Courts / Dublin / Report

Christy Burke's grandson drops appeal against explosives sentence

Date
2020-02-21

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Mairtin Manning, 25, grandson of former Lord Mayor Christy Burke, pleaded guilty to knowingly possessing ten 400‑gram blocks of TNT and the explosive head of an RGD33 hand grenade on 2 June 2017 in Dublin 3. He was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court on 27 May 2017. The court noted that one 400‑gram block could create an under‑car bomb, describing the quantity as "very considerable", and that no harm occurred due to Gardaí's timely intervention. Manning was considered a courier who had played an important role but had no further role in processing the explosives. He had been due to appeal the severity of his sentence, but withdrew the appeal after the Court of Appeal's President reminded him of the court's full powers. His co‑accused, Declan McDermott, 31, also received seven years, while John O'Brien, 56, was jailed for 18 months for assisting an unlawful organisation.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Christy Burke's grandson drops appeal against explosives sentence. Charges or matters: knowingly possessing an explosive substance to wit ten 400 gram blocks of TNT and the explosive head of an RGD33 hand grenade at Spring Garden Street, Dublin 3, on June 2, 2017. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

June 2, 2017 Incident
May 27, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
June 2 2017 Incident
June 2 Hearing Or Sentence
2020-02-21 Publication

Case subjects

Christy Burke

Appellant

Charges: knowingly possessing an explosive substance to wit ten 400 gram blocks of TNT and the explosive head of an RGD33 hand grenade at Spring Garden Street, Dublin 3, on June 2, 2017 (Alleged Or Contested)

Outcome: Manning, who is the grandson of former Lord Mayor of Dublin Christy Burke, was sentenced to seven years imprisonment by the three-judge, non-jury court on May 27, 2017.

Declan McDermott

Convicted Person

Outcome: Declan McDermott (31), whose address was also not before the court, was jailed for seven years after pleading guilty to the same offence.

John O'Brien

Convicted Person

Outcome: He was jailed for 18 months.

Lord Mayor

Background Person

Outcome: Lord Mayor of Dublin Christy Burke, was sentenced to seven years imprisonment by the three-judge, non-jury court on May 27, 2017.

Mairtin Manning

Convicted Person

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Manning, who is the grandson of former Lord Mayor of Dublin Christy Burke, was sentenced to seven years imprisonment by the three-judge, non-jury court on May 27, 2017. Manning's co-accused, Declan McDermott (31), whose address was also not before the court, was jailed for seven years after pleading guilty to the same offence.