Courts / Dublin / Report

'Trustworthy businessman' who helped Kinahan cartel carry out serious offence is jailed

Summary

Michael Crotty (42) was sentenced to two years' imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for facilitating a serious offence by a criminal organisation. Crotty, a gym owner from Cashel, Co Tipperary, initially pleaded not guilty to facilitating the murder of Noel Kirwan but entered a guilty plea in February to participating in activity reckless as to whether it would facilitate a serious offence. The court found that Crotty bought €20 in phone credit for Sean McGovern, a leading Kinahan cartel member, which was used to coordinate the 2016 murder of Mr Kirwan. Presiding Judge Caroline Biggs set a headline sentence of six years, reduced to two years due to Crotty's guilty plea, lack of prior convictions, and 21 exceptional character references. The judge noted that while Crotty did not intend the credit to be used for murder, its use in the killing was an aggravating factor. This is the fourth conviction related to the case. Previously, Jason Keating (32) was jailed for 10 years for his significant role in the murder. Declan 'Mr Nobody' Brady (57) and Martin Aylmer (37) also pleaded guilty to facilitating or contributing to the murder of Mr Kirwan, though their specific sentences are not detailed in this report. The matter was finalised with Crotty's sentencing.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Trustworthy businessman' who helped Kinahan cartel carry out serious offence is jailed. Charges or matters: facilitating the murder of Mr Kirwan and went to trial in January of this year; recklessness in buying the phone credit but it had "never been his [Crotty's] intention for it to be used in the endangerment of any person"; participating in, or contributing to the murder of Christopher (aka Noel) Kirwan between October 20, 2016 and December 22, 2016 with the knowledge of the existence of a criminal organisation. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• December 22, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
• October 20, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
• December 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2024-05-15 Publication

Why: Mr Kirwan had no involvement in criminality but was targeted by the Kinahan cartel because they mistakenly believed he was linked to the Hutch gang. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report