Ryan Bradley denies murder as prosecution finishes evidence

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

Ryan Bradley, his father Paul Bradley and his brothers Jason Bradley and Dean Bradley pleaded not guilty to murdering Neil Reilly at Esker Glebe in Lucan, Dublin, on 18 January 2017. The proceedings at the Central Criminal Court were reported on 4 July 2018, after the prosecution finished presenting its evidence.

The prosecution said Reilly fired two shots at the Bradley home shortly before 4am, prompting a chase that ended with him being beaten to death and run over by a car. A pathologist told the trial that Reilly had chop wounds to his head, torso and limbs and crush injuries consistent with being run over.

Garda Mark Rowntree said a text sent from Paul Bradley’s phone at 1.32am on 19 January 2017 read: “I ran after him with his gun, I got him with no gun.” Detective Sergeant Damien Gannon told the trial that gardaí searched for a large knife or implement that could have caused Reilly’s injuries, but found nothing matching what they sought.

Dean Bradley’s counsel, Matthias Kelly SC, said his client accepted that he drove a BMW that struck Reilly, who went under the car. Dean Bradley said Reilly was already on the ground. Paul Bradley’s counsel, Brendan Grehan SC, said his client accepted that he drove a Mercedes which followed Reilly’s Mazda, crashed into it after the Mazda crashed, and then kicked Reilly, who was involved in an altercation with Jason Bradley.

Defence barristers for each accused said they did not intend to call evidence. Justice Paul Coffey told the jury to return.