Courts / Dublin / Report
Submachine gun murderer endangered garda with his car
Summary
A convicted murderer serving a life sentence for shooting his brother-in-law with a submachine gun has been given a three-year jail term for endangering a garda with his car. In June 2021, Christopher Devine (44) was driving his car when he suddenly took off, nearly running down a garda and causing €1,800 worth of damage to two vehicles. He was arrested following a separate pursuit and pleaded guilty to endangerment and criminal damage. At the time, he had six previous offences and was later convicted of murder. He now has 13 previous convictions. His defense highlighted his struggles with alcohol and drug abuse, and Judge Orla Crowe reduced the headline sentence of four years to three, taking mitigating factors into account.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Submachine gun murderer endangered garda with his car. Charges or matters: one count of endangerment and one count of criminal damage on June 27, 2021, with a second count of criminal damage taken into account by the court; murdering his brother-in-law by shooting him with a submachine gun in Ballyfermot on January 9, 2022 – some seven months after this offence. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted
When:
- June 2021 Incident
- June 27, 2021 Adjournment
- January 9, 2022 Adjournment
- 2026-04-13 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: one count of endangerment and one count of criminal damage on June 27, 2021, with a second count of criminal damage taken into account by the court; murdering his brother-in-law by shooting him with a submachine gun in Ballyfermot on January 9, 2022 – some seven months after this offence (Proven)
Plea: Guilty
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; He is serving a life sentence for the murder.; This case was adjourned to allow for Devine's murder trial to take place.
Places mentioned
Topics
Drugs Stage Sentence Violent Crime
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