Phillip McBride, aged 44, was arrested with a loaded semi‑automatic handgun, ammunition, gloves, a balaclava and a burner phone. He and his co‑accused Derek Byrne were both wearing two sets of clothing at the time of arrest. McBride pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition on 3 December 2019. He has six prior convictions for road traffic offences and no prior violent convictions. Byrne, aged 38, had 78 prior convictions, including drug possession and public order offences, and had previously been sentenced to seven‑and‑a‑half years with 18 months suspended. At sentencing, Judge Melanie Greally imposed a six‑year term on McBride, suspending the final three years on strict conditions, including 12 months of probation. The judge noted McBride's cocaine addiction and his efforts at rehabilitation, describing him as a pro‑social person who had fallen into debt and drug‑related pressure. Byrne's earlier sentence was not altered in this hearing.
A 55-year-old man from Longford town is fighting extradition to France to serve the remainder of a custodial sentence for offences relating to the transportation of war materials, the High Court heard on Wednesday. Roger Bergin was arrested in January 2003 after customs officials discovered approximately 775 kilograms of cannabis resin, cocaine, two handguns, ammunition and cash concealed in a truck at the France-Spain border. He was subsequently convicted and sentenced to four years imprisonment. Following his release in 2005, French prosecutors successfully appealed his acquittal on firearms charges, prompting the issue of a European Arrest Warrant in 2006. Bergin contends the French authorities had knowledge of his Longford address for over fifteen years without pursuing his arrest, and that he was denied a fair opportunity to appeal his conviction. Justice Caroline Biggs noted the alleged denial of appeal rights as central to the case. The matter was adjourned to 23 March.
Paul Byrne, 36, was jailed for two years after he fired a sawn‑off double‑barrel shotgun outside a mother of three's home in Cushlawn Park, Tallaght, on 25 April 2019. The mother, alarmed by the shots, called 999 and gardaí found the gun, a Halloween mask, a trail of blood and a car key belonging to Byrne's former partner. Byrne later admitted to the garda that he had found the gun and was drunk, claiming he had intended to harm himself in a failed suicide attempt. He pleaded guilty to reckless discharge of a firearm. Judge Melanie Greally described his explanation as "bizarre and utterly implausible", noting his history of alcohol abuse and depression but stating his actions were not consistent with a suicide attempt. The judge accepted character references and suspended the final year of a three‑year sentence, leaving a two‑year term in custody.
Hazel Byrne, 31, pleaded guilty to possession of articles in connection with drug trafficking after moving a large suitcase of paracetamol and caffeine powder from her mother's Dublin home on 29 May 2018. The powder was used as a bulking agent to cut heroin and cocaine. Byrne's mother, Catherine Byrne, 56, had earlier received a five‑year suspended sentence for holding over €190,000 worth of heroin, cocaine and mixing agents at her home. The court heard that gardaí had stopped a car driven by Catherine Byrne and found a large box with a shotgun, but the judge accepted that the box likely contained drugs. Judge Melanie Greally suspended a two‑year prison term for Hazel Byrne, requiring her to engage with Probation Services for another year, including drug screening and therapeutic work. The sentence was fully suspended, with no custodial time imposed.
The Court of Appeal heard arguments regarding the admissibility of evidence in the case of Richard Dekker, who was convicted in 2017 of murdering Daniel McAnaspie. Dekker, a prisoner at Mountjoy Prison, is appealing his life sentence, arguing that his right to reasonable access to a solicitor was breached during questioning at Cabra Garda Station. His counsel, Sean Gillane SC, contended that Dekker was not properly cautioned and was pressured to answer questions without legal advice, rendering subsequent statements inadmissible. The prosecution, represented by Brendan Grehan SC, countered that Dekker was cautioned twice and understood his rights, noting he had previously been advised by his solicitor not to speak if inference provisions were invoked. The court heard that Dekker had initially been acquitted in 2013 due to a lack of evidence, but the Supreme Court later permitted a retrial under the Criminal Justice Procedure Act 2010. Co-accused Trevor Noone admitted manslaughter and blamed Dekker for the murder. Dekker also received a two-year and six-month sentence in 2010 for unlawful possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. The matter remains under appeal consideration.
Two men have been jailed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following their conviction for transporting a sawn-off shotgun in the Balbriggan area on 25 September 2020. Thomas McDonagh, aged 36, of Oldcastle Drive, Clondalkin, and William Ward, aged 25, of Owendoher Haven, Ballyboden, both pleaded guilty to possession of the firearm. The men attempted to flee at high speed after gardaí signalled them to stop, prompting a pursuit during which two children were forced to take evasive action. Armed gardaí ultimately apprehended both defendants following a foot chase. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a sentence of three-and-a-half years imprisonment on McDonagh, noting he was conveyed the firearm by a relative. Ward received two-and-a-half years imprisonment, with the judge taking account of his age and mental health difficulties. Both men's early guilty pleas allowed the judge to depart from the mandatory minimum sentence of five years. The court heard there was no evidence the defendants intended to use the weapon.
In February 2017, Gavin Sheehan, aged 35, was convicted at Cork Circuit Criminal Court of possession of a firearm and ammunition, unlawful discharge of a firearm, assault causing serious harm, and two counts of criminal damage. The jury found him guilty after a seven‑day trial. Judge Sean O'Donnabhain imposed a headline sentence of 14 years, suspending three years, and noted the victim, 21‑year‑old Ciara Sheehan, survived after life‑saving surgery. Sheehan had previously denied all charges and appealed. On 18 January 2022, the Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, considered whether the suspended portion could be reassessed if Sheehan failed to make suitable progress in rehabilitation. Defence counsel Patrick McGrath SC requested a brief adjournment, after which Sheehan withdrew his appeal. The court granted the withdrawal, noting Sheehan's 72 prior convictions and the legal advice he had received. The case remains at the point of the suspended sentence, with no further appeal pending.
A Chinese national who lived under an assumed identity for eight years has received a fully suspended four-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Wenzi Wang, aged 39, of Blanchardstown, Dublin, obtained a legitimate Northern Irish birth certificate belonging to another person in 2009 and used it to secure an Irish passport under the name Sau Kee Lee. He subsequently acquired a driving licence, taxi licence, Public Service Card and mortgage using the false identity. Wang pleaded guilty to providing a false birth certificate in connection with a passport application at a Garda station in County Donegal in May 2009, and to six counts of deception between October 2010 and April 2017. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of providing false information to a registrar and to possessing an air rifle and garda-style apparel. Judge Pauline Codd noted Wang had paid taxes and committed no offences whilst using the false name. His wife remained unaware of his true identity until 2017. The judge imposed strict conditions on the suspended sentence.
The Special Criminal Court has sentenced Darren Murphy to life in prison for the murder of Eamon Kelly. Mr Justice Owens, sitting with Judges Ní Chúlacháin and Dempsey, imposed the mandatory life sentence, backdating it to November 1, 2021, for time already served. Murphy, who pleaded not guilty, was convicted of acting as a "spotter" in the December 4, 2012, shooting of the 65-year-old victim on Furry Park Road, Killester. The court found he participated in the common design of the murder gang, meeting the gunman and getaway driver and facilitating their escape. He was acquitted of possessing a Glock pistol due to insufficient evidence. Co-accused Kenneth Donohoe, who also pleaded not guilty, was found not to have been the getaway driver or possessed a handgun, with the court citing insufficient evidence of his direct role. In 2015, Sean Connolly was jailed for life for the same murder. The judge stated the evidence admitted no other credible explanation for Murphy's activities, noting he was as guilty as the shooter. Murphy has six previous convictions for public order and road traffic matters. The court accepted victim impact statements from Kelly's daughter, Alison, who described the killing as a "cowardly and senseless act."
Douglas Glynn (37) of Fitzgibbon Court, Dublin 1, was re-arraigned on November 17 and pleaded guilty to participating in activities of a criminal organisation, contrary to Section 72 (1) (A) of the Criminal Justice Act. The charge relates to his involvement between December 7, 2016, and April 6, 2017, in activities connected with the targeting of James 'Mago' Gately. Glynn had previously pleaded not guilty at his first arraignment on November 9. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding at the non-jury court, remanded Glynn in custody until February 11, when he will be sentenced. In a related case, Caolan Smyth (30) of Cuileann Court, Donore, Co Meath, was sentenced to 20 years at the Special Criminal Court for the attempted murder of Gately and for possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. Smyth had denied both charges. Gary McAreavey (53) of Gort Nua, Station Road, Castlebellingham, Co Louth, pleaded not guilty to acting to impede an apprehension or prosecution by purchasing petrol and assisting in the burning out of the vehicle, a black Lexus, used in the attempted murder at Newrath, Dromiskin, Co Louth on the same day. He received a four-year jail term with the final year suspended. Estonian hitman Imre Arakas (63) was jailed by the Special Criminal Court for six years in December 2018, after he admitted to conspiring with others to murder Gately in Northern Ireland between April 3 and 4, 2017. Stephen Fowler (62), of Blakestown Cottages in Clonsilla, Dublin 15, has already been jailed for providing logistical support to the plot to murder Gately. The court heard that Gately had been warned by gardaí of a threat to his life from criminals who believed him to be involved in the Regency Hotel murder of Kinahan Cartel associate David Byrne in February 2016. The court has heard in previous related cases that there was 'ongoing targeting' of Gately in the context of a feud between the Hutch and Kinahan crime groups.
Alan Wilson, aged 42, was sentenced to ten years in prison by Ms Justice Tara Burns of the Special Criminal Court for his role in a 2010 murder conspiracy that led to a shooting outside the Player's Lounge pub. Wilson admitted to conspiracy to murder persons unknown on 26 July 2010, and to possession of a .38 calibre Smith & Wesson revolver and a .32 calibre Zastava pistol between 24 and 26 July 2010, with the inference that he possessed them for an unlawful purpose. He had pleaded not guilty to the attempted murders of Brian Masterson, Wayne Barrett and Austin Purcell, charges that were later dropped. Wilson had previously pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to murder in 2019 and had a six‑year sentence for an earlier conspiracy. He was found not guilty of the 2008 murder of teenager Marioara Rostas.
Alan Wilson, 42, appeared before the Special Criminal Court for sentencing on a conspiracy to murder charge. He pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder persons unknown on July 26, 2010, and to possessing a .38 calibre Smith & Wesson revolver and a .32 calibre Zastava semi-automatic pistol for an unlawful purpose. Charges of attempted murder against Brian Masterson, Wayne Barrett, and Austin Purcell were dropped. Wilson was previously acquitted of the murder of Marioara Rostas in 2014. In 2019, he pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder Gary Hanley and was jailed for six years, with release due in May next year. Defence counsel Padraig Dwyer SC argued that the Rostas accusation caused significant suffering and that Wilson is not a member of the Kinahan gang. Dwyer highlighted Wilson's remorse, his early guilty plea, and his desire to lead an honest life, requesting a suspended portion of the sentence to aid rehabilitation. The court scheduled the sentencing for the current conviction for 2pm that day.
Michael McDonagh, aged 23, was convicted of three armed robberies in Dublin 8 on 10 and 11 January. He used a firearm, a balaclava, gloves and a weapon that victims believed to be real, threatening staff and customers, including a pregnant woman. The robberies took place at an Applegreen, a Centra and a Eurospar, where he stole €700, €1,500 and a large quantity of cigarettes and tobacco. CCTV footage of him on a distinctive black bike led to his arrest. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five-and-a-half years' imprisonment, with the sentence backdated to January. The court noted his seven prior convictions and his ongoing drug‑free progress in custody. The case was adjourned to March to address post‑release supervision.
Two women, Caitriona Miller (41) and Abbie Mangan (29), were sentenced in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after a scheme involving the delivery of what they believed were car parts turned out to be imitation firearms. The firearms were part of a controlled delivery operation by Gardaí following the interception of real firearms in the United States. Miller, who had previously been convicted of speeding, pleaded guilty to possession of an imitation firearm and to allowing a person to possess cocaine and cannabis at her address on 12 October 2018. Mangan, with no prior convictions, pleaded guilty to knowingly permitting possession of cocaine and cannabis at her address on the same date. Both were given fully suspended sentences of two‑and‑a‑half years for Miller and three‑and‑a‑half years for Mangan, each suspended in its entirety on strict conditions.
Alan Wilson, a member of the Kinahan criminal gang, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to conspiracy to murder and an offence under the Firearms Act. He admitted to possessing a .38 calibre Smith & Wesson revolver and a .32 calibre Zastava semi-automatic pistol between July 24 and July 26, 2010, in circumstances giving rise to the reasonable inference that he possessed them for an unlawful purpose. The prosecution alleged he provided firearms and getaway cars for the attempted murders of Brian Masterson, Wayne Barrett, and Austin Purcell at The Player's Lounge in Dublin 3 on July 26, 2010. Wilson claimed he was acting on instructions from dissident republicans. The Director of Public Prosecutions agreed to drop three attempted murder charges against him. Wilson also pleaded guilty in 2019 to conspiring to murder Gary Hanley between September 15 and November 6, 2017, for which he was jailed for six years and is due for release in May next year. The court noted his diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. The matter is at the sentencing stage. Ms Justice Tara Burns, presiding with Judge James Faughnan and Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin, will hear pleas in mitigation from Wilson's senior barrister Padraig Dwyer before passing sentence on December 15.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has dropped three charges of attempted murder against Alan Wilson, a Kinahan Cartel member, following his guilty plea to conspiracy to murder at the Special Criminal Court. Wilson, who was secretly recorded by gardai discussing the murder plot, had been on trial since November 1, accused of attempting to murder Brian Masterson, Wayne Barrett, and Austin Purcell at The Player's Lounge Public House in Dublin 3 on July 26, 2010. He also admitted to possessing a .38 calibre Smith & Wesson revolver and a .32 calibre Zastava semi-automatic pistol between July 24 and July 26, 2010, in circumstances suggesting an unlawful purpose. Wilson previously admitted to conspiring to murder Gary Hanley in 2017 and was jailed for six years. The DPP's Ronan Kennedy SC stated the plea was acceptable, and the attempted murder charges will be dropped during a sentencing hearing on Monday. The matter was adjourned by Ms Justice Tara Burns, with Judge James Faughnan and Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin, until then.
Alan Wilson, aged 42, is on trial for the attempted murder of three men outside the Player's Lounge pub in Dublin. He is alleged to be a member of the Kinahan organised crime gang. Retired Detective Superintendent William Johnson, former head of the National Surveillance Unit, testified that on 13 October 2017 he authorised the placement of an audio listening device in a Volkswagen Caddy believed to be used by Wilson and other gang members. Johnson said the device was needed to monitor conversations to prevent further crimes. The prosecution presented recordings from 2017 in which Wilson allegedly admitted to shooting the three men in 2010 and expressed amazement at one survivor's resilience. Wilson has pleaded not guilty to the attempted murders and to possession of firearms and ammunition. The trial is before the Special Criminal Court, presided by Ms Justice Tara Burns, with Judges James Faughnan and Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin.
David Ward, 36, of The Beeches, Clonshaugh, was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and reckless discharge of a firearm after shots were fired into his cousin John Ward's home at 2 am on 17 September 2016, wounding a dog that later died. Ward pleaded not guilty. The trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that the shots were fired, but Ward's defence lawyer, Keith Spencer BL, argued that Ward was not involved. Judge Elma Sheahan, after considering the defence's claim that Gardaí failed to secure CCTV footage that could corroborate Ward's alibi, directed the jury to acquit Ward of both charges. The judge noted that the Garda evidence was fair and that the prosecution had no ballistics expert, and that inconsistencies in the complainant's testimony could lead to an unfair trial. The jury was discharged and Ward was found not guilty by direction.
David Ward, 36, of The Beeches, Clonshaugh Woods, Coolock, is on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for the reckless discharge of a firearm and unlawful possession of a firearm. The incident occurred on 17 September 2016 at Belcamp Lane, Dublin 17, when Ward allegedly fired a shotgun into his cousin John Ward's home, fatally wounding the cousin's dog. Ward pleaded not guilty to both charges. His defence lawyer, Keith Spencer BL, argued that while shots were fired, Ward was not involved. John Ward testified that Ward had come to his house to complain about children playing "nick nacks" and that a brief altercation followed, during which Ward allegedly threatened to shoot. Witnesses reported hearing a bang, seeing sparks on the back door, and observing Ward standing on the back wall. The witness also claimed that Ward fired a fourth shot that killed a dog, describing the dog as being struck in the back of the head.
In the Special Criminal Court, Garda National Surveillance Unit members testified that they observed Alan Wilson, 42, at several Dublin locations in September and October 2017, including in a white Nissan Primastar van. The evidence, presented by prosecution counsel John Byrne SC, includes a recording in which Wilson allegedly says, "Remember the shooting at the Player's Lounge, I done that." Wilson is charged with attempting to murder Brian Masterson, Wayne Barrett and Austin Purcell at The Player's Lounge pub on 26 July 2010, and with possession of firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The trial is proceeding before Justice Tara Burns, with Judges James Faughnan and Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin presiding.
Douglas Glynn (37) of Fitzgibbon Court, Dublin 1, changed his plea to guilty at the Special Criminal Court, admitting to participating in the activities of a criminal organisation between December 7, 2016, and April 6, 2017. The charge alleged he placed a tracker device on James Gately's car in Belfast to facilitate a murder plot. Glynn had previously pleaded not guilty. Presiding judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt adjourned the case to January 14, 2022, for a sentence hearing; the matter was adjourned and not concluded. Glynn is the fifth person convicted in cases relating to the failed bid to murder Gately. Peter Keating (40) was jailed for 11 years after pleading guilty to directing a criminal organisation targeting Gately. Stephen Fowler (62) and David Duffy (33) were jailed for providing logistical support. Imre Arakas (63) was jailed for six years in December 2018 after admitting to conspiring to murder Gately. Caolan Smyth (30) was sentenced to 20 years for the attempted murder of Gately and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. Gary McAreavey (53) pleaded not guilty to impeding a prosecution and received a four-year jail term with the final year suspended.
Derek Byrne, aged 38, was arrested in December 2019 with a loaded semi‑automatic pistol, ammunition, gloves, a balaclava and a burner phone, items he claimed were for intimidation. The firearm and ammunition were incompatible, so they could not inflict injury on that occasion. Byrne and co‑accused Phillip McBride, aged 43, were both wearing two sets of clothing when apprehended. Byrne pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition and has 78 prior convictions, including drug possession, public order and traffic offences. He was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison, with 18 months suspended, after the judge considered mitigating factors such as progress in custody for drug addiction. McBride will be sentenced on 14 January next year. The case involved a surveillance operation that led to Byrne leaving his home with a bag, driving a BMW with McBride, and a subsequent chase that ended on a grass verge where the gun was found.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Kenneth Donohoe was found not guilty of murdering Eamon Kelly, while his co‑accused Darren Murphy was convicted. The judge said there was insufficient evidence to prove Donohoe was the driver of the getaway Lexus, that he possessed a Glock handgun, or that he had a direct role in the gang. Evidence was deemed insufficient to establish Donohoe's involvement beyond reasonable doubt. Murphy, aged 51, was found guilty of the murder after evidence showed he acted as a spotter and assisted the gunman, Sean Connolly, and the getaway driver. Murphy was also found not guilty of the second charge of possession of a Glock pistol with intent to endanger life. The court will impose a mandatory life sentence on Murphy and remand him until the sentencing date. The case involved CCTV footage, fingerprints, vehicle links, DNA and firearm residue as circumstantial evidence. The court granted Donohoe a discharge from the indictment.
The Special Criminal Court has ordered that the public be excluded from an attempted murder trial while evidence is heard from members of the National Surveillance Unit (NSU), a covert unit that targets terrorists and organised crime gangs. Justice Tara Burns granted the order after Detective Superintendent Ciaran Hoey explained that revealing the identities of NSU officers would endanger their lives, compromise ongoing investigations, and jeopardise future covert operations. The court will allow media members to attend, but the names, physical characteristics or any identifying details of the NSU officers will not be published. The NSU officers will give evidence in the trial of 42‑year‑old Alan Wilson, who has pleaded not guilty to attempted murders and possession of firearms and ammunition. The trial will resume on Monday, 15 November.
Lorcan Merriman, 25, pleaded guilty to disposing of the firearm used to kill Dublin man Thomas Farnan, 37, on 28 October 2016. The murder trial jury was discharged after Merriman's guilty plea to a Section 7 charge of impeding apprehension by disposing of the gun. The court will hold a sentence hearing on 24 January next year, and the State intends to enter a nolle prosequi, officially dropping the murder charge, on that day. Merriman is remanded in custody until the hearing. Farnan was shot at his front door at Kilcronan Close, Clondankin, on 25 April 2016, dying almost immediately after being shot at least five times, with a single bullet through his right arm, chest and heart causing death. The case was heard at the Dublin Circuit Court, where Mr Justice David Keane presided. Thomas Farnan pleaded not guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court session on 10 November 2021, Judge Tara Burns welcomed a group of transition year students and cautioned them that the court would soon show "graphic" CCTV footage of a shooting involving three men. She advised the students to be prepared to leave if they felt upset. The footage, which the students viewed, depicted the attempted murders of Brian Masterson, Wayne Barrett and Austin Purcell at The Player's Lounge Public House on 26 July 2010. Mr Alan Wilson, aged 42, pleaded not guilty to the attempted murders and to possession of firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life. Detective Garda David Dunne presented CCTV evidence from Mount Street, St Stephen's Lane, St Stephen's Place and the pub, showing a van and a Volkswagen Golf at the time of the shooting, the arrival of a man who discharged two firearms, and the subsequent departure of two vehicles.
In a 2021 court hearing, Damien Byrne, 44, was found guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm after brandishing an imitation pistol in Finches pub, Clondalkin, on 18 September 2016. Byrne, who was suffering from severe cocaine and alcohol dependence at the time, had pulled the weapon during a violent altercation with an associate and pointed it at security staff before waving it around the pub, causing patrons to flee for cover. He was arrested after leaving the pub with another man. Byrne pleaded guilty and his defence counsel highlighted his ongoing rehabilitation, noting he has been drug and alcohol free since 2020 and has established two successful businesses. Judge Melanie Greally, considering his progress and lack of prior convictions, suspended a four‑year prison term on the condition that he keep the peace for that period, thereby avoiding a custodial sentence. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
Eugene Farrell, 42, was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison for transporting firearms in a gym bag to settle his son's drug debt, after the family endured intimidation and attacks. He admitted to moving the bag, which contained a revolver, a Harrington and Richardson sawn‑off shotgun, a Mossberg sawn‑off shotgun, two Beretta shotguns and ammunition, some of which had been stolen in earlier burglaries. Farrell had 21 prior convictions, mainly traffic offences, and had previously transported drugs for the same people. Judge Elma Sheahan noted the family's terror but accepted that Farrell acted under duress, had no personal benefit, and had shown remorse. She imposed a four‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspending the final nine months, with strict conditions including probation engagement for nine months after release. The weapons were seized during a Garda drug search of a Peugeot in Tallaght. Farrell's son's debt has since been paid. Eugene Farrell pleaded guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, a bullet removed from the buttocks of a man shot at the Player's Lounge in 2010 was linked to a weapon found in the back of a burning Volkswagen Golf minutes after the attack. Detective Garda Ursula Cummins, a ballistics expert, testified that the bullet matched a .32 Auto Calibre Zastava semi‑automatic pistol recovered from the car. She also noted that cartridges matching a .38 Special Calibre Smith & Wesson revolver were found in the vehicle, though the revolver's serial number had been erased. Mr. Alan Wilson, 42, denies the attempted murders of Brian Masterson, Wayne Barrett and Austin Purcell, as well as possession of firearms and ammunition. The court heard that the pistol could hold nine rounds and the revolver five, and that the pistol's magazine had exploded due to the fire but the rounds were not fired. The prosecution's case also included audio evidence of Mr. Alan Wilson pleaded not guilty. Player's Lounge pleaded not guilty.
Alan Wilson, 42, is on trial at the Special Criminal Court, where he has pleaded not guilty to the alleged attempted murders of Brian Masterson, Wayne Barrett, and Austin Purcell at The Player's Lounge Public House in Dublin 3 on July 26, 2010. He also pleads not guilty to possessing a .38 Special Smith & Wesson revolver and a .32 Auto Zastava pistol with intent to endanger life. Prosecutors presented secret Garda recordings allegedly capturing Wilson admitting to the shooting, stating, "I done that," and expressing surprise that victims survived. The State's case relies on these unprompted admissions and evidence that Wilson and another male planned a separate crime using a route identical to the 2010 incident's getaway. Witnesses described the scene as chaotic, with one off-duty detective witnessing the shooter flee with two handguns. The prosecution argues that surveillance of a Volkswagen Caddy and a Nissan Primastar revealed reconnaissance trips matching the original attack's modus operandi. The trial, scheduled for five weeks before Ms Justice Tara Burns and two colleagues, continues tomorrow. At his arraignment, Wilson attempted to deliver a prepared speech alleging a State show-trial before being interrupted by the presiding judge, who requested only his plea.
The murder trial of Lorcan Merriman, 25, of Lealand Close, Clondalkin, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice David Keane and a jury. Merriman has pleaded not guilty to the alleged murder of Thomas Farnan at Kilcronan Close, Clondalkin, on April 25 or 26, 2016. Chief State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan testified that Mr Farnan sustained nine gunshot injuries from at least five bullets. She identified a bullet that traversed the victim's arm, chest, and heart as the fatal injury, while wounds to the abdomen, elbow, and pelvis contributed to death. Toxicology revealed high levels of methadone, alcohol, and Zopiclone, though these did not contribute to the death. Detective Garda Lynn Johnson reported finding five discharged 9mm cartridges outside the home and one inside, along with three recovered bullets. Tool markings suggested the rounds were fired from the same weapon, though the firearm was never located. Gardaí also found three air rifles in the residence; one was classified as a firearm under the Firearms Act due to its muzzle energy. The trial continues.
Alan Wilson, aged 42, denied attempting to murder three men in a 2010 shooting at the Player's Lounge pub in Fairview, Dublin. He claimed before the Special Criminal Court that evidence against him had been "doctored to facilitate a State show‑trial". At the arraignment, Wilson attempted to give a prepared statement but was interrupted by Judge Tara Burns, who asked whether he pleaded guilty or not. Wilson pleaded not guilty to the attempted murders of Brian Masterson, Wayne Barrett and Austin Purcell, and to possession of a .38 Special Smith & Wesson revolver, .38 ammunition, a .32 Auto Zastava pistol and .32 ammunition with intent to endanger life. Defence barrister Padraig Dwyer requested full access to CCTV footage and disclosure, citing an "enormous" amount of material. Judge Burns agreed to provide the defendant with the necessary facilities and scheduled the opening prosecution speech for Thursday, with the trial expected to conclude within five weeks before Christmas.
The Special Criminal Court announced that a judgement in the murder trial of Eamon Kelly will be delivered on 15 November. Kenneth Donohoe, 43, of Hazelgrove Estate, and Darren Murphy, 51, of Rory O'Connor House, are charged with the 2012 killing of gangland figure Eamon Kelly on Furry Park Road, Killester. They also face a firearms charge for unlawful possession of a Glock pistol with intent to endanger life. Both men pleaded not guilty to both charges. The court heard the case this morning, with Justice Alex Owens presiding.
A man has been convicted and sentenced following the shooting of a garda during a raid on a Dublin property in December 2017. Charles Moore, aged 48, of Barnwell Drive, Ballymun, was found guilty on all counts at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, including possession of a firearm without lawful purpose, possession of ammunition with intent to endanger life, and reckless discharge of a firearm. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Moore to nine years imprisonment for the endangerment offence. Sergeant Paul McManus was struck in the forearm when Moore discharged a semi-automatic pistol as gardaí secured the premises for a drugs search. The officer subsequently underwent multiple surgeries and physiotherapy, and was later medically discharged from An Garda Síochána. Moore, who has eighteen previous convictions, maintained he did not intend to shoot a garda, claiming he believed his home was under attack. The judge accepted Moore was intoxicated at the time and unable to properly assess the situation. Charles Moore pleaded not guilty.
Stephen Fowler (62) was sentenced to six years and nine months at the Special Criminal Court for his logistical involvement in a plot to murder James Gately. The judge suspended the final 15 months for three years, conditional on good behaviour. Fowler pleaded guilty to participating in a criminal organisation's activities between December 2016 and April 2017. He is the sixth person jailed in this case. Peter Keating (40) pleaded guilty to directing a criminal organisation and was jailed for 11 years. David Duffy (33) pleaded guilty to contributing to the murder plot and received five years' imprisonment with one year suspended. Caolan Smyth (30), who denied charges, was sentenced to 20 years for attempted murder and firearm possession. Gary McAreavey (53) pleaded not guilty to impeding prosecution by burning a vehicle but received a four-year term with the final year suspended. Imre Arakas (63) was jailed for six years in 2018 after admitting to conspiring to murder Gately. The court described the events as part of ongoing targeting of Gately within a gang feud.
Stephen Fowler (62) pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to participating in a criminal organisation with the intention of enhancing its ability to commit the serious offence of the murder of James Gately. The court heard that Fowler offered his home as a safe-house to Estonian hitman Imre Arakas, who was jailed for six years in December 2018 for conspiring in the attempted murder. Fowler, who previously served six years for cannabis possession, was on a two-year suspended sentence at the time of the 2017 offence. The court will review this suspended sentence as part of the finalisation. Sentencing for Fowler, which carries a maximum of 15 years, is scheduled for October 4. Related convictions include Peter Keating, jailed for 11 years for directing a criminal organisation; David Duffy, sentenced to five years with one year suspended for participating in the organisation; and Caolan Smyth, sentenced to 20 years for attempted murder and firearm possession after denying charges. Gary McAreavey, who pleaded not guilty to impeding prosecution by assisting in burning a vehicle, received a four-year term with the final year suspended. These cases stem from a feud between the Hutch and Kinahan crime groups.
At the Special Criminal Court, Dubliner Stephen Fowler (62) pleaded guilty to having knowledge of a criminal organisation and participating in activities connected with the attempted murder of James Gately between December 7, 2016, and April 4, 2017. Mr Justice Tony Hunt adjourned the matter, fixing September 16 for a sentence hearing. The court report also details related finalisations. Peter Keating (41) was sentenced to 11 years after pleading guilty to directing the activities of a criminal organisation during the same period. David Duffy (33) pleaded guilty to similar charges and received a five-year sentence with one year suspended. Caolan Smyth (30), who denied charges, was sentenced to 20 years for the attempted murder of Gately and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. Gary McAreavey (53) pleaded not guilty to acting to impede an apprehension by assisting in the burning of a vehicle used in the attack; he was sentenced to four years with the final year suspended. Imre Arakas (63) was jailed for six years in 2018 after admitting to conspiring to murder Gately. These proceedings relate to a feud between the Hutch and Kinahan crime groups, during which Gately survived multiple assassination attempts.
The Central Criminal Court trial of Gerard Cervi for the murder of Bobby Messett and attempted murder of coach Pete Taylor at Bray Boxing Club collapsed after a juror became seriously ill, reducing the jury below the required ten members. Judge Michael White adjourned the case and discharged the remaining nine jurors, exempting them from future service. Cervi, aged 50, had pleaded not guilty to the killings that occurred on 5 June 2018, when a gunman entered the club, fired nine shots from a semi‑automatic pistol, killing Messett instantly and injuring Taylor and Ian Britton. The prosecution alleged Cervi was the lone gunman, linking him to a silver Volkswagen van seen near the club and to a bicycle at Pigeon House Road. Witnesses described the chaotic shooting, the gunman's appearance, and the subsequent removal of Taylor's clothing by paramedics. The trial was scheduled to resume on 11 October 2021.
Dermot O'Callaghan, 55, was sentenced to an additional eight years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended, for the armed robbery of Ulster Bank in Stillorgan on 26 September 2017. He pleaded guilty under Section 27B of the Firearms Act to possession of an imitation firearm with intent to rob. The robbery involved a gun pressed into a bank worker's chest, forcing staff to drop to the floor and comply with demands for €13,200 in cash and £800 sterling. O'Callaghan was already serving an eight‑year sentence for robbery and firearms possession, set to expire in February 2024, and the new term is to run consecutively. The court noted his guilty plea, addiction to heroin, and personal circumstances as mitigating factors, but also his aggressive conduct during the robbery. The sentence was imposed by Judge Pauline Codd.
Trevor Byrne, aged 41, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to consecutive jail terms totalling 17½ years for a series of firearms offences and an armed robbery of Boylesports bookmakers in Swords on 19 March 2010. The robbery involved two men and included possession of a loaded 9 mm Luger‑calibre Radom 35 firearm, false imprisonment, a threat to kill, and hijacking a woman's car at gunpoint. Byrne had 44 prior convictions and was already serving a nine‑year sentence for a firearms offence that began in November 2019. The judge imposed eight‑and‑a‑half years for the robbery and false imprisonment, six‑and‑a‑half years for the threat to kill, and seven‑and‑a‑half years each for the firearm possession and car hijacking, with all five sentences running concurrently but consecutively to the earlier firearms conviction. The sentences were reduced by a total of 12 months for mitigation and rehabilitation considerations. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty and was acquitted.
Joseph Smith, 36, was jailed for three years after he fired a shotgun twice at his partner's Ford Focus during a heated argument. The incident occurred on Whitechapel Road, Blanchardstown, where Smith had taken the shotgun from his home and discharged it, smashing the car's windows. Gardaí found a double‑barrel sawn‑off shotgun and cartridges in a Mazda parked at Smith's address, linking the weapon to him. Smith pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in suspicious circumstances. The court noted his prior drug‑related difficulties and his efforts at rehabilitation, but also his role as a father to three children. Judge Martin Nolan described the offence as a "fit of anger" and imposed a three‑year sentence, crediting any time already served.
The Special Criminal Court has adjourned the 32-day trial of Darren Murphy and Kenneth Donohoe to October 26 for a possible judgment. Both men, who pleaded not guilty to the murder of Eamon Kelly and the possession of a Glock pistol with intent to endanger life, have completed closing speeches. Prosecution counsel Dominic McGinn SC alleged that Murphy drove Sean Connolly, who was jailed for life in 2015 for Kelly's murder, to the scene in a Meriva, while Donohoe was linked to the vehicle via fingerprints and firearms residue. Defence counsel Philipp Rahn BL and Paul Carroll SC argued that the State failed to prove their clients' involvement beyond reasonable doubt, citing issues with CCTV identification credibility and the lack of unique forensic evidence. Presiding judge Justice Alex Owens, sitting with Judges Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Dermot Dempsey, adjourned the matter. The trial remains pending, with no final verdict or sentence issued at this stage.
Trevor Byrne, 41, faces sentencing for an armed robbery of BoyleSports in Swords on 19 March 2010, during which he also hijacked a woman's car and threatened to kill her. He has 44 prior convictions and is already serving a nine‑year sentence for a firearms offence. Byrne pleaded not guilty to robbery, possession of a firearm, false imprisonment, threat to kill and unlawful vehicle seizure. The Special Criminal Court found him guilty after CCTV and a mobile phone left at the scene were linked to him. Victim impact statements from the bookmaker's owner and the hijacked woman were not read aloud, as they requested. The court noted the firearms charge carries a presumptive minimum of five years, robbery and false imprisonment carry maximum life sentences, a threat to kill a maximum of ten years, and hijacking a maximum of fifteen years. Sentencing is scheduled for the following Thursday.
In a case heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Joseph Behan, aged 45, was convicted of robbery, attempted robbery, assault causing serious harm, assault causing harm, possession of a firearm and reckless discharging of a firearm after a raid on Mizzoni's Pizza in Edenmore Shopping Centre on New Year's Day 2019. The jury found that Behan entered the takeaway with a gun, demanded money while staff toasted the New Year, and when a staff member threw a champagne bottle at him, he fled but fired several shots into the kitchen. Two staff members were shot, one sustaining a through‑and‑through chest wound that put him at serious risk of death. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Behan to 15 years' imprisonment for assault causing harm. Behan's appeal to the Court of Appeal was dismissed, with the court upholding the conviction and sentence.
The Special Criminal Court is hearing the trial of Kenneth Donohoe and Darren Murphy, who are charged with the murder of Eamon Kelly and the possession of a Glock pistol with intent to endanger life. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to all charges. The court heard from forensic expert Dr Tom Hannigan, who testified that there is "very strong support" for the suggestion that firearm residue particles found on a jacket seized from a Tallaght house matched those recovered from shell casings at the murder scene. Dr Hannigan stated that seven different particles were identified in both the jacket pockets and the shells, noting the range of elements was the same. However, he clarified that it was not possible to date the metallic particles or conclusively determine how they came to be in the pockets. The trial concerns the December 2012 shooting of Kelly, a veteran criminal figure, in north Dublin. It is noted that in 2015, Sean Connolly was jailed for life by the Special Criminal Court for the murder of Kelly. The trial continues before a three-judge panel.
During a June 5, 2018 early‑morning fitness session at Bray Boxing Club, a lone gunman fired nine shots from a semi‑automatic pistol. Witnesses reported the shooter was calm and wore a black helmet, gloves and jacket. The gunman fired at trainer Pete Taylor, who was struck and fell, after which the shooting stopped. The gunman also shot Bobby Messett, who died, and Ian Britton, who was injured. Gerard Cervi, 34, is accused of murder and two attempted murders. He pleaded not guilty. The trial, held in the Central Criminal Court, heard eyewitness accounts from Polish gym‑goer Wojciech Bak, gym‑partner Alan Hunter, and others, describing the rapid, chaotic scene and the gunman's sudden cessation of fire after Taylor was hit. The case continues before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury.
During a fitness class at Bray Boxing Club on 5 June 2018, a gunman entered the gym and fired nine shots from a semi‑automatic pistol. The attacker killed boxing coach Bobby Messett in the head and wounded trainer Pete Taylor and gym‑goer Ian Britton. Witness Stephen Kearns described the gunman as wearing a high‑vis jacket and a hard hat, holding a handgun with both hands. Taylor ran toward the gunman, put his elbow up, fell over a bench and was hit. Britton, who was on the first floor with his brothers, was shot in the hip and later described the gunman as a slender, slightly built man who seemed unsure of what he was doing. The trial is ongoing, with the State alleging that Gerard Cervi was the gunman and that he intended to commit murder. The case is before Mr Justice Michael White and a jury. Gerard Cervi pleaded not guilty.
An eyewitness, Eddie McCann, gave evidence in the trial of Gerard Cervi for the shooting at Bray Boxing Club on 5 June 2018. McCann, a fireman, described the moment he saw a gunman in builder's clothing, wearing a black balaclava and sunglasses, walk into the gym and fire a semi‑automatic pistol. He recalled the gunman's first shot killing Bobby Messett in the head, and the subsequent shots that wounded boxing coach Pete Taylor and participant Ian Britton. McCann detailed his own actions: he applied pressure to Taylor's gunshot wound, called emergency services, and helped other victims. He also described the gunman's appearance and the chaotic scene, including the sounds of gunfire and screams. The evidence was presented to a jury in the Central Criminal Court, with the prosecution arguing that Cervi was the lone gunman who intended to commit murder. The trial continued the following day. Gerard Cervi pleaded not guilty.
The trial of Gerard Cervi, 34, accused of murdering Bobby Messett and attempting to murder Peter Taylor and Ian Britton at Bray Boxing Club on 5 June 2018, will hear that a van used in the attack was found close to Cervi's family home. Prosecutor Paul Murray described the case as one of circumstantial evidence, noting that a white or silver van with a yellow registration plate was seen leaving Bray Harbour that morning, then spotted in Cabinteely and later at Pigeon House Road. A witness reported a man on a bicycle near the van, whom the prosecution links to Cervi and to the family home on Russell Avenue East. The evidence will also cover the van's movements in May and early June, and the alleged link to a Volkswagen Polo. The court will hear that Cervi allegedly fired nine shots from a semi‑automatic pistol before 7 am, killing Messett and injuring Taylor and Britton. Gerard Cervi pleaded not guilty.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Gerard Cervi, aged 34, is accused of firing nine shots from a semi‑automatic pistol inside Bray Boxing Club on 5 June 2018. The shooting occurred during a 12‑person exercise class organised by trainer Peter Taylor. The prosecution alleges that Cervi killed 50‑year‑old Bobby Messett and attempted to murder trainer Peter Taylor and participant Ian Britton, who were injured. A prosecution barrister presented evidence that the gunman entered the club just before 7 a.m., fired rapidly in varying directions, and escaped. The case is framed as three separate charges—one murder and two attempted murders—each to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Michael White, is expected to last eight weeks. Gerard Cervi pleaded not guilty.