice McDermott said that Mooney was not involved directly in anything that happened to Ms Connolly, but he had been quite happy to dispose of the gun openly without hesitation and in broad daylight.

Sinead Connolly

Convicted Person

Outcome: Photo: Collins) A 35-year-old man who disposed of a firearm used in the attempted murder of a mother left paralysed after a shooting in her home has been jailed for five years. Ms Connolly was left paralysed after she was shot on that date by Dean McCarthy (33), with an address at Bluebell, who was jailed for 15 years for Ms Connolly's attempted murder.