Courts / Dublin / Report

'Spotter' who helped gun down Eamon Kelly fails in bid to overturn conviction

Date
2023-12-19

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

The Court of Appeal has dismissed the appeal of Darren Murphy, who was convicted of the 2012 murder of Eamon Kelly. Murphy, of George's Place, Dublin 1, was found guilty by the Special Criminal Court in November 2021 for acting as a "spotter" in the gang's common design to ambush Kelly. He was sentenced to life in January 2022. The court also found Murphy not guilty of possessing a Glock pistol with intent to endanger life due to insufficient evidence. Murphy's legal team argued that the CCTV identification process was flawed and that Garda witnesses lacked credibility, claiming officers had prior knowledge of the case. Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh rejected these submissions, stating the identification process was excellent and that the trial court's findings on witness credibility were not perverse. The appellate court agreed with the trial judge that the evidence demonstrated careful planning and advance surveillance, confirming Murphy's involvement in the joint enterprise. Separately, Sean Connolly, of Bernard Curtis House, Bluebell, Dublin, was jailed for life by the Special Criminal Court in 2015 for the same murder. The appeal hearing concluded with the dismissal of Murphy's bid to overturn his conviction.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Spotter' who helped gun down Eamon Kelly fails in bid to overturn conviction. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

November 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
December 4, 2012 Incident
January 2022 Incident
June 2018 Other
2023-12-19 Publication

Why: Mr Carroll said the superintendent in the case had put in place a new process regarding recognition evidence, whereby gardaí were summoned to Balbriggan Garda Station in June 2018 without prior knowledge that the reason was to view CCTV. CNI source report

Case subjects

Darren Murphy

Defendant

Outcome: In January 2022, the three-judge court imposed a life sentence on Murphy, of George's Place, Dublin 1, for his role as a "spotter" in murdering 65-year-old Kelly.

Sean Connolly

Appellant

Outcome: Sean Connolly, then aged 35, of Bernard Curtis House, Bluebell, Dublin, was jailed for life by the Special Criminal Court for Kelly's murder.