Courts / Dublin / Report

Remorseless criminal to serve global 20-year sentence for role in three gangland shootings

Date
2024-02-09

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Lucan

County
Dublin

Summary

Charles McClean, aged 35, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court to a global term of 20 years for his role in three gangland shootings. He already serves a 16.5‑year sentence for facilitating a criminal organisation and an eight‑year sentence for conspiracy to murder Wayne Whelan. The new sentence adds three and a half years for impeding the apprehension of the person who murdered Mark 'Guinea Pig' Desmond in December 2016. McClean pleaded guilty to the offence and showed no remorse. The judge noted that the three offences were separate, each with its own victim and family, and that McClean's involvement was "very unusual." The three‑and‑a‑half‑year term is to run consecutively to his existing sentences, bringing the total to 20 years in custody. The sentence reflects the seriousness of McClean's escalating criminal conduct.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Remorseless criminal to serve global 20-year sentence for role in three gangland shootings. Charges or matters: impeding the apprehension or prosecution of another at Griffeen Valley Park, Lucan, Dublin, on December 2 2016, knowing or believing them to be guilty of an arrestable offence, namely the murder of Mr Desmond. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

November 2019 Incident
December 2 2016 Incident
December 2 Hearing Or Sentence
November 26 Incident
June 13, 2017 Incident
September 2019 Incident
July 27, 2020 Incident
December 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
November 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
December 3 Incident
December 5, 2016 Incident
January 25 Other
September 2021 Incident
September 29 2020 Incident
2024-02-09 Publication

Why: Mr Justice McDermott said he would suspend the last two years of the five years and six month sentence because of the totality principle and due to the fact McClean was making progress in prison. CNI source report

Case subjects

Charles McClean

Defendant

Charges: impeding the apprehension or prosecution of another at Griffeen Valley Park, Lucan, Dublin, on December 2 2016, knowing or believing them to be guilty of an arrestable offence, namely the murder of Mr Desmond (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Last April at the Central Criminal Court, McClean was jailed for eight-and-a-half years for facilitating a criminal organisation in the unexplained fatal shooting of father-of-five Thomas McCarthy (55), a man who had no links to crime. McClean was today sentenced to five years and six months in prison with the final two years suspended for a period of four years.