Courts / Dublin / Report

Addict who helped gang try to murder man in notorious daylight shooting gets 7.5 years

Date
2023-12-18
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

Derek Byrne, 40, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court to eight years and six months in prison for facilitating the attempted murder of Noel Boylan. The court found Byrne guilty of participating in the activities of a criminal organisation with the intention of facilitating the offence, which occurred between May 27 and June 1, 2019. He was identified on CCTV footage purchasing the Toyota Avensis used to transport the gunman. The judge noted that the shooting only became an attempted murder because the weapon jammed. Byrne, who has a history of drug abuse and 78 previous convictions, was already serving a seven-and-a-half-year sentence for unlawful possession of a firearm, having been in custody since December 3, 2019. The new sentence includes a suspended portion of 12 months for three years, conditional on engaging with probation services. The court determined the new sentence should run concurrently with the existing one. Separately, Alan Graham, 51, was previously jailed for 10 years after pleading guilty to facilitating the attempted murder of Lee Boylan, Noel Boylan's son, in a related incident on March 6, 2019.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Addict who helped gang try to murder man in notorious daylight shooting gets 7.5 years. Charges or matters: having knowledge of the existence of a criminal organisation and participating in activities with the intention of facilitating the commission by the criminal organisation of the offence of attempted murder of Lee Boylan or being reckless as to same at Blakestown Road, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15 on March 6, 2019; intentionally facilitating the commission of a serious offence by a criminal organisation, namely the attempted murder of Noel Boylan, between May 27 and June 1 2019, both dates inclusive, with knowledge of the existence of the said criminal organisation; participating in the activities of a criminal organisation during the pre-trial hearing. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted

When:

Case subjects

Alan Graham

Convicted Person

Charges: having knowledge of the existence of a criminal organisation and participating in activities with the intention of facilitating the commission by the criminal organisation of the offence of attempted murder of Lee Boylan or being reckless as to same at Blakestown Road, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15 on March 6, 2019 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Alan Graham (51), last of Davin Gardens, Cahirdavin, Limerick was jailed for 10 years for his role in that shooting.

Derek Byrne

Accused

Charges: having knowledge of the existence of a criminal organisation and participating in activities with the intention of facilitating the commission by the criminal organisation of the offence of attempted murder of Lee Boylan or being reckless as to same at Blakestown Road, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15 on March 6, 2019; intentionally facilitating the commission of a serious offence by a criminal organisation, namely the attempted murder of Noel Boylan, between May 27 and June 1 2019, both dates inclusive, with knowledge of the existence of the said criminal organisation; participating in the activities of a criminal organisation during the pre-trial hearing (Proven)

Plea: Guilty

Finding: Convicted

Outcome: Convicted; Byrne, who has a work history in construction, is currently serving that sentence and has been in prison since December 3, 2019. Byrne was sentenced to eight years and six months in prison with the final 12 months suspended for a period of three years on condition he engage with probation services and attend all his appointments.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Central Criminal Court
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Address Area
  • Blakestown Way
  • Whitestown Drive
Residence
Incident
Facility
  • Connolly Hospital
Journey Or Route

Topics

Drugs Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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