Lorcan Merriman jailed for impeding murder prosecution

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Lorcan Merriman was sentenced to four years, with the final 18 months suspended, at the Central Criminal Court on 30 March 2022 for disposing of the gun used to murder Thomas Farnan.

That left an immediate custodial term of two-and-a-half years. Farnan was shot at Kilcronan Close, Clondalkin, on 25 April 2016 while speaking to his mother by phone.

Merriman had pleaded guilty to disposing of the weapon after the Director of Public Prosecutions dropped the murder charge against him. His sentence was to begin after an existing five-year term for firearm possession.

The judge said Merriman had impeded the killer’s apprehension and prosecution for six years. He described the killing as a “cold-blooded assassination”, said Merriman’s involvement arose from serious criminality, and acknowledged his rehabilitation efforts and guilty plea.