Paul Keenan, 43, of Lucan, was sentenced to eleven years in prison after Gardaí seized €220,000, drugs, weapons, luxury goods and about ten mobile phones, including encrypted BQ Aquaris models, during searches of his home and a van. He pleaded guilty to possessing the money on 13 March 2019 and 31 March 2021 and to possessing drugs on those dates. The court heard that the van, stopped at a speed check, contained cocaine, cash, and a white bag of €155,000, while Keenan's house held heart‑shaped tablets, pepper spray, a stun gun, ammunition, and designer items. Keenan admitted he was holding money for third parties and denied ever touching a gun. Judge Martin Nolan described him as intelligent and skilled but imposed consecutive five‑ and six‑year sentences for his high level of involvement in money‑laundering and drug offences. The seized money will be frozen for seven years before forfeiture.
Jason Paget, 35, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four and a half years in prison for offences committed in 2021. Judge Orla Crowe imposed a three-year sentence for the burglary of the Marble Arch Pub in Drimnagh and using a car without consent on August 12, 2021. Paget pleaded guilty to these charges. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, taking possession of a vehicle without consent, and dangerous driving on December 18, 2021, at Longs Place, Dublin 8. For these counts, the judge imposed two-year sentences on the assault and vehicle taking counts to run concurrently with each other and consecutively to the burglary sentence. The final six months of the two-year sentence were suspended on strict conditions. A mandatory two-year driving disqualification was also imposed. The court noted Paget was on bail for the pub incident when he committed the December offences, which included a high-speed chase and an assault on Garda Dara Higgins, resulting in a fractured hand. Separately, Charles Darcy, 34, pleaded guilty to the same burglary count and possession of a firearm at Longs Place. Darcy's sentencing is adjourned to next month. Conor McGregor is identified as the owner of the pub.
Jason Paget (35) and Charles Darcy (34) pleaded guilty to charges arising from a high-speed car chase in Dublin 8. Paget admitted to taking possession of a vehicle without consent, assaulting Garda Dara Higgins causing him harm, and dangerous driving. Darcy admitted to possession of a firearm found in the car after it crashed at Longs Place. The court heard that Paget, who has previous convictions including aggravated sexual assault, resisted arrest, resulting in Garda Higgins suffering a fractured hand. Judge Orla Crowe refused Darcy's application for naming restrictions. The matter was adjourned for sentencing next week, and Paget was remanded in custody. Darcy is due for sentence next month.
A surveillance garda testified in the Special Criminal Court that he saw Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch, accused of the murder of Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne, riding a motorcycle out of former Sinn Fein councillor Jonathan Dowdall's home on February 12, 2016. Gerard Hutch (59), last of The Paddocks, Clontarf, Dublin 3, denies the murder of Mr Byrne (33) during a boxing weigh-in at the Regency Hotel on February 5, 2016. Jonathan Dowdall (44), a married father of four with an address at Navan Road, Cabra, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty in advance of the trial to a lesser charge of facilitating the Hutch gang by making a hotel room available ahead of the murder. Jonathan Dowdall has been jailed by the Special Criminal Court for four years for facilitating the Hutch gang in the notorious murder of Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne. The former Dublin councillor is currently being assessed for the Witness Protection Program after agreeing to testify against former co-accused Gerard Hutch, who is charged with Mr Byrne's murder. The Special Criminal Court has already viewed CCTV footage of what the State says is Gerard Hutch making two separate journeys to Northern Ireland with Dowdall on February 20 and March 7, 2016. A garda known as Member BZ testified that he observed Jonathan Dowdall's grey Toyota Land Cruiser parked opposite Forest Park in Killygordon in Co Donegal at 11am on February 20 2016 and that it was beside a silver Renault Megane Scenic. The Megane left the area at 2.35pm with two males in the vehicle. Another officer called Member BU told Ms Murphy that at 3.51pm on March 9 2016, Shane Rowan was observed carrying a long cardboard box as he walked down the escalator of Clarehall Shopping Centre before entering Carphone Warehouse. In July 2016, Rowan from Forest Park, Killygordan, in County Donegal was jailed for seven and a half years for possession of assault rifles and ammunition. He was also sentenced to a concurrent sentence of four years in prison for IRA membership, backdated to March 9 2016. Evidence has also been given that bullet cases found at the Regency Hotel murder scene were fired by the three AK-47 assault rifles. Gerard Hutch's two co-accused – Paul Murphy (59), of Cherry Avenue, Swords, Co Dublin and Jason Bonney (50), of Drumnigh Wood, Portmarnock, Dublin 13 have pleaded not guilty to participating in or contributing to the murder of David Byrne by providing access to motor vehicles on February 5, 2016. The evidence of the NSU members continues tomorrow before Ms Justice Tara Burns, presiding, sitting with Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Grainne Malone.
Stephen Silver, aged 46, a motorbike mechanic from Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, has given evidence at the Central Criminal Court regarding the death of Detective Garda Colm Horkan on 17 June 2020 at Castlerea, County Roscommon. Mr Silver has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. During his testimony, he described a struggle with the detective during which he obtained the garda's firearm and discharged it eleven times as Garda Horkan fell to the ground. Mr Silver stated he was experiencing confused thoughts and acted in self-defence, believing he faced danger. Under cross-examination, counsel highlighted that Mr Silver had been admitted to psychiatric units seventeen times since 2003 and had discontinued prescribed medication despite medical advice, preferring how he felt without treatment. The trial before Mr Justice Paul McDermott continues.
The Special Criminal Court has viewed CCTV footage presented by the State, which allegedly shows Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch making two separate journeys to Northern Ireland with former Sinn Fein councillor Jonathan Dowdall shortly after the murder of Kinahan Cartel member David Byrne at the Regency Hotel. The footage also shows Patrick Hutch Senior in the same area of north Dublin as convicted IRA member Shane Rowan a month after the attack. Rowan was stopped with three assault rifles used in the Regency Hotel shooting. Jonathan Dowdall has been jailed by the Special Criminal Court for four years for facilitating the Hutch gang in the murder of David Byrne. Gerard Hutch has pleaded guilty to charges related to the murder of David Byrne, but the matter is still ongoing. County Donegal was jailed for seven and a half years for possession of assault rifles and ammunition and received a concurrent sentence of four years for IRA membership, backdated to March 9, 2016. The trial continues tomorrow before Ms Justice Tara Burns, presiding, sitting with Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Grainne Malone.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 35‑year‑old Artiom Cerenkov pleaded guilty to possession of a realistic imitation firearm after a drunken incident on Abbey Street. Garda Ciaran Harford, on duty, confronted Cerenkov who was waving the imitation gun, restrained him, and secured the item. The armed support unit confirmed the firearm was an imitation. Cerenkov, who has 26 prior convictions mainly for shoplifting and has struggled with alcohol and homelessness, was found extremely intoxicated. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Cerenkov's guilty plea and his efforts at rehabilitation, sentenced him to two and a half years' imprisonment, suspended in full. The judge praised Garda Harford's bravery and sensible handling of the situation and acknowledged the defendant's desire for a second chance. The case concluded with the suspended sentence and no custodial term imposed.
Stephen Silver, aged 46, a motorbike mechanic from Aughavim, Foxford, County Mayo, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Detective Garda Colm Horkan. The incident occurred on 17 June 2020 in Castlerea, County Roscommon. Mr Silver has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. During interviews conducted at Castlerea Garda Station on 18 June 2020, Mr Silver claimed he acted in self-defence after being attacked by an armed man he did not initially recognize as a garda. He contended that Detective Garda Horkan was fumbling with his firearm and that he only discharged the weapon in defence. The jury viewed DVD recordings of these interviews with detectives. Mr Silver denied shooting the detective whilst on the ground and maintained he threw the gun away after obtaining possession of it. The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.
Stephen Silver, a 46-year-old motorbike mechanic from Aughavain, Foxford, County Mayo, appeared before the Central Criminal Court where a video recording of his first garda interview was presented. Mr Silver denies murdering Detective Garda Colm Horkan in June 2020 by shooting him. During his interview at Castlerea Garda Station, Mr Silver told gardaí that Detective Garda Horkan initiated a struggle after approaching him on Patrick Street in Castlerea, and that during the confrontation, Detective Garda Horkan attempted to draw his firearm. Mr Silver claimed he acted in self-defence when the gun discharged during their struggle. He has pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility but maintains his not guilty plea to murder. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Paul McDermott with a jury of twelve, continues before the Central Criminal Court.
Stephen Silver, a forty-six-year-old motorbike mechanic from Aughavale near Foxford in County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Detective Garda Colm Horkan on June 17th, 2020 in Castlerea, County Roscommon. He has pleaded guilty to manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility. At the Central Criminal Court, Sergeant Michael O'Hara testified that upon arriving at the scene, Mr Silver told him he had retrieved a firearm from an unknown man who approached him on Main Street. When informed that he had shot a detective garda, Mr Silver allegedly responded negatively about the officer's competence. Gardaí at the scene described Mr Silver's demeanor and actions following his arrest. A witness living overlooking the location provided an account of the shooting itself. The trial, heard before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of twelve, continues.
A member of An Garda Síochána gave emotional testimony at the Central Criminal Court today describing the moment she witnessed a gunman fire multiple shots at her colleague Detective Garda Colm Horkan as he lay on the ground in Castlerea, County Roscommon. Garda Helen Gillen told the court she and Garda Aidan Fallon were driving near the junction of Main Street and Patrick Street when they observed two men grappling before hearing what they believed to be gunshots. She said she saw a man emerge from nearby premises carrying a firearm and fire at the man on the ground, though she could not recall the exact number of shots fired. Garda Gillen stated the shooter was wearing a black jacket with a luminous stripe and a backpack. Stephen Silver, aged 46, a motorbike mechanic from Aughavard, Foxford, County Mayo, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility in relation to Detective Garda Horkan's death on 17 June 2020. The trial before Mr Justice Paul McDermott continues.
Derek Boyd, aged 27, pleaded guilty via videolink in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to unlawfully killing his sister Sandra Boyd, who was shot at his home in Collins Place, Finglas, on 19 March. He also admitted unlawful possession of a semi‑automatic pistol and ammunition on the same date. The court, hearing Boyd in custody, ordered victim impact statements and a psychological report. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned sentencing to 28 November, when Boyd will appear in person.
In October 2022, Joseph Byrne, aged 33, was sentenced to nine‑and‑a‑half years in prison by the Central Criminal Court for providing a handgun to his friend Dean McCarthy, who used it to shoot Sinead Connolly on 6 March 2021. Connolly, a mother of one, survived the attack but was left paralysed and in need of ongoing treatment. Byrne's actions were described by Judge Paul McDermott as reckless, irresponsible and dangerous, noting the ease with which he obtained the firearm and ammunition. The judge set a headline sentence of 14 years for possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, reduced to eleven years with an 18‑month suspended portion, and imposed a five‑year concurrent sentence for possession of ammunition. The case highlighted the lack of support for Connolly and her daughter following the violent incident. Joseph Byrne pleaded guilty. Dean McCarthy pleaded guilty.
At the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Paul McDermott remanded Joseph Byrne in custody until October 6 for sentencing. Byrne, 33, pleaded guilty to possessing a G9A Grand Power semi-automatic handgun with intent to endanger life and possessing Luger Barnaul ammunition on March 6, 2021, at Bluebell, Dublin 12. The court heard that Byrne provided the firearm to Dean McCarthy, who was jailed for 15 years last April after pleading guilty to the attempted murder of Sinead Connolly. Ms Connolly, who was left paralysed, rejected Byrne's apology during her victim impact statement, stating he facilitated the attack. Earlier this week, Paul Mooney, 34, also pleaded guilty to possessing the same firearm and ammunition at the same location. The judge ordered that Byrne remain in custody pending his final sentence hearing in October.
The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by Caolan Smyth and Gary McAreavey regarding the admissibility of mobile phone data used in their convictions. The appellants were found guilty and convicted, respectively, of the attempted murder of James Gately and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life in 2017. McAreavey was also convicted of assisting Smyth by purchasing petrol and helping burn a black Lexus at Newrath, Dromiskin, Co Louth. The appeal challenged the use of data gathered under the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011, arguing it breached EU privacy laws following a separate ruling in the Graham Dwyer case. However, the court, led by Mr Justice George Birmingham, ruled that the Act was valid in 2017 and that the public interest in investigating crime comprehensively outweighed the limited privacy rights attached to the data. The court noted the data was tightly focused and did not reveal personal details such as beliefs or sexuality. The judgment affirmed the Special Criminal Court's 2020 findings. This decision does not affect the separate appeal by Elaine O'Hara, whose case remains contested and is not part of this finalisation.
Robert O'Connor, 34, of Dublin 17, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a loaded semi‑automatic pistol in Finglas on 13 October 2021. The gun, which had three rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber, was found in a Tesco bag along with two jackets, two pairs of gloves, two face masks and a second jacket. Garda Sean Kelly reported that O'Connor and another man had abandoned a vehicle on the N2, were chased down North Road, and were seen removing their tops before being stopped. O'Connor claimed he carried the gun to pay off a drug debt and that he feared for his life. The court accepted his guilty plea, cooperation with the investigation and his stated ambition to reform. Judge Martin Nolan set a headline sentence of nine years but, after considering the plea and cooperation, sentenced him to six and a half years in prison.
In 2012, Keith O'Neill, aged 47, shot John Wilson, 35, dead in Wilson's Ballyfermot home, killing him in the front hallway with a shotgun. O'Neill was convicted of murder by a jury and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2015, with 116 prior convictions. He appealed to the Court of Appeal, arguing the conviction was unsafe because forensic evidence of gunshot residue on his clothing, found in a skip, had been improperly admitted. He also claimed the trial judge's commentary during cross‑examination was excessive and that the forensic evidence was contaminated by Garda handling. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, rejected both grounds, stating the judge had acted appropriately and the evidence was admissible. O'Neill remains in custody at Wheatfield Prison. The appeal was dismissed, upholding the murder conviction. Keith O'Neill pleaded not guilty.
Stephen Gibbons, 58, of Rockleigh House, Richardstown, Co Meath, was convicted in May 2021 by a jury at Trim Circuit Court of unlawfully possessing a 9mm Makarov PM‑63 RAK sub‑machine pistol found during a Garda search near his home. The gun, dated 1945 and coated in thick lubricant, was serviceable but had two discharged bullets blocking the barrel; a detective fitted a replacement barrel to demonstrate its capability for semi‑automatic and fully automatic fire. Gibbons was acquitted of possessing ammunition at the same time and place. He appealed to the Court of Appeal, arguing the jury's verdict was logically inconsistent because the same bag contained the pistol, ammunition, and a hair from his own hair stuck to the lubricant.
In October 2021, Paul Clarke (40) and Patrick Byrne (37) carried out an armed robbery of a post office in Baldoyle, Co Dublin. Gardaí from the Emergency Response Unit arrived six minutes after the raid began. Clarke was armed with a hammer and a spade, while Byrne held an imitation firearm. The raiders shouted threats, forced customers to the ground, and threatened to kill or seriously harm them. An elderly pensioner was unable to crouch due to recent knee surgery and later reported that a gun was held to her face. The men also used the spade and hammer to damage the glass screen separating staff from customers. Both pleaded guilty to attempted robbery, false imprisonment of two female customers, and making a threat to kill or cause serious harm. Byrne also pleaded guilty to possession of an imitation firearm.
Paul Mooney, 34, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to possession of a G9A Grand Power semi-automatic handgun and Luger Barnaul ammunition at Bernard Curtis House, Bluebell, Dublin 12, on March 6, 2021. The charges alleged he possessed the items in circumstances giving rise to a reasonable inference of unlawful purpose. Mooney was remanded on continuing bail, with the matter listed for mention on October 4. Joseph Byrne, 33, previously pleaded guilty to possessing the same firearm with intent to endanger life and possessing the ammunition on the same date. Byrne's sentence hearing is scheduled for Friday. Dean McCarthy, 33, was jailed for 15 years last April after pleading guilty to the attempted murder of Sinead Connolly on March 6, 2021. Ms Connolly, who was left paralysed below the chest, described McCarthy as an "evil, sadistic and cowardly bully" who led a campaign of abuse against her. Prosecution counsel Anne-Marie Lawlor SC told Mr Justice David Keane that Ms Connolly is confined to a wheelchair and anxious to have the matter disposed of. The court proceedings involve distinct pleas and procedural stages for each defendant, with Mooney's case currently at the bail remand stage and Byrne's awaiting sentencing.
Jonathan O'Sullivan, 42, was convicted of possessing a .38 ACB calibre Grand Power automatic pistol in 2021 and sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment. He denied knowing the gun was in his car when arrested in March 2020, claiming he had been paid to move an Audi A4. The trial judge, Seán Ó Donnabháin, questioned whether the defence alleged the gardaí had "planted" the weapon, a question the defence argued was prejudicial. O'Sullivan's counsel, Siobhan Lankford, clarified that the gun was not planted from outside the vehicle but repositioned when returned to the car. The Court of Appeal rejected the appeal, holding the judge's intervention was in the interests of justice and not unfair. The conviction and sentence remain unchanged.
Robert Duffy, a 50‑year‑old former IRA member, was jailed for life in Northern Ireland for the 1993 murder of John Gibson, a building contractor director. He was released on licence under the Good Friday Agreement in July 2000, but in 2008 he was convicted in the Republic of Ireland for attempting to murder Colin O'Neill at the Emerald Bar in Dundalk. Duffy pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life imprisonment after firing a shotgun at O'Neill, who survived but was injured. Following his conviction, his release licence was suspended by the Northern Ireland Secretary of State and a warrant was issued under the EU‑UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement to return him to Northern Ireland to serve the remainder of his sentence for Gibson's murder.
Wayne Cooney, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jordan Davis and possessing a 9mm semi-automatic pistol and ammunition, was sentenced by Mr Justice Tony Hunt. The judge imposed the mandatory life imprisonment term for the murder, describing Cooney as an "extremely dangerous individual" who should not be considered for release until that danger is negated. He further sentenced Cooney to 13 years each for the firearm and ammunition possession, with these terms running concurrently with the life sentence. The court heard that Cooney has 21 previous convictions. Mr Justice Hunt criticized recurring legal arguments regarding CCTV privacy as a "shocking waste of public money," urging the Court of Appeal to rule on the matter. Although the defense indicated the jury's verdict is likely to be appealed, the sentencing hearing itself was not adjourned. The judge noted that the prosecution alleged Davis owed €70,000 to a local drug dealer, and that Cooney fired eight times, striking Davis three times. The judge emphasized that Davis had a right to life, despite his alleged involvement in crime, and praised An Garda Síochána for their investigation.
Wayne Cooney, aged 31, was found guilty of murdering drug dealer Jordan Davis, 22, by shooting him three times with a 9mm pistol while Davis was pushing his four‑month‑old son in a pram. The jury, after just over three hours, concluded that Cooney had circled Davis for three days before firing eight shots, killing him instantly. Cooney was remanded in custody pending a hearing where the victim's family will speak before a life sentence is imposed. The prosecution presented CCTV footage, DNA on a glove, and mobile phone records linking Cooney to the scene and to a drug dealer named CD, who had warned Davis of impending violence. Cooney denied being the shooter and argued that the evidence had "large holes." The case remains subject to appeal. Wayne Cooney pleaded not guilty.
Ryan Kelly, 32, and Anthony Walker, 52, are accused of possessing a .38 Special Smith & Wesson revolver and five rounds of .38 Special ammunition each, with the incidents occurring on 11 November 2021 and 23 November 2021 respectively. Both are also charged with knowledge of a criminal organisation and participation or contribution that could facilitate a serious offence, violating Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act. The State's ex‑parte application succeeded, and the trials will be heard before the non‑jury Special Criminal Court, with the matter adjourned to 11 July.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Patrick Price (27) and Clive Bass (29) were sentenced to six years' imprisonment for possession of a firearm and the use of a shotgun to frighten a group outside the Buzz nightclub on 28 April 2019. CCTV showed a disagreement between Price and a group of people; Price was removed from the club and threatened the bouncer, saying he would shoot them. After leaving in an Audi A3, the car returned to the scene and four shots were fired from the backseat, striking a man 30 metres away and causing minor structural damage to the club's smoking area. Gardaí seized gunshot residue on Bass's clothing and a shotgun case in the car, which was registered to Price's mother. Both men pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm; Price had no convictions at the time, while Bass had 41 previous convictions.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 1 July 2022, Mr Justice Tony Hunt instructed a jury that the key question was whether Wayne Cooney, 31, was the cyclist who shot Jordan Davis, 22, on 22 May 2019. Cooney, who lives on Glenshane Drive, Tallaght, had pleaded not guilty to the murder, to possession of a 9mm semi‑automatic pistol, and to possession of ammunition in circumstances implying unlawful use. The prosecution alleged Cooney stalked Davis for three days, fired eight bullets that hit Davis three times, and that Davis owed €70,000 to a local drug dealer, the brother of Cooney's former girlfriend. Cooney denied being the cyclist, and his barrister said the case had "large holes" and did not prove beyond reasonable doubt. Mr Justice Hunt told the jury to focus on proving Cooney's identity as the shooter and to disregard other matters. The judge would resume his charge on Monday.
Edward McDonnell, a convicted sex offender aged 57, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court for unlawful possession of a Grand Power G9 semi‑automatic pistol. The pistol was found in a car driven by Stephen Little, 48, who was also charged with possession of the weapon in suspicious circumstances. Little was sentenced to six years. McDonnell's appeal to the Court of Appeal was dismissed. The appeal argued that the disparity between McDonnell's nine‑year sentence and Little's six‑year sentence was an error, citing differences in plea timing, previous convictions and alleged involvement in a revenge plot for the murder of Sean Little, 22, who was shot dead in May 2019. The Court of Appeal, with Mr Justice McCarthy presiding, found no basis for the disparity and upheld the nine‑year sentence. Stephen Little pleaded guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, prosecution counsel Bernard Condon SC presented a case that Wayne Cooney, 31, is either guilty of murdering 22‑year‑old Jordan Davis or is the "most unlucky person ever." Condon cited CCTV showing a cyclist, described as athletic with darkish skin, who allegedly fired eight bullets at 4 pm, then dumped a bike and later returned with a body warmer. He linked the cyclist to a phone number ending in 166, associated with Cooney, and to a local drug dealer who had threatened Davis. Condon also referenced DNA on gloves and a bicycle found near the scene, claiming they matched Cooney's DNA and firearm residue. Defence counsel Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha SC argued that the prosecution's evidence contained "huge holes," questioning the reliability of CCTV identification, the DNA transfer, and the phone‑number link, and noting that other Gardaí did not identify Cooney in the footage. Wayne Cooney pleaded not guilty.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Wayne Cooney, aged 31, denied murdering 22‑year‑old Jordan Davis. Cooney claimed he had donated a pair of North Face gloves, which were found near the shooting site and contained firearms residue and his DNA, to a clothing collection company. He expressed remorse for the death but insisted he was the wrong person. Gardai questioned him about his presence in Darndale before and during the shooting, his possession of a 9mm semi‑automatic pistol and ammunition, and his alleged appearance on CCTV footage. Cooney denied being in the area, owning a firearm or ammunition, and being the cyclist seen on CCTV. He also denied that his DNA was found on the bicycle. The court heard forensic evidence of nine spent 9mm cartridges and two casings, identified as from a Glock‑type pistol, and the trial proceeded before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of twelve. The unnamed man pleaded not guilty.
Stephen Gibbons, a convicted person linked to Cornelius Price, appealed to the Court of Appeal against his May 2021 jury conviction for unlawfully possessing a 9mm Makarov PM-63 RAK submachine pistol. Gibbons, who denied the charge, was found not guilty of possessing ammunition at the same location in Co Meath. His legal team argued the verdict was logically inconsistent, noting that a single hair on the weapon was used to convict him despite the ammunition being found in the same bag, for which he was acquitted. The prosecution countered that the jury understood the distinction between the counts and that the DNA evidence was not the sole basis for the conviction. The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment, meaning the matter is adjourned and not yet concluded. At his earlier sentence hearing, Judge Martina Baxter backdated the sentence to April 2020, citing the association of the firearm with organised criminality as an aggravating factor. Gibbons remains on Price's land in Gormanstown, having previously married Price's aunt.
In a Dublin murder trial, a woman from Coolock, Kirsty Darby, testified that she saw a strange man on an orange push bike around her estate for three days in May 2019, before a neighbour, Jordan Davis, was shot dead by a man on a bike. Darby described the cyclist as broad, tall, with sallow skin, wearing gloves, a jacket and a hat, and noted he was "hanging around" and "going round in circles." She claimed she had not seen him before May 20 and not after May 22, the day of the shooting. The prosecution alleges that Wayne Cooney, 31, of Glenshane Drive, Tallaght, was the cyclist and is charged with murder, possession of a 9mm pistol and ammunition. The case is before Mr Justice Tony Hunt with a jury of eight men and four women. The trial is ongoing. Wayne Cooney pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 21 June 2022, the murder trial of AB (33) and Bernard Fogarty (34) was presented. The defendants deny murdering Barry Wolverson at Madigan's Yard on 17 January 2020. They were initially charged with attempted murder, upgraded to murder after Wolverson's death on 21 February 2021. The court heard from former paramedic Michelle O'Toole, who arrived in a rapid response vehicle and found Wolverson unresponsive with eight gunshot wounds to chest and shoulder and one to the temple. She administered adrenaline via the leg, restoring a normal heart rhythm, and transported him to Beaumont Hospital where he survived in a vegetative state for months. Another paramedic, Paul Hand, treated a second wounded man, noting a lower‑back shot with no exit wounds. Both defendants plead not guilty to murder, firearm possession, ammunition possession and assault.
In a murder trial, Sandra Davis, mother of 22‑year‑old Jordan Davis, testified that her son was involved in drug dealing. She said he began buying expensive clothing and traveling to Amsterdam, and that he always had large amounts of cash. Davis recalled that Jordan's partner became pregnant and he bought a buggy costing over €1,500, which she said was all his money. She also described receiving threatening text messages and witnessing men searching her garden in March 2019, after which the windows of her house were smashed. Davis admitted that Jordan had been friends with Sean Little, who was shot dead a day before Jordan. Wayne Cooney, 31, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jordan Davis, to possession of a 9mm pistol, and to possession of ammunition. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and a jury of eight men and four women.
The Special Criminal Court has opened a trial for two Dublin men, a 33‑year‑old referred to as 'AB' and Bernard Fogarty, 34, charged with the murder of Barry Wolverson. The alleged killing took place on 17 January 2020 at Madigan's Yard, Swords, where Wolverson was shot several times and later died on 21 February 2021 after a year in a comatose state. The men were arrested minutes after the incident and were initially charged with attempted murder, a charge upgraded to murder following Wolverson's death. They pleaded not guilty to murder, firearm possession and assault. The prosecution, represented by Paul Greene SC, presented a circumstantial case, citing evidence such as a burned Citroën C4, petrol residue on the accused, and recovered Zip fire logs. The trial, presided over by Judges Michael MacGrath, Cormac Dunne and Gerard Griffin, is expected to last six weeks.
In the Central Criminal Court, witness Ms Stacey Hayes denied that she was pressured to make a false allegation against Wayne Cooney. She said she had picked up Cooney from a bus stop in Darndale after Jordan Davis was shot dead nearby, driving with Cooney's girlfriend, EF, in the passenger seat. Hayes claimed she had met Cooney twice before and knew of his tattoo. Cooney, 31, pleaded not guilty to Davis's murder and to possession of a 9mm pistol and ammunition. Hayes told the prosecution that she had no criminal convictions and that Cooney had entered her car on the day in question. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, continues with a jury of eight men and four women. The article also reports that Dr Margot Bolster gave evidence on the fatal gunshot wounds to Davis.
Colin Kevitt, 29, pleaded guilty to possession of a 9mm Glock pistol found wrapped in black plastic under a flower pot in a wicker basket by a homeowner in Drogheda. The gun, with five loaded bullets and additional ammunition, was seized and tested, showing no evidence of use in a crime. Kevitt's DNA matched samples from the gun, though he denied any admission. His defence claimed a friend had taken the gun to a party where Kevitt handled it, and that his DNA was not on the bullets or plastic. Judge Melanie Greally noted the DNA evidence and Kevitt's prior convictions for minor offences, describing the current offence as a marked escalation. The case was adjourned to 28 October for finalisation, with Kevitt remanded on continuing bail and a Probation Service report ordered.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, a barrister presented evidence that a drug dealer warned a man named Jordan Davis that he would be killed soon, with the phrase "soon, very soon, bang bang." The defendant, Wayne Cooney, 31, denies murdering Davis, 22, who was shot while pushing a pram in Darndale on 22 May 2019. CCTV footage shows Davis being shot repeatedly by Cooney. Cooney also faces charges of possessing a 9mm pistol and ammunition. The prosecution will argue that the warning from the dealer was a death threat. Additional evidence includes DNA linking Cooney to gloves found at the scene, which contained firearm residue. The trial, expected to last up to four weeks, will continue before a jury and Justice Tony Hunt. Wayne Cooney pleaded not guilty.
Robert Cruise, aged 34, was sentenced to eight years in prison, with the final two years suspended, after pleading guilty to being in control of a semi‑automatic pistol and in possession of six rounds of ammunition on 15 June 2017. The pistol and a petrol can of accelerant were found in a car he had moved, along with a motorbike helmet containing clothes. Gardaí stopped Cruise around 10 pm that night on Northbrook Road, searched him, and later found a key he claimed belonged to his brother, which opened the car. Cruise was arrested in May of the following year when his fingerprints were found on the bag holding the petrol can. He has 67 prior convictions, including threats to kill and assault. The court accepted that Cruise was pressured into the role and that the offence was out of character for him, citing his struggles with addiction and mental health.
Joseph Behan, 46, was convicted by a jury at the Circuit Criminal Court for robbery, attempted robbery, assault causing serious harm, assault causing harm, possession of a firearm and reckless discharging of the firearm after a raid on Mizzoni's Pizza in Raheny on 1 January 2019. He was jailed for 15 years. Behan appealed to the Court of Appeal and then to the Supreme Court, arguing that a search warrant issued for his home was unlawful because the Divisional Detective Superintendent who granted it was not independent of the investigation, as required by Section 29(5) of the 1939 Offences Against the State Act. The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, ruling that the warrant was lawful and that any error made had no practical effect on the conviction. The court split 3‑2 on the statutory interpretation, but all judges agreed that the conviction should stand. The case was decided on 30 May 2022.
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 27 May 2022, Joseph Byrne, aged 33, pleaded guilty to possessing a G9A Grand Power semi‑automatic handgun and Luger Barnaul ammunition with intent to endanger life, relating to an incident on 6 March 2021 in Bluebell, Dublin 12. The offence involved the attempted murder of Sinead Connolly, who was shot and left paralysed below the chest. Byrne admitted the gun was used in the attack that left Connolly permanently disabled. The court set a sentence hearing for 29 July, while the prosecution requested a hearing on 21 July to assess readiness, noting Connolly would be present from the National Rehabilitation Hospital. Byrne's case follows that of Dean McCarthy, who was jailed for 15 years for the same attempted murder and similar firearm offences.
Dylan Mooney, 26, a cystic‑fibrosis sufferer, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cannabis resin, cannabis herb, a semi‑automatic pistol and two charges of handling stolen property. He had accrued a €15,000 gambling debt and agreed to hold the gun, ammunition, €20,600 worth of cannabis and two motorbikes to settle it. Judge Melanie Greally, after considering his medical condition and lack of prior convictions, imposed a four‑year prison sentence, suspended in full, with conditions of good behaviour, peace‑keeping and 18 months' engagement with the Probation Service. Mooney had not attracted Garda attention since May 2019 and had cooperated with the investigation, including admitting responsibility for the firearm and drugs found in a safe in his grandfather's attic. The motorbikes, each valued at about €1,750, were also seized. The case was adjourned in 2019 to allow for a probation report and to assess the risk of infection in custody.
Martin Cunningham, 27, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court for assault causing harm and producing a machete. He pleaded guilty to these charges after the DPP dropped an initial attempted murder allegation. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon set a headline sentence of five years but reduced it to four years, citing Cunningham's remorse and early plea. The final 12 months were suspended for two years, with conditions including regular urinalysis and attendance at Probation Services programs. Cunningham, who has been in custody since April 2019, has already served more than three years. The court heard the attack on Kenneth Fitzsimons occurred near Finglas Garda Station and was part of a broader feud between rival gangs. Fitzsimons, who is serving a five-and-a-half year sentence for possession of a firearm, suffered severe injuries requiring four litres of blood. The judge noted Cunningham remains at risk of violent reoffending and must address anger management issues. Cunningham was on bail at the time of the offence and was subsequently fined for driving offences while on remand. He also has previous convictions for driving without insurance, possession of drugs, assault, and making threats while in custody.
Martin Cunningham, 27, struck Kenneth Fitzsimons, 41, with a machete during a gang feud near Finglas Garda Station. Fitzsimons suffered severe injuries, including exposed ribs and required four litres of blood. Cunningham had previously been charged with attempted murder but the DPP dropped that charge after he pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and producing a machete. Fitzsimons, who had a five‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for firearm possession, declined to testify at trial, citing drug‑related memory loss. Cunningham, who has prior convictions for driving offences and drug possession, was fined for driving while on remand and had been convicted of assault and threats while in custody. The Central Criminal Court heard that the assault was Cunningham's reaction to attacks on his home, including a firearm discharge, and that he accepted responsibility for his actions. The court will sentence him next Monday.
Dean McCarthy, aged 33, was sentenced to 16 years in prison with the final year suspended for two years, after pleading guilty to attempted murder of neighbour Sinead Connolly, 34, on 6 March 2021. He also received concurrent sentences of eight years for possession of a firearm and six years for possession of ammunition. The court heard that McCarthy burst into Connolly's flat with a loaded G9A Grand Power handgun, shot her five times, and that the incident occurred while her eight‑year‑old daughter was hidden under a kitchen table. Connolly sustained a burst fracture of the T3 vertebra, became paraplegic, and remains in a rehabilitation hospital. McCarthy had a history of abuse toward Connolly, including verbal insults and physical aggression, and had previously been convicted of knife possession, criminal damage and traffic offences.
A 34-year-old mother, Sinead Connolly, described how her neighbor Dean McCarthy, 33, shot her three times in her home, leaving her permanently paralysed. McCarthy, who had a history of abusive behavior towards her and her daughter, entered her home with a gun and fired multiple shots. The court heard that McCarthy had previously called Ms Connolly a 'whore' and threatened to leave her in a 'body bag'. CCTV footage showed four masked men outside McCarthy's flat before the shooting. McCarthy was accidentally shot during the incident and later pleaded guilty to attempted murder and possession of a firearm. Ms Connolly's victim impact statement detailed the severe physical and emotional consequences of the attack, including her reliance on medical care and the impact on her daughter. McCarthy's defense argued that the incident was not premeditated and that he had no intention to harm Ms Connolly, but the court noted the severity of her injuries and the long-term impact on her life.
In March 2017 the Special Criminal Court sentenced Sharif Kelly, 51, and Edward McGrath, 39, to life imprisonment for the 2013 gun murder of 35‑year‑old Peter Butterly, a father of three, who was shot outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston. The murder trial lasted 35 days after a collapsed first trial in 2015. McGrath was also convicted of firearms offences. The State's main witness was former co‑accused David Cullen, who had his murder charge dropped after pleading guilty to unlawful possession of a semi‑automatic pistol and was jailed for three‑and‑a‑half years. Kelly and McGrath appealed, arguing Cullen's testimony was unreliable and that McGrath had no knowledge of the murder plan. The Court of Appeal, in a 170‑page judgment, rejected both appeals, finding the evidence against the appellants sufficient and the admissibility of Cullen's testimony justified. The court noted no error in the trial's findings and declined to quash the convictions.
Lorcan Merriman, aged 25, was sentenced to two‑and‑a‑half years in prison for disposing of the gun used in the murder of Thomas Farnan, 37, on 25 April 2016. Merriman pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court last year to the offence of disposing of a murder weapon. He had previously been convicted of possession of a firearm and was serving a five‑year sentence for that offence. The judge noted that Merriman had not been found to have any remorse and that the gun was never recovered, thereby hindering the apprehension of the killer. The sentence was imposed with the final 18 months suspended, to be served after the completion of his current custodial term. The court expressed condolences to Farnan's family, who described the victim as a "big friendly giant" and lamented the brutality of the killing.
Diarmuid Rossa Phelan, a senior counsel and law lecturer aged 53, is accused of murdering Keith Conlon, a 36‑year‑old father of four, in a fatal shooting on farmland in Tallaght on 22 February. The High Court heard that Phelan allegedly shot Conlon in the back of the head after a verbal altercation, following an earlier incident in which he fired at Conlon's dog with a rifle. Phelan claims the shooting was accidental, describing it as an "arc" that left him stunned. He has stated he will not leave the jurisdiction and that his career and reputation depend on clearing the matter. Phelan's defence argues that denying bail would "utterly ruin" him, citing his assets, family ties, and professional standing. The court will decide on bail on Monday.
In March 2022 the Special Criminal Court accepted jurisdiction to hear the cases of Bernard Fogarty, 34, and Robert Redmond, 33, who were originally charged with attempted murder of Barry Wolverston. Wolverston died in hospital on 21 February 2021 after a long illness. The State solicitor applied for the charges to be upgraded to murder under Section 49 of the Offences Against the State Act, and the court agreed. The attempted murder charges were withdrawn and replaced by murder charges. Both men were also charged with assault causing harm to Gerard Wildman, and with possession of a .38/.357 calibre firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury. The original trial date of 15 June 2022 was retained. Both defendants confirmed their names in court and were served with the Book of Evidence. The case is now set to proceed under the new murder charges.