Courts / Dublin / Report
Husband jailed for hiring 'unhinged' hitman in 'grotesque plan' to kill couple having 'online affair' with wife
Summary
Bryan Kennedy, 35, was sentenced by Ms Justice Caroline Biggs at the Central Criminal Court to five years' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended. Kennedy had hired a man known as 'AL', described as unhinged and with prior convictions, to murder a Canadian couple who were having an online affair with Kennedy's wife. He paid €8,000 to AL and had planned to kill both women, later considering whether to kill only one. Kennedy accessed his wife's Facebook to obtain details of the couple. He pleaded guilty to soliciting the murder of Stephanie Poirier and her partner Clara Houdebrumette. The judge noted Kennedy's cooperation with Gardaí, his role as a good father, and his depression, but found no mitigating effect in his decision to pursue the plan. The sentence was reduced from an initial headline of eight years to five years with a suspended six‑month portion. Kennedy's address is Mount Tallant Avenue, Harold's Cross, Dublin 6W.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Husband jailed for hiring 'unhinged' hitman in 'grotesque plan' to kill couple having 'online affair' with wife. Charges or matters: the same offence relating to Ms Poirier's partner, Clara Houdebrumette. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- October 1, 2019 Incident
- January 11, 2020 Incident
- January 10, 2020 Other
- January 13, 2020 Other
- February 11, 2020 Incident
- 2023-04-17 Publication
Why: " She said his later decision to pull out was not because he didn't want to have the two women killed but because he came to have doubts about AL's bona fides and started considering whether he could carry out the plan himself. CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: the same offence relating to Ms Poirier's partner, Clara Houdebrumette (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Bryan Kennedy (35) was today sentenced at the Central Criminal Court by Ms Justice Caroline Biggs to five years' imprisonment with the final six months suspended for six months. The judge said that during the suspended six-month portion of the sentence Kennedy is to engage with all training and educational courses and with emotional and mental support facilities recommended by the Probation Service.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
- Mount Tallant Avenue
- Dublin
- took him to Terenure Garda Station
- Kennedy's way
Topics
Related court reports
- Man charged with having 56k child abuse images and videos remanded on bail
- Ex-Dáil hopeful's allegations against former employer 'complete fantasy', WRC told
- Mater must pay €10k to worker who said he was wrongly accused of abusing patient
- 'I think we know I won't be getting bail' - Daniel Kinahan charged with directing criminal organisation
- Letting agent who claimed alleged domestic violence victim abandoned tenancy by fleeing to refuge must pay €14.7k
- 77-year-old with 470 convictions told Luas staff to 'f**k off'
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request