Courts / Dublin / Report

Veronica Guerin murderer will seek to have his conviction declared a miscarriage of justice in November

Date
2015-07-13

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Crumlin

County
Dublin

Summary

Brian Meehan, 47, from Crumlin, is serving a life sentence in Portlaoise prison for the 1996 murder of journalist Veronica Guerin. He was convicted in a 31‑day trial before the Special Criminal Court in July 1999 and also jailed on drugs and firearms charges. Meehan has applied to have his 1999 murder conviction quashed on the basis of new evidence that emerged during the 2001 Special Criminal Court trial of John Gilligan. The Court of Appeal scheduled his application for hearing on 19 and 20 November. The DPP's counsel, Paul Anthony McDermott, said the State needed two more weeks to prepare submissions, citing the volume of material since the murder. The DPP's motion to dismiss Meehan's application was refused last year, and the Court of Appeal will now consider whether the case should proceed. The hearing will focus on whether the new evidence constitutes a miscarriage of justice.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Veronica Guerin murderer will seek to have his conviction declared a miscarriage of justice in November. Charges or matters: the importation and possession of cannabis resin. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted

When:

July 1999 Hearing Or Sentence
June 1996 Hearing Or Sentence
November 19 Hearing Or Sentence
2015-07-13 Publication

Why: President of the Court of Appeal Mr Justice Seán Ryan said a fair amount of Mr Meehan's case was that a Mr Warren is allegedly "not to be trusted" because another court had described him in trenchant terms. CNI source report

Case subjects

Brian Meehan

Convicted Person

Charges: the importation and possession of cannabis resin (Alleged Or Contested)

Outcome: Photo: Collins) A man jailed for the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin will seek to have his conviction declared a miscarriage of justice in November. Brian Meehan (47), from Crumlin in Dublin, is serving a life sentence in Portlaoise prison having being convicted in July 1999 of the murder of Ms Guerin in June 1996 following a 31-day-trial before the non-jury Special Criminal Court.

Veronica Guerin

Convicted Person

Charges: the importation and possession of cannabis resin (Proven)

Finding: Convicted

Outcome: Convicted; Brian Meehan (47), from Crumlin in Dublin, is serving a life sentence in Portlaoise prison having being convicted in July 1999 of the murder of Ms Guerin in June 1996 following a 31-day-trial before the non-jury Special Criminal Court.