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Gangster 'Fat' Freddie Thompson in bid to overturn murder conviction
Summary
The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment in the appeal by 'Fat' Freddie Thompson against his 2018 life sentence for the 2016 murder of David 'Daithí' Douglas. Thompson, who pleaded not guilty, argued that his conviction should be overturned due to procedural failures in how gardaí identified him from CCTV footage. His counsel contended that no records were kept of the identification process, preventing effective cross-examination, and cited UK protocols as a standard for such procedures. The State argued that the UK code did not apply in Ireland and that the conviction remained safe even without the CCTV evidence, noting that the footage was of sufficient quality for the trier of fact. The court heard that Thompson was driving a Ford Fiesta involved in the plot, while other vehicles, including a Mercedes Benz, Suzuki Swift, and Mitsubishi Mirage, were part of the convoy. Thompson is one of four men jailed for the murder. Lee Canavan was sentenced to life in 2021 for his role in the joint enterprise, though the court did not find he fired the shots. Nathan Foley pleaded guilty to assisting a criminal organisation and received a six-year sentence, while Gareth Brophy was jailed for ten years as the getaway driver.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Gangster 'Fat' Freddie Thompson in bid to overturn murder conviction. Charges or matters: his involvement in the murder of Mr Douglas but was jailed for life at the the Special Criminal Court in August of 2018; assisting a criminal organisation by driving one of four cars and buying mobile phones used in the offence. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- July 1, 2016 Other
- June 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
- February 2020 Incident
- 2023-04-28 Publication
Why: "It cannot be the law that because someone knows someone [Thompson] is in the mix that they are precluded from examination of footage," said Mr Gillane. CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: his involvement in the murder of Mr Douglas but was jailed for life at the the Special Criminal Court in August of 2018; assisting a criminal organisation by driving one of four cars and buying mobile phones used in the offence (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: Thompson (42) of Loreto Road, Maryland, Dublin 8, had pleaded not guilty to his involvement in the murder of Mr Douglas but was jailed for life at the the Special Criminal Court in August of 2018. Thompson is one of four men who have been jailed in relation to the murder of Mr Douglas.
Defendant
Charges: his involvement in the murder of Mr Douglas but was jailed for life at the the Special Criminal Court in August of 2018; assisting a criminal organisation by driving one of four cars and buying mobile phones used in the offence (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: Thompson is one of four men who have been jailed in relation to the murder of Mr Douglas.
Convicted Person
Outcome: Gareth Brophy (28) of Reuben Walk, Dublin 8, was jailed in February 2020 for ten years for his role as getaway driver.
Convicted Person
Charges: assisting a criminal organisation by driving one of four cars and buying mobile phones used in the offence (Alleged Or Contested)
Outcome: Lee Canavan (34) of Edenbrook, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, was jailed for life for his part in the joint enterprise or shared intention to murder Mr Douglas.
Applicant
Charges: assisting a criminal organisation by driving one of four cars and buying mobile phones used in the offence (Alleged Or Contested)
Applicant
Charges: assisting a criminal organisation by driving one of four cars and buying mobile phones used in the offence (Alleged Or Contested)
Convicted Person
Charges: assisting a criminal organisation by driving one of four cars and buying mobile phones used in the offence (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Nathan Foley (24) of Maryland, Dublin 8, was jailed for six years after he pleaded guilty to assisting a criminal organisation by driving one of four cars and buying mobile phones used in the offence. Gareth Brophy (28) of Reuben Walk, Dublin 8, was jailed in February 2020 for ten years for his role as getaway driver.
Applicant
Charges: assisting a criminal organisation by driving one of four cars and buying mobile phones used in the offence (Alleged Or Contested)
Places mentioned
- Bridgefoot Street
- Grafton Street
- Loreto Road
- Dublin
- Douglas
- Rathfarnham
- Special Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
- White Swan Industrial Estate
Topics
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