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Ex-HSE counsellor jailed for acting as get-away driver for 'violent and abusive' murderer
Summary
Deirdre Arnold, 42, a former HSE addiction counsellor, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, for acting as a getaway driver for Brian McHugh, who murdered Lisa Thompson. The Central Criminal Court heard that Arnold drove McHugh to Thompson's home on 9 May 2022, where she waited outside for over an hour before driving him away, and later helped him evade prosecution by checking him into the Clayton Hotel. She also used her silver Hyundai Tucson to dispose of evidence taken from Thompson's house. Arnold had previously complained of domestic abuse and had an interim barring order against McHugh. She pleaded not guilty to the two counts of aiding and abetting and of perverting the course of public justice. The judge noted her history of abuse, her remorse, and her role as a mother, and reduced the headline sentence from five to three years after considering mitigation.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Ex-HSE counsellor jailed for acting as get-away driver for 'violent and abusive' murderer. Charges or matters: the two counts. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- May 9 2022 Incident
- June 18 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 2022 Other
- May 10 2022 Incident
- 2025-07-04 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Outcome: Brian McHugh (40), with a former address at Cairn Court, Poppintree, Ballymun in Dublin 11 was jailed for life for murdering 52-year-old Ms Thompson, after a jury found he had inflicted 11 stab wounds to her chest and wrapped a blind cord around her neck. Before delivering the sentence today, Mr Justice McGrath said Arnold was in a very abusive relationship with McHugh and there was no doubt he was particularly aggressive and violent to her on a number of occasions. "To some extent she was under his dominion and became a user of heroin no doubt due to the appalling abuse he visited on her in the course of their relationship," he added.
Applicant
Outcome: Before delivering the sentence today, Mr Justice McGrath said Arnold was in a very abusive relationship with McHugh and there was no doubt he was particularly aggressive and violent to her on a number of occasions. "To some extent she was under his dominion and became a user of heroin no doubt due to the appalling abuse he visited on her in the course of their relationship," he added.
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