Courts / Dublin / Report

HSE counsellor tried to paint herself as 'victim' in impeding trial, daughter of murdered woman tells court

Date
2025-06-20

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Ballymun

County
Dublin

Summary

Deirdre Arnold, a former HSE addiction counsellor, pleaded not guilty to two counts of impeding the prosecution of Brian McHugh and perverting the course of public justice. A jury found her guilty of assisting McHugh, who was sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment on March 10 for murdering Lisa Thompson. The court heard that Arnold drove McHugh to the crime scene, waited outside, and helped him evade arrest by checking him into a hotel and allowing her Hyundai Tucson to be used to dispose of evidence. Defence counsel Patrick Gageby SC argued that Arnold acted under fear of abuse and had become addicted to heroin and crack cocaine after meeting McHugh. He noted she has resigned from her state job and is the sole financial support for her three children. Mr Justice Patrick McGrath remanded Arnold on continuing bail until July 4, when she will be sentenced. Victim impact statements highlighted the lasting trauma on Thompson's family, with her daughter stating that Arnold's actions silenced her mother's voice forever.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: HSE counsellor tried to paint herself as 'victim' in impeding trial, daughter of murdered woman tells court. Charges or matters: the two counts. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

March 10 Hearing Or Sentence
May 9 2022 Incident
May 10 2022 Incident
July 4 Adjournment
2025-06-20 Publication

Case subjects

Brian McHugh

Defendant

Outcome: On March 10 this year, Brian McHugh (40), with a former address at Cairn Court, Poppintree, Ballymun in Dublin 11 was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment for murdering 52-year-old Ms Thompson after a jury found he had inflicted 11 stab wounds to her chest and wrapped the cord around her neck. Arnold's defence counsel, Mr Patrick Gageby SC, told her sentence hearing today that "in one of those terrible twists of fate", soon after becoming acquainted with McHugh, the addiction worker herself became addicted to heroin and crack cocaine.

Deirdre Arnold

Accused

Charges: the two counts (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Outcome: Mr Justice Patrick McGrath remanded Arnold on continuing bail until July 4, when she will be sentenced.; Mr Justice Patrick McGrath remanded Arnold on continuing bail until July 4, when she will be sentenced.

Hyundai Tucson

Applicant

Charges: the two counts (Alleged Or Contested)

Outcome: Mr Justice Patrick McGrath remanded Arnold on continuing bail until July 4, when she will be sentenced.