Thomas Stokes, aged 30, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for a high‑speed pursuit that left Garda Thomas Bialkowski seriously injured. Stokes pleaded guilty to two counts of endangerment, one count of assaulting Garda Bialkowski, one count of dangerous driving, and a separate count of criminal damage. The judge imposed four‑and‑a‑half years for endangerment and two‑and‑a‑half years for criminal damage, to run consecutively, giving an effective term of seven years. The final two years were suspended on strict conditions. The pursuit began when Gardaí approached Stokes' car at Dublin Port; after a brief attempt to stop him, Stokes fled, driving at up to 180 km/h, swerving across lanes, and eventually crashing into a wall on Cookstown Way, Tallaght. The crash caused the Garda's firearm butt to strike him, injuring his teeth, eye, arm and shoulder.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Paul Norton, 31, pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of a Beretta handgun and 31 rounds of 9mm ammunition found at Stardust Memorial Park on 5 October 2019. The State's case relied on recognition evidence, as no DNA was recovered. The prosecution alleged that during a high‑speed chase, Norton dropped a bag containing a 9mm Beretta 92 with a single round in the chamber, a full magazine of 15 rounds, and an additional 15 rounds. Defence counsel Michael Bowman questioned the forensic evidence, noting that forensic samples from the bags were contaminated and that DNA from a forensic scientist was found. He also highlighted that DNA from two other men, BD and EN, was identified on the Passat and a bottle of Corona beer, respectively.
In a Dublin court hearing, Thomas Stokes, aged 30 and with 171 prior convictions, was charged after a high‑speed chase that ended with a Garda car crashing into a wall. Stokes, who drove at speeds up to 180 km/h and swerved aggressively, was attempting to flee from Gardaí who had approached his vehicle at Dublin Port. The pursuit resumed on the M50, where Stokes braked hard and crashed, causing the Garda car to swerve into a wall. The impact forced the Garda's firearm butt into his face, resulting in severe eye and facial injuries, soft‑tissue damage to his arm and shoulder, and damage to his teeth. Stokes was arrested nearby and has remained in custody, except for a brief compassionate bail in March. He pleaded guilty to two counts of endangerment, one count of assaulting a Garda, one count of dangerous driving, and one count of criminal damage. He will be sentenced on Wednesday.
Gavin Sheehan, aged 33, was convicted of shooting Ciara Sheehan in the neck through a house window in Cork on 15 May 2016. He was found guilty of possession of a firearm and ammunition, reckless discharge of a firearm and assault causing serious harm. Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin sentenced him to 14 years' imprisonment on 14 February 2017, suspending the final three years. Sheehan appealed, arguing the case relied on circumstantial evidence, lacked forensic links between the bullet and the gun, and that a bullet casing was found several houses away. He also cited time discrepancies on CCTV, a 999 call and Garda arrival, and claimed the trial judge wrongly refused his lawyers to speak off‑record. The Court of Appeal, led by Justice John Edwards, found no miscarriage of justice, upheld the conviction and dismissed the appeal, noting only an error in the trial judge's refusal to allow off‑record counsel. The conviction remains affirmed.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Paul Norton, aged 31, pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of a Beretta handgun and 31 rounds of 9mm ammunition found in a black drawstring bag at Stardust Memorial Park, Coolock, on 5 October 2019. Gardaí Detective Jason Flynn recounted a high‑speed chase that began when a navy blue Passat was spotted in a cul‑de‑sac off Bunratty Road. The vehicle collided with a traffic island, and Norton exited the car. Flynn pursued Norton into the park, where Norton dropped the bag while attempting to escape. The bag contained the handgun, a full clip of ammunition, and an additional round in the breech. No forensic evidence linked the weapon or ammunition to Norton, and he was arrested on 13 October 2019. The trial was scheduled to continue the following day.
Paul Norton, aged 31, pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of a Beretta handgun and 31 rounds of 9mm ammunition after he dropped a bag containing the weapon and ammunition while being chased by Gardaí through Stardust Memorial Park, Coolock, on 5 October 2019. The prosecution, represented by Mr John Byrne JC, argued that the State's case relied on visual identification. Gardaí Jason Flynn and Keith Cassidy pursued a parked Volkswagen Passat that failed to stop, leading to a high‑speed chase of 4.5 kilometres. The occupants fled into the park, where Det Gda Flynn chased Norton on foot for about 160 metres, observed him stumble and drop the bag, and secured it. No forensic or DNA evidence linked the firearm, ammunition or vehicle to Norton; the case was based on visual identification. Detailed maps and photographs of the scene and pursuit route were entered into evidence.
Christopher Maguire, 42, was sentenced to 21 months' imprisonment in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a series of violent and threatening offences. He pleaded guilty to assaulting his sister Nicola Byrne and to making threats to kill or seriously harm her and her husband David Byrne on 10 May 2019 at Killester Avenue. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of intimidating a witness at Harry Byrne's pub on 6 September 2019. Earlier, he had been convicted of false imprisonment and drug possession. During the May incident, Gardaí found him holding a kitchen knife and he threatened David Byrne with a "sawn‑off shotgun" and later claimed to have a gun. In September he threatened to shoot both Byrne and his sister after purchasing a gun. The judge, Martin Nolan, found the threats credible and imposed consecutive sentences of six months for the earlier offences and 15 months for the later ones, totaling 21 months of imprisonment.
Graham Gardner, 35, was jailed for nine years after police found two machine guns, three revolvers, two silencers and 107 rounds of ammunition in the boot of a Ford Focus van. The van, which had a hidden compartment accessed by a pulley system, was discovered in an underground carpark near where Gardaí had approached Gardner. Gardner, who wore a bulletproof vest and carried a key he claimed was a spare, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of firearms and ammunition. He had 40 prior convictions for minor offences. Gardaí found his DNA on the weapons and noted that the van and a second vehicle had been bought under false names. Gardner had fled to England after failing to attend a court hearing, but later surrendered and was extradited back to Ireland. The judge accepted his admissions and the seriousness of the case, sentencing him to nine years in custody, backdated to his September 2023 arrest.
Paul Norton, a 31‑year‑old from Cromcastle Court, Coolock, was arraigned before the Special Criminal Court on a charge of unlawful possession of a Beretta semi‑automatic pistol and 31 rounds of 9mm ammunition for an unlawful purpose at the Stardust Memorial Park in Coolock on 5 October 2019. He pleaded not guilty. Judge Tony Hunt announced the trial would commence on Wednesday 20 May and would last five days. He confirmed that Norton's partner and mother could attend the proceedings.
Denise Bergin, aged 50, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment after pleading guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of drugs for sale or supply, firearms and ammunition. On 18 July 2019 Gardaí seized two semi‑automatic pistols and ammunition hidden in a dog‑food box under her kitchen sink, 37 packages of cannabis, six small bags of cocaine and about 40,000 prescription tablets, totalling €758,000 in value. Bergin claimed she had been asked to hold the items for €400 to pay a drug debt and to visit her sick mother in the UK. She was described as a vulnerable person with a diagnosed emotionally unstable personality disorder, and her mother died two weeks after her arrest. The court noted the exploitation of her vulnerability and imposed the five‑year sentence with mitigation considered.
A 25‑year‑old man named Jake Kearney pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to unlawful possession of a Grandpower semi‑automatic pistol. The pistol was found in his possession on 30 October 2019 at Oscar Traynor Road, Santry, Dublin 9. Kearney also faced a separate charge for unlawful possession of eight rounds of nine‑millimetre ammunition, which was heard in Dublin District Court the previous year. The court ordered a governor's report, a probation report and a urine analysis for Kearney, and remanded him in custody until 29 June when sentencing will occur.
Liam Brannigan, 37, was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years' imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court for conspiring to murder Gary Hanley. Mr Justice Paul Coffey described Brannigan as having a central role in the Kinahan Cartel plot, noting his culpability was high due to his management and oversight of the plan. The sentence includes a suspension of the final six months, conditional on Brannigan completing his degree at UCD or a vocational course in prison. The sentence was backdated to November 6, 2017. Brannigan was the fifth person jailed for this conspiracy. Previously, Luke Wilson pleaded guilty to conspiracy and unlawful possession of a Beretta, receiving 11 years; Alan Wilson pleaded guilty to conspiracy, receiving six years; Joseph Kelly pleaded guilty to conspiracy and a weapons charge, receiving 12 years; and Dean Howe pleaded guilty to conspiracy, receiving six years. The court found that Brannigan was at the centre of the plot, which was foiled when gardai intercepted a vehicle containing a loaded pistol near Hanley's home. The judge highlighted the elaborate nature of the plan and the imminent danger to Hanley. Detective Superintendent David Gallagher praised the convictions as significant successes against organised crime.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced 44‑year‑old Keith McCarthy to four years' imprisonment for a series of robberies carried out after a relapse into drug addiction. McCarthy, a former drug counsellor who had previously overcome his addiction, pleaded guilty to two robberies at Eddie Rocket's in Finglas, a robbery at BoyleSports in Donabate, an attempted robbery at Ladbrokes in Mulhuddart, and two driving‑without‑insurance offences. He admitted stealing almost €2,000 from Eddie Rocket's and €5,000 from BoyleSports, using an imitation firearm and a scarf to conceal his face. The judge noted McCarthy's history of 38 convictions, including 30 traffic offences, and his prior suspended robbery sentence in 2015. He highlighted McCarthy's remorse, cooperation with Gardaí, and his role as a caring father and son, while emphasising the need for him to overcome his addictive habits. McCarthy was also disqualified from driving for four years.
Stephen Little, 46, of Kilbarron Avenue, Dublin 5, and Edward McDonnell, 55, of Waterside Apartments, New Ross, Co. Wexford, were accused of unlawful possession of a semi‑automatic pistol and of having the weapon with intent to endanger life at Lein Park, Harmonstown, Dublin 5 on 14 September 2019. They appeared by video link before the Special Criminal Court, where Mr Justice Tony Hunt set a trial date for 6 July. The court also ordered witnesses and exhibits for that date, and the case will be mentioned again on 25 May for disclosure matters.
Liam Brannigan, 37, of Bride Street, Dublin 8, had his sentencing adjourned at the Special Criminal Court due to the presiding judge's illness. Brannigan was found guilty of conspiracy to murder Gary Hanley in 2017. The court remanded him in custody and adjourned the sentence to April 24 at 2pm. Four co-accused—Joseph Kelly, Luke Wilson, Alan Wilson, and Dean Howe—previously pleaded guilty to the same charge. The prosecution alleged that Kelly and Wilson were intercepted near Hanley's home with a loaded semi-automatic pistol, silencer, and ammunition. Evidence included covert audio recordings, phone data, and CCTV footage showing Brannigan discarding an illuminated item, identified as the PB3 phone, before his arrest. The judge noted the overwhelming evidence connecting Brannigan to the conspiracy, including his central role in managing the plot via the PB3 phone. The matter was adjourned and not concluded.
Jamie Mullen, 23, of Rowlagh Avenue, Clondalkin, Dublin, was found guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of hiding a large quantity of ammunition in his family home on 20 September 2017. Gardaí recovered the ammunition from two sites – a hot‑press and beneath a wardrobe in Mullen's bedroom – during a search. The cache included 30 shotgun cartridges, a .22 Winchester magnum rimfire cartridge and a .9 mm blank cartridge, all of which ballistics tests confirmed were in good condition and suitable for discharge from firearms. Mullen pleaded guilty, citing his right to silence during the Garda interview, and expressed a desire to apologise and "put things right." He had 24 prior convictions and had left school at 15. The judge, Melanie Greally, noted the seriousness of the seizure, Mullen's youth and lack of prior firearm offences, and sentenced him to four years' imprisonment with the final 12 months suspended.
Samantha Irwin, 36, was convicted of robbing a shop in Dublin on 20 September 2018, stealing €55 from a shop assistant while armed with a syringe. A bloodstained note found in her pocket, containing numbers for out‑of‑hours homeless accommodation, was identified by CCTV and matched to her DNA. She pleaded guilty to robbery and to possession of two shotgun cartridges found in her accommodation in April 2019. The court, hearing that she had no history of violence and was in a severe addiction episode, imposed a headline sentence of seven and a half years but reduced it to five and a half years with the final 18 months suspended. Conditions include residential drug treatment. She also received a nine‑month term for the cartridge offence, to run concurrently with the robbery sentence. The judge noted her remorse, drug‑free status, and steps taken in rehabilitation.
In 2011, two armed men robbed Lordship Credit Union in Co Louth, taking €22,500 in cash and €35,000 in cheques from a bag left by volunteer chairman John Kenwright. The robbers, who drove a car with yellow Northern Irish plates, used a sawn‑off shotgun and a firearm to threaten Kenwright and smash his car's passenger side window. They fled within 23 seconds. In 2013, Aaron Brady (29) pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe (41), who was to escort Kenwright to an AIB bank in Dundalk. Brady also pleaded not guilty to a robbery charge for the same day and location. The Central Criminal Court heard the details, noting that Donohoe was scheduled to escort Kenwright and that the robbery car was later found burnt out near the border. The case was presented to a jury of seven men and seven women, with legal matters to be addressed in the defendant's absence.
Owen Cummins, 41, of Cabra, Dublin 7, was sentenced to nine years and six months imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court for possessing a Beretta 92s handgun and silencer in suspicious circumstances. The offence occurred on September 6, 2017, in Inchicore, Dublin 8, during a confrontation with armed gardai. Cummins pleaded guilty to the charge. The court heard that Cummins drove a jeep towards Garda Stephen Gillespie, who was restraining co-accused Andrew O'Keeffe on the ground. Fearing for his life, the garda discharged his firearm, causing Cummins to swerve and collide with a parked vehicle. Mr Justice Hunt, sitting with Judges Griffin and Dempsey, reduced the headline sentence from 12 years to nine years and six months, citing mitigating factors including Cummins' guilty plea and the recent death of his 19-year-old child. A further 18 months of the sentence was suspended to encourage rehabilitation. The sentence was backdated to May 27, 2019. Cummins has 68 previous convictions. Separately, co-accused Andrew O'Keeffe, 30, of Cabra West, pleaded guilty in June 2018 to possessing a 9mm Beretta handgun and silencer in suspicious circumstances on the same date. He was sentenced in August 2018 to nine years imprisonment with one year suspended.
A 31‑year‑old man, Paul Norton, faces a firearms charge and will be tried in the Special Criminal Court on Monday, 18 May. He appeared in the Dublin District Court last October, accused of unlawfully possessing a Beretta pistol and 31 rounds of 9mm ammunition at the Stardust Memorial Park in Coolock on 5 October 2019. The State solicitor, Ciara Vibien, requested that the case be heard in the Special Criminal Court, and Mr Justice Tony Hunt granted the order.
Stephen Little, 46, of Kilbarron Avenue, Dublin 5, and Edward McDonnell, 55, of Waterside Apartments, New Ross, Co. Wexford, are accused of unlawful possession of a semi‑automatic pistol and of having the weapon with intent to endanger life at Lein Park, Harmonstown, Dublin 5 on 14 September 2019. The State solicitor, Michael O'Donovan, requested that the two men be tried in the Special Criminal Court, a non‑jury court. Mr Justice Tony Hunt granted the order, and the accused did not appear in court.
The Court of Appeal has increased the prison sentences of four men convicted of robbing the Cleaboy Post Office in Waterford on May 3, 2018. Alan Wall, Michael Tynan, Conor O'Connor, and Barry Walsh each pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of a sawn-off shotgun. The original sentences, deemed unduly lenient by the Director of Public Prosecutions, were five years for Wall and Tynan (with 18 months suspended) and six years for Walsh and O'Connor (with 12 months suspended). The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice John Edwards, re-sentenced the defendants to longer terms: Wall to seven years, Tynan to seven years and three months, Walsh to seven-and-a-half years, and O'Connor to eight years. Additionally, concurrent five-year sentences were imposed for the firearms offences. The court found the initial headline sentences too low and noted that too much credit was given for mitigating factors. The robbery involved the use of a firearm and hammers, resulting in the theft of approximately €45,000. The appeal was successful, leading to these increased custodial terms.
Shane Fay, who was 18 when he was caught with 15 rounds of 9mm ammunition in his bedroom, was sentenced to two years in prison. He admitted to storing the bullets after being asked to do so and claimed a cocaine dependency. Fay pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 3 October 2018. While awaiting sentencing, he was attacked and stabbed ten times, suffering severe wounds and lung damage. His attackers also cut his fingers, severing tendons. Fay was a carer for his wheelchair‑bound parents; his father had lost his legs to alcohol abuse and his mother had an extreme reaction to a mosquito bite during a state‑funded respite holiday. Judge Melanie Greally suspended the final year of a three‑year term, citing his early guilty plea, his youth and his difficult background.
Martin Lumsden, 35, with 110 prior convictions, was arrested after climbing over the railings of Gaelscoil Cholmcille in Coolock and stealing €880.78 from Trócaire boxes. Garda Finbarr Fleming found a heavy bag with coins and evidence of a smashed side window and rummaged principal's office. Lumsden pleaded guilty to burglary of the school on 18 April 2018 and to robbery and possession of a firearm at Mace shop on 7 May 2018, where he stole about €500 from two tills and used a gun. The firearm and money were not recovered. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to a two‑year term for burglary and a consecutive five‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term for armed robbery, suspending all sentences for seven years on the condition of remaining drug‑free, keeping the peace and engaging with the Peter McVerry Trust. John Finn, 32, was also convicted of the burglary; he received a separate sentence at a prior hearing.
Liam Brannigan, 37, was convicted by the Special Criminal Court of conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between September 15 and November 6, 2017. Although Brannigan pleaded not guilty, the court found the evidence overwhelming, including covert audio recordings and phone data. His sentencing is scheduled for March 23. In related proceedings, four co-accused pleaded guilty to the same conspiracy charge. Luke Wilson, who also admitted unlawful possession of a Beretta, was jailed for 11 years. Alan Wilson received a six-year sentence. Joseph Kelly, who also admitted a weapons charge, was jailed for 12 years. Dean Howe, who also pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder Mr Hanley, is scheduled to be sentenced on March 3. The court noted Brannigan has 28 previous convictions, primarily for road traffic matters, and has been in custody since November 2017. Defense counsel argued for a non-custodial outcome, citing his lack of prior custodial sentences and his active role as a father. The judge emphasized the cogency of the evidence linking Brannigan to the operation, which involved armed gardai intercepting a van near Hanley's home where two men were found with a loaded pistol.
During a robbery at Real Brazil on 20 September 2018, 36‑year‑old Samantha Irwin, armed with a syringe, stole €55 from a shop assistant. A bloodstained post‑it note fell from her pocket while she was being recorded on CCTV; the note listed out‑of‑hours homeless accommodation services. Detective Garda Michelle Fitzpatrick identified the note and matched DNA from the blood on it to Irwin. The shop assistant, who managed to pull her arm free, later stated she now works only day shifts and feels anxious about being alone in the shop. Irwin pleaded guilty to robbery and to possession of two shotgun cartridges found in her accommodation in April 2019. She has 19 prior convictions, mainly for traffic offences, and has sought help for drug addiction. The court adjourned sentencing to 5 March 2020 for a full plea in mitigation.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 17 February 2020, Derek Devoy, aged 37, pleaded guilty to possessing a RAK‑PM63 sub‑machine gun with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury at Crannogue Road, Ballymun, Dublin 11. The court accepted his single‑count plea and set a trial date of 10 June for two additional Public Order charges – assaulting a garda and a garda sergeant on the same day. Devoy had previously faced charges for possession of a Yugoslavian M75 hand grenade, a 9mm Makarov PM 63 sub‑machine gun, and 11 rounds of 9mm ammunition, all with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury to property. The case remains pending for the remaining charges. The court did not impose any sentence at this stage.
James Gallagher, aged 33, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm and recklessly discharging a firearm at Cullen's Yard, Greenhill Road, Walkinstown on 4 August 2018. He fired a single‑barrel shotgun at a man, John O'Connor, who was buying car parts at the scrapyard. O'Connor was not the intended target; he was struck by multiple pellet wounds, knocked to the ground, and later taken to Tallaght Hospital. Another man received minor injuries but did not require hospital treatment. The shotgun was never recovered. CCTV identified Gallagher, and a discarded tracksuit bottom linked to him was found. Gallagher has 42 prior convictions, including theft, criminal damage, drug possession for sale, and traffic offences. He has two children. The judge imposed a five‑year concurrent sentence, effective from 4 December 2018, after noting his efforts to overcome drug addiction.
During a Central Criminal Court hearing, Dr Edward Connolly reported that forensic tests on numerous items from the scene of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe's fatal shooting found no DNA linking Aaron Brady, the accused, to the crime. Samples examined included swabs from cars, a hammer, cigarette butts, a handbag, car keys, chewing gum, gloves, a €2 coin, a shotgun cartridge, CDs, a plastic wallet, a Tayto crisp packet, a cable tie, a Starburst wrapper and a popcorn packet. Three unknown male DNA profiles were generated but matched no individuals in the national database; other profiles matched Garda or witnesses present. Brady, 28, pleaded not guilty to the capital murder and to a robbery charge at the same location and time. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of 15.
In the Central Criminal Court, a ballistics expert testified that the fatal shot that killed Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was fired from a distance of six to seven feet. The expert, Detective Garda Seamus O'Donnell, demonstrated a semi‑automatic Beretta A301 12‑gauge shotgun similar to the weapon used, and compared impact patterns on targets with the wound on Donohoe's right eye. He measured a 60‑mm diameter impact at the same range, concluding the shooter was within six to seven feet of the muzzle. The cartridge found at the scene was a 12‑gauge round from a Spanish manufacturer, containing about 250 lead pellets, with 90 pellets recovered from Donohoe's body. The testimony was presented to a jury of seven women and eight men, with the trial proceeding before Mr Justice Michael White. The accused, Aaron Brady, 28, pleaded not guilty to the capital murder and robbery charges.
Six men were brought before the Special Criminal Court on charges of conspiring to murder Patrick "Patsy" Hutch. The court served each defendant with books of evidence and remanded them in custody for a further hearing on 9 March. The defendants – Michael Burns (43), Ciaran O'Driscoll (24), Patrick Curtis (38), Stephen Curtis (32), Mohammed Smew (27) and Mark Capper (21) – were charged with conspiring to commit the murder of Hutch between 1 February and 10 March 2018, and also with facilitating the commission of a serious offence by a criminal organisation. Additional charges included conspiracy to murder an unknown person on the same dates, and for Burns, possession of a firearm silencer and five rounds of 9 mm ammunition. The prosecution, represented by State solicitor Ciara Vibien, stated that disclosure to the defence was at an advanced stage. Each defendant appeared in court either alone or in groups, with Capper appearing alone again later.
A 31‑year‑old man, Paul Norton, faces a firearms charge and will be tried in the Special Criminal Court. He appeared in the Dublin District Court in October, accused of unlawful possession of a Beretta and 31 rounds of 9mm ammunition at Stardust Memorial Park in Coolock on 5 October 2019. The Director of Public Prosecutions, represented by State solicitor Ciara Vibien, requested that he be tried in the Special Criminal Court, a request that was granted by Mr Justice Tony Hunt. The case is now scheduled for mention on 2 March.
In a 2019 incident on Clogher Road, Dublin, 39‑year‑old Derek McCann attempted to rob a taxi driver by presenting an imitation firearm. The driver braked abruptly, wrestled the plastic gun from McCann, and the two struggled outside the vehicle. A second taxi driver intervened, kicking the gun away and alerting the Gardaí. McCann was arrested, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery, and was sentenced to five years in custody, backdated to June 2019. He had a suspended sentence for prior offences and may face reactivation of that portion. The judge noted McCann's drug addiction, family support, and progress in custody, and credited his guilty plea and cooperation. The case was adjourned for a later hearing. The incident left the driver unable to work nights due to its impact.
In the Central Criminal Court, the case of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe's murder was heard. Inspector Darren Kirwan testified that he discovered Donohoe had been shot at 21.45 on 25 January 2013 and immediately went to the deceased's home to inform his wife, Caroline Donohoe, who identified his body in the credit union car park at 11pm. Aaron Brady, aged 28, pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Donohoe and to the robbery of about €7,000 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth. Dr Khalid Jaber performed a post‑mortem, finding extensive brain and skull damage and a penetrating shotgun wound to the face as the cause of death. Witnesses, including Leona White, Christina Birch, and Garda Rachel Copperthwaite, described hearing gunshots, seeing a robbery, and finding Donohoe's body. The trial continued on Monday before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury.
A former detective garda testified at the Central Criminal Court that he feared for his life when armed raiders confronted him and his colleague during a credit union escort at Bellurgan, County Louth on 25 January 2013. The witness described how one raider pointed a shotgun at him and made threats, while another held a handgun. He stated that Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was fatally shot during the incident. Aaron Brady, aged 28 from Crossmaglen, County Armagh, has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Detective Garda Donohoe and to robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques from Lordship Credit Union on the same date and location. The witness, who has served as a garda since 1992, detailed the sequence of events and provided descriptions of the raiders' appearance and accents. The trial, heard before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury, continues.
The Special Criminal Court has convicted Liam Brannigan (37) of conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between September 15 and November 6, 2017. Brannigan, who pleaded not guilty, was found to be the user of the PB3 phone, which the judge described as central to managing the Kinahan Cartel-linked plot. The court relied on covert audio, phone data, and CCTV showing Brannigan discarding the PB3 phone shortly before his arrest. Four co-accused previously pleaded guilty to the same offence. Luke Wilson (24) and Joseph Kelly (35), who were arrested with a loaded 9mm Beretta, silencer, and ammunition, were jailed for 11 and 12 years respectively; both also admitted weapons charges. Alan Wilson (39) was sentenced to six years. Dean Howe (34) remains to be sentenced on March 3. Brannigan's sentencing is scheduled for February 24. The judge noted the overwhelming evidence connecting Brannigan to the conspiracy, including recorded conversations identifying him as "Branner" and his role in coordinating the operation. The matter is now at the sentencing stage for Brannigan, while Howe's case is adjourned for future sentencing.
In a capital murder trial, the jury was shown CCTV footage of the moment Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead in the car park of Lordship Credit Union on 25 January 2013. The footage shows a vehicle blocking the exit while four men emerge, one carrying a shotgun that appears to recoil. The prosecution argues Donohoe died from a single shotgun blast. Aaron Brady, aged 28, pleaded not guilty to the capital murder and to robbery of approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques at the same location. The evidence also includes testimony from credit union employees who counted the stolen money, totalling €27,375, and a dashcam view from a Mazda. The trial continues before Mr Justice Michael White with a jury of eight men and seven women.
In the trial of Aaron Brady, accused of the capital murder of Garda Adrian Donohoe, the jury was shown a photograph taken by Detective Garda Eoin Conway of Donohoe's gun still clipped into its holster while he lay on the ground after being shot. Conway also photographed the scene hours after the shooting, including a spent shotgun cartridge, a Samsung mobile phone, cigarette butts, drink cans, keys, and three cars in the car park. Brady, 28, pleaded not guilty to the murder and to a charge of robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques at the same location. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Michael White with a jury of eight men and seven women. The case also involves forensic evidence from a burnt-out vehicle and statements from crime scene investigators regarding potential evidence collection. The proceedings remain ongoing.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, a 15‑year‑old boy pleaded guilty to possession of a loaded semi‑automatic pistol found in a schoolbag under his bunk beds on 3 December 2018. The gun, loaded with 11 rounds, had been given to him by an older man who had asked him to hold it for a few days. The boy later attempted to dispose of the weapon after the man failed to retrieve it. Gardaí were alerted by a tip, searched the home, and disarmed the firearm. The boy, who has no prior convictions, was placed on a 12‑month probation bond. The court noted his low risk of re‑offending and advised him that compliance with probation conditions would likely prevent imprisonment. The case was adjourned to 22 January 2021.
The trial of Aaron Brady, 28, from Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Michael White. Brady has pleaded not guilty to the alleged capital murder of Det Gda Adrian Donohoe and the robbery of approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth, on January 25, 2013. Prosecution counsel Brendan Grehan SC opened the case, alleging that a gang of four raiders targeted the Garda escort for a "base criminal motive" driven by money. He stated that one raider allegedly shot Det Gda Donohoe in the face with a shotgun, killing him instantly, while another threatened Det Gda Joe Ryan with a handgun. The prosecution contends the operation was highly organized, with the getaway car later found burnt out in South Armagh. Grehan argued that Brady was under financial pressure and allegedly lied about his whereabouts. Evidence will include CCTV, mobile phone data showing a "telecommunications blackout" during the incident, and conversations Brady allegedly had after moving to New York. The jury of 15 is hearing the prosecution's case, which relies on circumstantial evidence to link Brady to the crime. The trial continues.
Dean Howe, 34, of Dublin 8, pleaded guilty to conspiring with others to murder Gary Hanley between September 15 and November 6, 2017. At a sentence hearing in the Special Criminal Court, the prosecution detailed Howe's alleged role in surveillance, supervising vehicles, collecting fuel, and instructing co-accused. Evidence included secret recordings where Howe scolded Joseph Kelly for "fucking up" and instructions to cover his face while buying petrol. The court heard that tracking devices were moved to Phoenix Park on September 15, 2017, where Howe was observed with others. On November 6, 2017, Kelly and Luke Wilson were arrested near Hanley's home with a loaded pistol and silencer. Luke Wilson, 24, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and unlawful possession of a Beretta, receiving an 11-year sentence. Alan Wilson, 39, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and was jailed for six years. Joseph Kelly, 35, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and a weapons charge, receiving a 12-year sentence. Howe, who has 37 previous convictions, has been in custody since May 2019. Mr Justice Tony Hunt adjourned Howe's sentencing to March 3 at 10.30am.
Owen Cummins, 41, of Cabra, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possessing a Beretta 92s handgun and silencer in suspicious circumstances on September 6, 2017. The court heard that gardai, acting on intelligence regarding a potential hit in Ballyfermot, pursued a Citroen Berlingo van driven by Cummins. After a collision, Cummins fled in a Hyundai Tucson jeep, driving directly at Garda Stephen Gillespie, who was restraining passenger Andrew O'Keeffe. The garda discharged his firearm to dissuade the vehicle, which subsequently struck a parked Volkswagen Passat. Cummins then abandoned the jeep. O'Keeffe, 30, previously pleaded guilty to possessing the firearm and was sentenced in August 2018 to nine years' imprisonment, with one year suspended. Cummins, who has 68 previous convictions, was represented by Michael O'Higgins SC, who described him as a former heroin addict acting as a driver under instructions. The matter was adjourned, with Mr Justice Tony Hunt scheduled to sentence Cummins on March 3.
James Byrne, 45, of Ballymun, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of drugs for sale or supply and to recklessly discharging a firearm at his neighbour's address on 9 December 2017. Gardaí were called after Byrne reported a gunshot wound to his leg. He admitted he had shot himself accidentally while attempting to hide a gun he had bought that day, intending to kill himself. The gun discharged when he was holding the trigger, injuring his leg. A search of his home uncovered a semi‑automatic Makarov pistol in a garden shed and cannabis resin worth €18,000, which Byrne claimed he held to pay a drug debt. He had prior convictions for drug possession, burglary and traffic offences. The judge, citing Byrne's guilty plea, cooperation and family responsibilities, imposed an 18‑month custodial sentence for the drug charge, noting that a suspended sentence would have been appropriate if only the firearms offence had been considered.
In a case before the Special Criminal Court, Jonathan Hawthorn, 45, was convicted of membership in the Irish Republican Army for purchasing explosives online. The prosecution relied on FBI surveillance of the dark web, where a user named Meat Cleaver ordered Semtex, a grenade, a handgun and ammunition. Hawthorn was photographed receiving a mock‑delivery of the explosives and was later found with the materials in a sports bag. He was sentenced to five years' imprisonment in October 2018. Hawthorn has now appealed, arguing that witnesses from the National Surveillance Unit should not be granted anonymity in the non‑jury court. The appeal contends that no legal authority exists for anonymous testimony, and that the accused has a right to know the identity of witnesses. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment.
Robert Lawlor, a 35‑year‑old father of three, was acquitted of five charges, including attempted murder, after a trial where his ex‑girlfriend Rachel Kirwan recanted a statement to the Gardaí that alleged he had threatened to kill her new partner Derek Mitchell and his mother Fiona Mitchell. The jury found him not guilty on all counts. On 16 December 2019, the Central Criminal Court struck out the sole remaining charge against Lawlor – assault causing harm to Kirwan on an unknown date in December 2014 – by entering a nolle prosequi. Judge Michael White declared Lawlor fully discharged, no longer in custody, and free to leave. The court proceedings followed earlier acquittals in May 2018 of attempted murder of Fiona Mitchell, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, and shooting of Ms Mitchell's dog Chopper. No further charges were pursued.
Alan Freeman, aged 38, was convicted of violently breaking into the Garvey family home in Pallasgreen, Co. Limerick, on 16 April 2012, where he and two other men used a sawn‑off shotgun, a sledgehammer and a baseball bat. The gang restrained the occupants, threatened Gerard Garvey and his 14‑year‑old daughter, and took cash before fleeing. Freeman, along with Patrick Roche (54) and Philip Roche (25), was also found guilty of a separate burglary at the Creed home. Judge John Hannan sentenced Freeman to 14 years, with the final three years suspended. On 10 December 2019 the Court of Appeal quashed Freeman's conviction and ordered a retrial, while the convictions of the Roche men were upheld. The appeal was based on the Court's view that evidence linking Freeman to an alleged burglary at another home should have led to a separate trial, as the evidence was deemed insufficient and potentially prejudicial.
In a case of attempted murder, the jury was cautioned by Mr Justice Paul McDermott to scrutinise the identification evidence presented by a woman who claimed to recognise the gunman. The woman, Ms. Mitchell, alleged that she saw Robert Lawlor holding a gun in her garden before shots were fired into her home and that a dog was also shot. Mr McDermott warned that even multiple witnesses can err, urging jurors to consider the duration and clarity of Ms. Mitchell's view from her lit kitchen into a dark garden. He reminded them that the defence argued her testimony was dishonest. The jury must decide whether the shooting constituted attempted murder or intimidation, and each of the five charges against Lawlor must be judged separately with unanimous verdicts. Lawlor has pleaded not guilty to all charges, including attempted murder, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, a threat to a third party, and shooting a dog.
Five men—Ciaran O'Driscoll (24), Patrick Curtis (38), Stephen Curtis (32), Mohammed Smew (27) and Michael Burns (43)—appeared before the Special Criminal Court on 5 December 2019. They are charged with conspiring to murder Patrick "Patsy" Hutch between 1 February 2018 and 10 March 2018, a serious offence under Section 71 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. All five are also charged with participating in activities intended to facilitate the commission of a serious offence by a criminal organisation, namely the murder of Mr Hutch between 1 February 2018 and 28 February 2018, and with the murder of an unknown person between 1 February 2018 and 10 March 2018. Patrick Curtis and Michael Burns face additional charges of directing the activities of a criminal organisation during the same period. Burns is further accused of possessing a firearm silencer and five rounds of 9 mm ammunition on 10 March 2018, suggesting unlawful possession.
In the trial of Robert Lawlor, a 35‑year‑old from Laytown, the State's closing speech highlighted the circumstances leading to the shooting on 26 May 2018. Lawlor was seen by the alleged victim, Fiona Mitchell, in her back garden holding a gun moments before shots were fired into her home. The prosecution argued that the incident was triggered by Lawlor's ex‑girlfriend, Rachel Kirwan, refusing to end her relationship with Derek Mitchell, whom Lawlor demanded she break off. Lawlor pleaded not guilty to attempted murder of Mitchell, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, a threat to Kirwan to kill or seriously harm Mitchell and her son, and shooting a dog. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, continues before a jury of seven men and five women.
David Farrelly, aged 31, was jailed for seven years after admitting possession of €360,000 in proceeds of crime and €25,500 in cash, and for possession of more than €84,000 worth of cocaine and €26,000 cash in a portakabin at his garden. He was caught in 2017 when Gardaí found €364,000 in cash and a pistol in a box in his stepfather's home, and again in 2018 when a raid uncovered cocaine and cash at his residence. Farrelly denied involvement the day after the first discovery, claiming his stepfather had removed the plastic wrapping the cash. His fingerprints were later found on the plastic. He has 45 prior convictions, including drug offences and traffic offences. His stepfather, described as a father figure, had previously served four years for money laundering and firearm possession. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the sentence, noting the seriousness of money laundering.