The Special Criminal Court sentenced Jonathan Harding to five years and three months' imprisonment for laundering over €342,000 for a serious criminal organisation. Harding, 48, pleaded guilty to five offences under the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act 2010. Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed a headline sentence of six years and nine months, suspending the final 18 months on all charges, with all sentences running concurrently. Harding signed a bond to be of good behaviour for three years post-release. The judge noted Harding's prior conviction for possessing nine revolvers, four pistols, a sub-machine gun, an assault rifle, and ammunition, for which he received a ten-year sentence in January 2018. Co-accused Carol Davis, 45, pleaded guilty to three offences under the same Act, admitting she was reckless in allowing Harding access to her accounts but denying involvement in underlying criminality. She received a three-year suspended sentence on all offences, signing a bond to be of good behaviour for that duration. The court found that accounts linked to both were used as a travel service for the organisation. Separately, Declan Brady, 54, was previously sentenced to 11-and-a-half years' imprisonment in July 2019 after pleading guilty to possessing the same weapons cache, having been tasked by senior criminal figures to supervise it.
Michael Geoghegan, 36, a former Crufts best dog handler, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three knife‑point muggings on Rathbeale Road, Swords, on 18 August last year. He also admitted producing a large kitchen knife to intimidate victims and an iron drill bit and knife while resisting arrest. The court heard he threatened a garda who chased him, and that he had a history of drug addiction and 52 prior convictions, including robbery with an imitation firearm in 2005. Judge Patricia Ryan sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, suspending the final year on strict conditions, including six months of probation after release. Geoghegan had handed €2,500 to the victims as a gesture of remorse. The case involved three random women who were robbed at knife‑point in the morning, with Geoghegan demanding cash and threatening to stab them. The garda was disarmed with a baton after Geoghegan lunged at him.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 10 December 2020, Tomasz Surowiak, a 27‑year‑old Polish national, pleaded guilty to possessing an airgun without a certificate. The court heard that Surowiak was not involved in an earlier incident in which a handgun was allegedly pointed out of a car window. Garda Matthew Kennedy described how police intercepted a VW Golf in Tyrone Place, Inchicore, and arrested Surowiak, who was driving the vehicle. A firearm, described as a gas‑powered training gun used for indoor target practice, was found on the passenger seat and confiscated. Surowiak claimed he bought the gun in Drogheda the previous May, had no knowledge that a licence was required in Ireland, and had not loaded the weapon.
In December 2020 the Court of Appeal reserved judgment on the appeal of Sharif Kelly and Edward McGrath, who were convicted of murdering Peter Butterly in 2013. The men had been sentenced to life imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court. Their conviction relied heavily on testimony from former co‑accused David Cullen, who had pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a pistol and was later turned into a State witness. Cullen's evidence, which alleged a planning meeting and the men's presence, was contested by the defence as unreliable and tainted. The appeal argued that Cullen's testimony was not credible and that the men's state of mind at the time of the murder was not established. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice George Birmingham, has not yet ruled on the appeal.
In a murder conviction appeal, the DPP's counsel, Paul O'Higgins SC, acknowledged that David Cullen, a former murder suspect who became a State witness, was a 'tarnished' witness. Cullen had previously pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a semi‑automatic pistol and was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, half suspended, for that offence. He testified for four and a half days in the Special Criminal Court trial of Sharif Kelly and Edward McGrath, who were convicted of murdering Peter Butterly in 2013. The defence argued that Cullen's evidence was tainted and should have been excluded, citing his prior perjury conviction. O'Higgins countered that no rule bars a person convicted of perjury from giving evidence, and that the trial court could rely on Cullen's testimony only if corroborated by other evidence. The appeal remains before the Court of Appeal.
The appeal of Edward McGrath and Sharif Kelly, who were convicted of the murder of Peter Butterly in 2013, is ongoing before the Court of Appeal. McGrath's barrister, Paul Greene SC, argued that while McGrath was 'caught red-handed' in the criminal enterprise, there was a lack of evidence regarding his state of mind at the time of the shooting. The appeal hinges on the reliability of David Cullen's testimony, who was originally charged with the murder but later pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of a semi-automatic pistol at the Huntsman Inn on the day of the shooting. Cullen's evidence was central to the convictions of McGrath, Kelly, and others. The appeal is examining whether the trial judges erred in accepting Cullen's testimony, which was the basis of the convictions. The matter was adjourned for further submissions from the DPP, with Paul O'Higgins SC set to continue his arguments tomorrow. Dean Evans, who pleaded guilty to the murder, was not present for the trial but was extradited back to Ireland. The case remains in the appeal stage, with no finalised conclusions yet.
Trevor Byrne, aged 40, pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to possessing a loaded 9mm Luger‑caliber Radom 35 firearm found in a back‑garden cabin at 35 Woodford Grove, Clondalkin, on 15 November 2019. He also faces three additional charges: possession of ammunition, possession of €3,050 in cash deemed proceeds of crime, and reckless handling of the cash. The Emergency Response Unit raided the house at 11.30 pm, discovered Byrne seated on a couch with another man, and after a confrontation Byrne was taken to Clondalkin Garda Station where he refused to engage with the jailer and exercised his right to silence. A search of the cabin revealed the gun, five bullets in the magazine, one in the chamber, and additional ammunition. DNA evidence linked Byrne to the gun, gloves, hold‑all and balaclava found in the cabin. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for 9 December, with the court expected to pass a sentence before Christmas.
Trevor Byrne, 40, of Cappagh Road, Finglas, Dublin 11, was arrested during a 2019 raid on a Dublin house. Armed gardai found him seated on a couch where a loaded semi‑automatic firearm was later discovered. Garda Sean White, who served as the jailer at Clondalkin Garda Station, reported that Byrne did not engage with him or answer questions about his health or rights while in custody. White was unable to complete required medical forms because Byrne remained silent, though he noted obvious signs of a medical condition when Byrne's clothes were taken for forensic examination. Sergeant Nuala Bruce later observed that Byrne eventually understood the reason for his arrest and requested a solicitor. Byrne has pleaded not guilty to possession of a 9mm Luger‑calibre Radom 35, six rounds of 9mm ammunition, two additional rounds, and €3,050 in cash alleged to be proceeds of criminal conduct.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Trevor Byrne, aged 40, was charged with possessing a semi‑automatic weapon, ammunition and cash. On 15 November 2019, armed Gardaí from the Emergency Response Unit raided an unlocked back‑garden granny flat at Woodford Grove, Clondalkin. Byrne was found seated on a couch with another male. A detective reported that Byrne pointed a weapon at the officer, shouted "armed gardaí, armed police," and did not respond to repeated warnings. He was eventually handcuffed after the officer removed him from the couch and placed him face‑down. Byrne's weapon, a 9mm Luger‑calibre Radom 35, was found under the couch with five bullets in the magazine and one in the chamber. Gardaí also recovered €3,050 from his pocket. Byrne pleaded not guilty to possession of the firearm, six rounds of 9mm ammunition, two additional rounds, and the cash, all contrary to the Firearms Act.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, armed gardaí discovered a loaded 9mm Luger‑calibre Radom handgun beneath a couch in a back‑garden cabin at Trevor Byrne's Woodford Grove property. Byrne, aged 40, was found with over €3,000 in his pocket and was charged with possession of the firearm, six rounds of 9mm ammunition, two additional rounds, and the cash. The court heard that two Emergency Response Unit teams entered the house on a warrant, locating Byrne in the cabin. Forensic analysis revealed a mixed DNA profile on the gun, with a majority profile believed to match Byrne, and DNA on other items found in the cabin. CCTV footage and a fingerprint on a shoe‑box were also seized. Byrne pleaded not guilty to all four charges, and the case was adjourned to 24 November.
Mark Clarke, a 50‑year‑old father of three from Kenure Park, Rush, was arrested after walking into Martin's Bar carrying a decommissioned pump‑action shotgun and a belt of shotgun cartridges. He had previously held a licence for the gun until 2010, after which he surrendered it and it was rendered inoperable. Clarke admitted to possessing the firearm, 13 live and blank cartridges at his home and in the bar on 15 February 2019. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The judge noted that no one was threatened, that Clarke's behaviour was out of character, and that family pressures and financial stress were contributing factors. He was sentenced to three and a half years' imprisonment, suspended in full on strict conditions, including 12 months' engagement with the Probation Service to address alcohol use. The case was defended as a non‑pre‑meditated, non‑criminal‑intent incident.
Tony Hunt, 47, was sentenced to two years in prison after the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court found he had no choice but to hold 198 rounds of 9mm Parabellum ammunition. The bullets were moved from a wheelie bin into the spare wheel well of his car when the bins were due for collection. Gardaí discovered the package during a random stop after seeing the car leave a known drug dealer's home in Kildare. Hunt initially claimed the ammunition belonged to a deer‑hunting colleague, later admitting he had been told a package would be left in his bin for 24 hours but did not know its contents. He pleaded guilty to possession of the rounds, which were mainly used in semi‑automatic handguns. Judge Pauline Codd suspended the final three years of a five‑year sentence, requiring Hunt to keep the peace for the entire period. Hunt's only prior conviction was for possession of stolen property in 2004.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Ross Maher, aged 22, was fined €25 after he swung a 12‑inch carving knife at Gardaí while topless and covered in blood. The incident occurred on May 23 at Ross Road near Christchurch Cathedral, where Maher had been drinking and taking pills. He repeatedly refused Garda commands to drop the knife, prompting a Garda to draw his firearm. Maher's father intervened, and the officer used pepper spray to compel him to surrender the weapon. Maher was arrested, treated at St James's Hospital, and pleaded guilty to possessing a large carving knife in the course of a dispute. He has no prior convictions, has since entered rehabilitation, and is now drug‑free. The judge, citing the event as a one‑off, sentenced him under the Probation Act, ordering the €25 fine.
A trial concerning an alleged attempt to obstruct justice following a shooting in Dublin has concluded at the Special Criminal Court. Gary McAreavey, aged 53, of Castlebellingham, County Louth, has pleaded not guilty to assisting in the burning of a vehicle allegedly used in a failed attack on James Gately on May 10, 2017. The prosecution alleged that Mr McAreavey purchased petrol and aided in destroying the car at Newrath, Dromiskin. Defence counsel argued there was insufficient evidence that Mr McAreavey possessed knowledge of the attempted murder. Separately, Caolan Smyth, aged 28, of County Meath, has pleaded not guilty to attempting to murder Mr Gately and to possessing a firearm with intent to endanger. The prosecution contended Mr Smyth fired the shots. The three-judge court will deliver verdicts on January 8, 2021.
The Special Criminal Court heard closing submissions in the trial of Caolan Smyth and Gary McAreavey, who have both pleaded not guilty to charges related to the attempted murder of James Gately. Mr. Smyth is accused of the attempted murder and possessing a firearm with intent to endanger at the Topaz filling station in north Dublin on May 10, 2017. Mr. McAreavey is accused of impeding apprehension by assisting in the burning of the vehicle used in the attack at Newrath, Co Louth. Defence counsel John D Fitzgerald SC argued that the prosecution's circumstantial case relies on a "musical chairs" of shifting associations between the accused, a black Lexus, a mobile phone, and a Louth address. He contended that evidence linking Mr. Smyth to the car, phone, or his home on the morning of the shooting was speculative and lacked clear identification. Conversely, the prosecution maintained that Mr. Smyth was identifiable in CCTV footage and had conducted a "rehearsal" the day before the shooting. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, is in its fourth week. The matter was adjourned to allow Mr. McAreavey's counsel to deliver his closing speech.
James Tracey, 31, a former painter who lost his job in December, held up a cash‑in‑transit van on 6 January 2020 using an imitation firearm. He pointed the realistic pistol at the driver, shouted "drop the box", and the driver froze, then fled. Tracey escaped in a getaway car parked near the M3 motorway, where Garda Emergency Response Unit officers arrested him and a co‑accused. The €27,000 cash box was recovered intact. In court, Tracey pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm with intent to commit robbery and to robbery of a cash box. He claimed he had a drug debt and needed money, but the detective superintendent found no evidence of a drug problem. The judge adjourned finalisation to 8 February 2021. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
The State has told the Special Criminal Court that Caolan Smyth was the man who "pulled the trigger" in the attempted murder of James Gately at a filling station on the Clonshaugh Road in north Dublin on 10 May 2017. Mr Gately was shot five times whilst sitting in his car and sustained injuries to his upper chest and neck. Mr Smyth, aged 28, from Cuileann Court, Donore, County Meath, has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and to possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life. His co-accused, Gary McAreavey, aged 52, from Castlebellingham, County Louth, has pleaded not guilty to obstructing justice by assisting in the destruction of the vehicle used in the shooting. Prosecution counsel submitted that CCTV evidence, mobile phone data, and witness identification linked Mr Smyth to a black Lexus used in a stake-out of Mr Gately's home and the subsequent shooting.
Paul Keating, aged 25, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for unlawful possession of firearms, with the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions. He pleaded guilty on 27 October 2017 to possessing broken shotgun parts that could not be assembled or fired. Gardaí found the parts during a drug search for cocaine at his home in Brookhaven Grove, Blanchardstown, Dublin. Keating had agreed to hold the parts in exchange for a €1,000 reduction of a €2,000 drug debt, which he later paid off with family help. He claimed he had not used the parts or attempted to fire them between February and October 2017. The court noted he had not reported the offence to the Probation Service and had subsequent convictions for road traffic and theft offences. The judge emphasised the seriousness of the offence and urged Keating to be ashamed of his actions.
Ross Kenny, 28, of St Anthony's Road, Rialto, Dublin, pleaded guilty to possession of a handgun on Reuben Walk on 12 March 2019. Gardaí saw him on CCTV carrying what appeared to be a handgun; on arrival they found he was intoxicated and holding a plastic airsoft pistol. Kenny claimed he had taken the weapon from youths who had thrown snowballs at him and was "messing" with it. Garda Colm Reynolds described his behaviour as reckless and "acting the cowboy". Kenny had 25 prior convictions, mainly for public order and drug offences, and one for possession of a stun‑gun. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to one year imprisonment, fully suspended on strict conditions, after noting that the people of Reuben Walk would have been greatly alarmed had they seen him with the weapon.
During a demolition at a Dublin building site, a workman discovered a black bag containing 65 rounds of ammunition and four firearms, including a 7.62 calibre assault rifle, two revolvers and a semi‑automatic pistol. Robert Smullen, 35, of Halliday Road, Dublin 7, was arrested two months later. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of ammunition and the assault rifle at waste‑ground in O'Devaney Gardens on 14 August 2018. Smullen, who has 17 prior convictions and is already serving an eight‑year sentence with the final 18 months suspended, was sentenced to two years in prison, to be served consecutively to his existing term. The court noted his cooperation, forensic evidence linking him to the weapons, and his ongoing rehabilitation efforts in custody. The sentence was imposed despite his defence's argument that the discovery was fortuitous and that he was vulnerable due to drug debt and addiction.
Trevor Byrne, 41, of Finglas West, was present in the Special Criminal Court on 9 October 2020 after the High Court transferred his trial from the Circuit Criminal Court. The transfer followed an order to send him for trial before the non‑jury Special Criminal Court, which he refused to accept. Byrne faces several charges stemming from incidents in 2010 and 2011, including armed robbery at a bookmaker in Swords, robbery of €1,490 at Boyle Sports, possession of a firearm with intent to commit robbery, seizure of a vehicle by threat of force, false imprisonment of a woman, and a threat to kill her between Thornleigh Avenue and Kilshane Cross. Solicitor Michael O'Donovan requested a month to gather witnesses and reported that a Garda had attempted to serve the order, but Byrne declined to accept it. The case was adjourned to 9 November, when Byrne is scheduled to appear in the Special Criminal Court on an unrelated matter.
A 28-year-old man from County Meath has pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of James Gately at a Dublin filling station in May 2017. Caolan Smyth has also denied charges of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life. A 52-year-old County Louth man, Gary McAreavey, pleaded not guilty to assisting an offender by purchasing petrol and helping to burn out the vehicle used in the shooting. The trial, heard before the Special Criminal Court, was told that Mr Gately was shot five times at the Topaz garage on Clonshaugh Road and subsequently underwent surgery. The prosecution's case relies substantially on CCTV evidence tracking the movements of a black Lexus at the scene and at locations connected to the injured party, as well as evidence of the vehicle being found burned out in County Louth approximately one hour later. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and two other judges.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Noel McCabe, aged 25, was found to have threatened his ex‑partner after being charged with assaulting her in March and April 2018. McCabe, who is already serving a six‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence for multiple offences, allegedly called the victim and warned that if she did not leave the country within a week her entire family, including her daughter, would be shot. He also demanded she drop the assault charges, which she refused. The court noted that the victim had been in a relationship with McCabe for 18 months and described it as a "nightmare" in her impact statement. McCabe pleaded guilty to obstructing the course of justice by intimidating a witness in June 2018 and will be sentenced early next year, with the judge adjourned the sentence to February 1. The case highlights McCabe's history of 34 prior convictions, including assault, possession of ammunition and road traffic offences.
The Special Criminal Court sentenced Stephen Little (47) and Edward McDonnell (56) for unlawful possession of a semi-automatic weapon. Little, of Dublin 5, pleaded guilty to possessing a Grand Power G9 pistol at Lein Park, Harmonstown, on September 14, 2019. He was sentenced to six years' imprisonment, backdated to December 21, 2019. The judge noted Little's motivation was the murder of his son, Sean Little, and accepted he was not the intended triggerman. McDonnell, of New Ross, Co Wexford, also pleaded guilty to possessing the weapon at the same location and date. He received a nine-year sentence, backdated to September 16, 2019. The court highlighted McDonnell's 47 previous convictions and his guilty plea entered on the fifth day of trial. Both men were originally charged with having the weapon with intent to endanger life but convicted under Section 27A (1) of the Firearms Act. Gardaí recovered the loaded handgun under the passenger seat of an Audi, along with balaclavas, gloves, and a petrol can. Little, who drove McDonnell to the scene, made statements to gardaí expressing intent to kill the person responsible for his son's death. The judge described the case as one of "intended lethality" avoided by Garda intervention. Both defendants were remanded in custody prior to sentencing.
Robert Cullen, aged 28, was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison for attempting to rob Paddocks Pub in Clonee on 11 June 2018. He entered the pub with a sawn‑off shotgun, threatened two workers with the gun, and fired four shots while they were hiding in an office. Cullen also threw a heater through a window to "draw attention to their plight." He fled in a car that was later found burnt out. Cullen pleaded guilty to attempted robbery, possession of a double‑barrelled sawn‑off shotgun and discharging a firearm. He has 44 prior convictions, including robbery and obstruction, and was already serving sentences for other offences with a release date of 30 November 2023. The judge described the weapon as "vile" and the act of threatening the workers as "very heinous.".
Jake Kearney, 25, of Coolock Drive, Dublin 17, pleaded guilty on 5 May 2020 to unlawful possession of a Luger‑calibre Grand Power semi‑automatic pistol at Oscar Traynor Road, Santry, Dublin 9, on 30 October 2019. He was arrested after Gardaí observed him with a loaded handgun in a taxi and at a pub, where a black handgun and eight 9 mm bullets were seized. The firearm was intended for use in an imminent attack on a rival north Dublin gang, though it is not known whether Kearney himself would have fired it. The judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, noted Kearney's early guilty plea and limited prior convictions, and imposed a headline jail term of eight years, reduced by 25 % for the plea, and suspended the final year. Kearney was sentenced to six years' imprisonment with the last year suspended, back‑dated to 2 November 2019.
Garda Michael Rochford, a member of two gun clubs and a holder of a .243 calibre Savage Axis II rifle, has filed a High Court challenge against the Revenue Commissioners. He claims that the items he imported – a new rifle stock, a buttpad spacer kit, and two polymer magazines – are firearms accessories that do not require a license under the 1925 Firearms Act. In early April, customs seized the goods, categorising them as firearms. Rochford argues that Revenue misapplied the law and acted beyond its authority, and that the items are not components that alter a firearm's function. He seeks orders to quash the seizure notices, declarations that the items are not subject to forfeiture, and that Revenue erred in interpreting the Act. Mr Justice Charles Meenan granted permission for the judicial review on an ex‑parte basis, with the case adjourned to October.
Stephen Kearney, 35, a convicted killer with 113 prior convictions, was jailed for one year after robbing a Centra shop in Santry on 12 February 2019. He had previously pleaded guilty to a robbery of a wallet and bag in Dublin on 2 July 2018. On the day of the 2019 robbery, Kearney bought a can of coke and a bag of jellies, left the shop, returned minutes later in new clothes and a snood, addressed the shopkeeper by name, produced a firearm and demanded the till be opened, taking €250. He was known to the shopkeeper and had recently visited his mother. The judge imposed a concurrent one‑year term for both offences, to be served consecutively to his existing sentence. Kearney admitted to using the robbery proceeds to buy crack cocaine and heroin. The victim's impact statement noted no ill effect on her, and Kearney was described as remorseful and struggling with addiction.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 27‑year‑old Darren Nolan pleaded guilty to recklessly discharging a firearm, possession of heroin and cocaine for sale or supply, and making a false statement to gardaí. Nolan had claimed he had been shot by three balaclava‑wearing men, but gardaí found evidence he had shot himself in the face with a blank‑firing handgun he had purchased online. Gardaí discovered over €16,000 of illegal drugs in his bedroom and a handgun in a drawer. Nolan admitted to drinking a bottle of whiskey and a shoulder of vodka before the incident and that he had threatened to shoot himself during an argument with his mother. He was described by counsel as a "patsy" who had no employment history and had been prescribed anti‑psychotic medication. Judge Karen O'Connor ordered a probation report and adjourned the case for finalisation on 30 October.
Derek Devoy, 37, was sentenced by the Special Criminal Court to 17 years' imprisonment, with the final two years suspended, for a series of violent offences committed on 11 March 2019. He admitted possession of a 9mm Makarov PM63 RAK submachine gun with intent to endanger life and of a Yugoslavian M75 hand grenade with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury. Devoy discharged the gun twice in public and again while being restrained by Gardaí in a bathroom, narrowly missing a garda's head. A hand grenade was found on the floor without its safety mechanism; it was later detonated in a controlled explosion, rendering the house uninhabitable. The court noted Devoy's 27 previous convictions, including two firearm offences, and his personal history of family tragedy. He pleaded guilty to all charges, which led to a 15 % discount on the headline sentence of 20 years, resulting in the 17‑year term.
Mark Skelly, a 19‑year‑old father from Dublin, pleaded guilty to possessing a Mac‑10 machine gun, ammunition and a silencer at his father's home in Ballyfermot on 21 May 2019. The weapon, capable of firing 1,140 rounds per minute, was found in a wheelie bin and was described as rare and no longer manufactured. Skelly had no prior convictions. He admitted to having knowledge of firearms from playing the computer game "Call of Duty" and claimed he had not discharged the gun. He was sentenced to five and a half years, with the final two years suspended on the condition of a bond to keep the peace, good behaviour for two years, 12 months of probation supervision and engagement with any recommended treatment. The judge noted his youth, drug‑free status, family support and previous good character.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Stephen Little, 47, and Edward McDonnell, 56, were charged with unlawful possession of a Grand Power G9 semi‑automatic pistol and intent to endanger life. The case stemmed from a gun seizure on a Dublin estate on 14 September 2019. Gardaí recovered a loaded handgun under the passenger seat of an Audi, along with a red petrol can, a long‑handled lighter, two balaclavas, two baseball caps, and two pairs of gloves. Little's son, Sean, 22, had been shot dead in May 2019, an event that prompted Little to make a statement to police that "had you given me another hour I would have killed the bastard that killed him." McDonnell denied knowledge of the firearm. Both men were remanded in custody pending sentencing on 31 August. The court noted that Little had one prior traffic offence and McDonnell had 47 prior convictions, including robbery, sexual assault and assault causing harm. Stephen Little pleaded guilty. Edward McDonnell pleaded guilty.
Wayne Lynch, a 37‑year‑old bread delivery man from Drogheda, was sentenced to four‑and‑a‑half years in prison for transporting firearms and storing cannabis during an ongoing crime feud. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a pistol and ammunition in suspicious circumstances at a Lidl car park in Tallaght and possession of cannabis herb at his home on 19 July 2019. Lynch had a prior conviction in 2004 for drug possession. Gardaí, acting on confidential information, followed Lynch's bread van on 19 July 2019, seized two black handguns and ammunition from the van and recovered cannabis herb worth €35,606 from his home. Judge Elma Sheahan accepted that Lynch was not a "significant player" and would not have used the guns, but noted he was moving the equipment during an ongoing feud that had claimed many lives. The judge suspended the final 18 months of the sentence.
Former INLA member Dessie O'Hare, known as 'The Border Fox', is appealing a seven‑year sentence imposed by the Special Criminal Court for falsely imprisoning a family in South Dublin. O'Hare, 63, was convicted of assaulting John Roche on 9 June 2015 and of falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne, his wife and son, on the same date. He received a three‑year term for the assault and a ten‑year term with three years suspended for the false imprisonment, the sentences running concurrently. The Court of Appeal has scheduled his hearing for 14 December. O'Hare's barrister, Mark Lynam BL, confirmed the client's intention to attend. He has prior convictions, including a 40‑year sentence in 1988 for false imprisonment and assault of a dentist, and firearm offences. The appeal concerns the length of the sentence, not the conviction itself. The case remains at the appeal stage. Dessie O'Hare pleaded guilty. Border Fox pleaded guilty.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Edward McDonnell, aged 55, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a Grand Power G9 semi‑automatic pistol at Lein Park, Harmonstown, Dublin, on 14 September 2019. The plea came just hours after his defence counsel, Michael Bowman SC, had applied to the court for a not‑guilty verdict on both counts. McDonnell had originally pleaded not guilty to possession of the pistol with intent to endanger life. Evidence presented during the five‑day trial included a loaded handgun found under the passenger seat of an Audi, two baseball hats, two balaclavas, gloves, a red petrol can, and a long‑handled lighter. The prosecution argued that the circumstances collectively proved the charge. The court set a sentence hearing for 21 July 2024. A second defendant, Stephen Little, 46, also pleaded guilty to the same offence and will have his sentence hearing on the same date.
The trial of Edward McDonnell, 55, at the Special Criminal Court continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt and two other judges. Mr McDonnell, of New Ross, Co Wexford, has pleaded not guilty to being in unlawful possession of a semi-automatic Grand Power G9 pistol and having it with intent to endanger life at Lein Park, Harmonstown, Dublin 5, on September 14, 2019. Prosecution evidence indicates that Detective Garda Ronan Doolan interviewed the accused at Raheny Garda Station, where he claimed ignorance of the firearm and stated he was "innocent of any crime." The court heard that items including balaclavas, gloves, and a petrol can were found in the Audi vehicle from which Mr McDonnell was removed. Additionally, forensic analysis linked mobile phones seized from the accused to devices found in a Toyota Avensis. In a related matter, Stephen Little, 46, of Dublin 5, pleaded guilty last month to the unlawful possession of the same Grand Power G9 pistol at the same location and date. The trial is ongoing and was adjourned to Monday.
Wayne Lynch, 37, a bread delivery man from Newtown Meadows, Drogheda, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a pistol and ammunition in suspicious circumstances at the Lidl Car Park, Tallaght, and possession of cannabis herb at his home on 19 July 2019. He had a previous conviction in 2004 for possession of drugs. Gardaí, acting on confidential information, followed Lynch in his bread van on 19 July 2019, approached the van at the Lidl car park, and searched it, recovering two black handguns and rounds of ammunition under the passenger seat. Lynch was arrested and taken to Crumlin Garda Station. A search of his home yielded cannabis herb valued at €35,606. Lynch claimed he was afraid for his life, had a cocaine habit that worsened after his father's death, and was told to drop off the package for a €1,000 discount.
Edward McDonnell, 55, of Waterside Apartments, New Ross, was arrested on 14 September 2019 in Dublin for unlawful possession of a Grand Power G9 semi‑automatic pistol and for having the weapon with intent to endanger life. Garda Eoin Byrne interviewed McDonnell at Raheny Garda Station the same day. McDonnell claimed he had come to Dublin to look at cars, stating, "One minute I'm looking at a car, next thing I'm lying on the floor covered in blood." He said he had driven from New Ross to Ballyfermot, left his Toyota RAV4 at Mr Price, and then went to view a dark‑coloured Audi at Lein Park. Garda David McGinley showed McDonnell items found on him at arrest, including two balaclavas, two baseball caps, gloves and a red petrol can. Detective Sergeant John Keane testified that McDonnell entered the Audi with his firearm drawn and was removed by an armed garda. Edward McDonnell pleaded not guilty.
Chun Cheng, a 36‑year‑old Chinese national living in Rutland Place, Dublin 1, was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cocaine worth €79,000, cannabis worth €22,000, €176,015 in proceeds of criminal conduct, and seven rounds of 9mm ammunition, all found at his apartment on 6 October 2019. He had no prior convictions and had cooperated with Gardaí. Judge Martin Nolan noted Cheng's deepening involvement in the drug operation, his receipt of rent for the apartment and a bank balance of just over €19,000, and described him as an intelligent man likely to reform. The judge suspended the final four years of a nine‑year sentence, ordered forfeiture of the cash and bank balance to the State, and highlighted Cheng's remorse and desire to help others with addiction.
During a Special Criminal Court hearing on 7 July 2020, the trial of Edward McDonnell, 55, of Waterside Apartments, New Ross, was presented. McDonnell pleaded not guilty to unlawful possession of a Grand Power G9 semi‑automatic pistol and to having the weapon with intent to endanger life. Garda Joseph Enright testified that he had observed a silver Toyota Avensis driven by Stephen Little, 46, on 11 September 2019, and that a loaded handgun was found under the passenger seat of the vehicle the day before McDonnell was forcibly removed. Enright also described items that fell from McDonnell's lap upon arrest, including baseball hats, balaclavas, gloves, a red petrol can and a long‑handled lighter. The court heard that a surveillance operation, led by Detective Inspector Noel Browne, had been underway in north Dublin from 11 September, culminating in the discovery of the firearm and related items. The trial was scheduled to continue on Thursday.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Edward McDonnell, 55, of Waterside Apartments, New Ross, was arraigned on two charges of unlawful possession of a Grand Power G9 semi‑automatic pistol and possession of that weapon with intent to endanger life. The prosecution, represented by Sean Gillane SC, presented evidence from a Garda surveillance operation that began on 11 September 2019 in north Dublin. The operation involved a Toyota Avensis driven by Stephen Little and an unknown male, and a navy‑coloured Audi parked at Lein Park, Harmonstown. On 13 September, Garda Jonathan O'Leary discovered a loaded handgun under the Avensis passenger seat, removed its magazine, and later returned it to the seat. On 14 September, McDonnell allegedly exited the Avensis, approached the Audi, took a key, and entered the vehicle before being arrested. During the arrest, items such as two balaclavas, two black caps, two pairs of gloves, a red petrol can, and an encrypted phone were recovered. Edward McDonnell pleaded not guilty.
Paul Norton, 31, was found not guilty of unlawfully possessing a loaded Beretta handgun and 31 rounds of 9mm ammunition at Stardust Memorial Park in Coolock on 5 October 2019. The Special Criminal Court judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, noted that the prosecution's case relied solely on the testimony of Detective Garda Flynn, who claimed Norton was the driver of a VW Passat that was chased by Gardaí and that Norton allegedly dropped a bag containing the weapon and ammunition. The judge highlighted the lack of DNA evidence and the absence of positive identification of Norton as the person who dropped the gun. He concluded that the evidence did not establish beyond a reasonable doubt that Norton was in possession of the firearm at the park, and therefore acquitted him of the charges.
In a 2020 appeal, a 52‑year‑old man named Thomas Bates, originally from Liverpool, sought to have his 2019 conviction for conspiring to possess firearms, ammunition and explosives set aside. Bates was convicted of conspiring with others to acquire illicit items from the United States via the Darknet between 24 October and 10 November 2017. The trial judge sentenced him to seven years' imprisonment, with the final year suspended. The case involved a covert operation where Gardaí received three packages containing inert hand grenades, a decommissioned Glock pistol and dummy rounds, delivered to an address on Abbey Street, Cahir. Bates accepted the packages, claiming they were for his son, a claim later found false. The appeal argued that the trial judge erred by allowing anonymous FBI evidence, admitting a hearsay document, and failing to direct the jury on the evidential value of the alleged conspiracy.
Mark Skelly, aged 19, was found in possession of a rare Mac‑10 machine pistol, ammunition and a silencer at his father's home in Ballyfermot on 21 May 2019. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of the firearm. The weapon, capable of firing 1,140 rounds per minute, was discovered in a wheelie bin. Skelly claimed he had a "level of knowledge" about firearms from playing the computer game Call of Duty, and admitted having discharged the gun previously, though he did not provide details. He had no prior convictions, left school at 15, and had begun abusing cocaine and cannabis. The court remanded him in custody pending sentencing on 21 July, revoking his bail. The case was adjourned for sentencing, with the prosecution noting the high‑velocity nature of the weapon and the defendant's drug‑related debt as key factors in the prosecution's case.
A 25‑year‑old man, Jake Kearney, was arrested on 30 October 2019 for unlawful possession of a loaded Grandpower semi‑automatic pistol. He was a trusted member of an organised crime gang planning an imminent attack on a rival north Dublin faction. Gardaí seized a silver Skoda Octavia taxi, a Volkswagen Passat, Kearney's black handgun, eight 9mm bullets, his latex gloves and mobile phone. Kearney pleaded guilty on 5 May to the offence. He had previous convictions for drug dealing. His mother's home was burnt out after his arrest, an act described by the judge as a "desperate situation" and a punishment for the crime of her son. The Special Criminal Court adjourned sentencing to 30 July. The case remains at the hearing stage, with no further outcome reported.
The Special Criminal Court heard the case of Derek Devoy, 37, who was arrested for possessing a Makarov submachine gun and a Yugoslavian M75 hand grenade with intent to endanger life. Devoy also pleaded guilty to assaulting a garda and a garda sergeant, and to possessing an explosive substance. The incident began when three unarmed gardaí on patrol received a 999 call about Devoy in Doon Court. A chase led to a family house on Crannogue Road where Devoy was found sitting on a toilet with the gun. The firearm discharged, narrowly missing Sergeant Andrew O'Connor and Garda Niall Minnock, and a grenade lay on the floor. Gardaí restrained Devoy, who was later taken to Ballymun Garda Station and then hospital for a perforated ulcer. CCTV footage of Devoy with the gun and grenade was shown to the court. The case was adjourned to 23 July for sentencing.
A trial date has been set for the Special Criminal Court to hear the murder case of gangland figure Eamon Kelly, who was shot on 4 December 2012 at Furry Park Road, Killester. The accused are Kenneth Donohoe, 43, of Hazelgrove Estate, Tallaght, and Darren Murphy, 49, of Rory O'Connor House, Dublin 1. Both men face charges of murder and a connected firearms offence for unlawful possession of a Glock pistol with intent to endanger life. Mr Justice Tony Hunt fixed the trial for 10 June 2021, with an expected duration of six weeks.
Alan Wilson, aged 40, has been set a trial date of 4 October 2021 at the Special Criminal Court for three counts of attempted murder linked to a shooting at The Players Lounge pub in Fairview, Dublin. He is accused of attempting to kill Brian Masterson, Wayne Barrett and Austin Purcell on 26 July 2010. Wilson also faces charges of possessing a .38 Special Smith & Wesson revolver, a .32 Auto Zastava semi‑automatic pistol, and corresponding ammunition, all with intent to endanger life. He denied the allegations during a brief hearing and was joined by video‑link.
The Special Criminal Court will deliver a verdict next month in the case of Paul Norton (31) from Cromcastle Court, Coolock, Dublin 17, who is accused of dropping a loaded handgun during a chase through the Stardust Memorial Park on October 5th, 2019. Norton has pleaded not guilty to the unlawful possession of a handgun and ammunition. The trial has heard that the State's case relies on recognition by two detectives, Det Gda Keith Cassidy and Det Gda Jason Flynn, who both identified Norton during the chase. They stated that Norton exited the driver's side of a Volkswagen Passat and looked directly at their windscreen. The detectives, who have 13 years of experience working in Coolock, said they simultaneously recognized Norton. However, the defense, led by Mr Michael Bowman SC, argued that there was a lack of physical description of the suspect in any Garda statement and that the evidence was insufficient.
A detective testified in the Special Criminal Court that he was on first-name terms with Paul Norton (31), accused of possessing a loaded handgun and 31 rounds of 9mm ammunition at Stardust Memorial Park in Coolock, Dublin on October 5th, 2019. Norton has pleaded not guilty. The trial heard that the State's case relied on identification, as there was no DNA evidence. It is alleged that during a high-speed chase, Norton dropped a bag containing a loaded Beretta 92, a full magazine with 15 rounds, and 15 additional rounds. Detective Garda Keith Cassidy stated he could identify Norton due to familiarity with his family and friends, and noted that Norton had nicknamed him 'Paudge' after a character from the TV series 'Red Rock'. During the chase, Norton exited a VW Passat, which had sustained tire damage, and was identified by Cassidy and another detective. The trial continues.