Courts / Dublin / Report
Mum-of-two jailed for assisting offender following Dublin killing
Summary
Dubliner Laura Dempsey, a 25-year-old mother of two, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for assisting an offender in connection with the murder of 33-year-old Kieran Farrelly on October 26, 2014. Dempsey pleaded guilty to impeding the apprehension or prosecution of the person she believed was guilty of the killing, which involved concealing a shotgun used at Killarney Court, Killarney Street, Dublin 1. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy noted that Dempsey admitted being present at the shooting and placing the firearm in a wheelie bin after being given it by another accused. The judge acknowledged mitigating factors, including Dempsey's early guilty plea, her attempt to discourage the attack, and her heroin addiction, while recognizing the serious nature of the offence. Dempsey was sentenced to three years in prison, with the final two years suspended for a period of three years. She must comply with a probation officer and attend the Merchant's Quay Project or a suitable alternative. The sentence commences from the date of sentencing, with credit given for time already served. A separate murder charge against Dempsey was previously dismissed following an application under Section 4E of the Criminal Justice Act 1999.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Mum-of-two jailed for assisting offender following Dublin killing. Charges or matters: impeding the apprehension or prosecution of the person she believed was guilty of murdering 33-year-old Kieran Farrelly on October 26, 2014; the offence, which included assisting in the concealment of a shotgun used in the killing at Killarney Court, Killarney Street, Dublin 1. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- October 26, 2014 Incident
- 2016-07-18 Publication
Why: He agreed with Remy Farrell SC, defending, that the gardai had an understanding of what had happened to Mr Farrelly because his client had given them a full account. Defence account reported by CNI
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: impeding the apprehension or prosecution of the person she believed was guilty of murdering 33-year-old Kieran Farrelly on October 26, 2014; the offence, which included assisting in the concealment of a shotgun used in the killing at Killarney Court, Killarney Street, Dublin 1 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: She said that the penalty for assisting an offender ranged from a suspended sentence and up to ten years. "The appropriate penalty is one of five years in prison and with the mitigating factors I reduce this to three years in prison and suspend the final two years for a period of three years," she said. The sentence will commence from today's date and Ms Dempsey will be given credit for time already served in jail.
Places mentioned
Topics
Drugs Stage Sentence Violent Crime
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