The Special Criminal Court viewed CCTV footage of the fatal shooting of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel, Dublin, on 5 February 2016. The footage shows men in Emergency Response Unit (ERU) gear, including a man in a flat cap and a man in a wig, exiting a silver van and entering the hotel via the laundry room. Three men, referred to as "Tacs 1, 2 and 3," wearing tactical‑style Garda uniforms and helmets, carried assault rifles and entered the lobby. "Tac 1" shot Byrne, who was seen crawling toward the reception. "Tac 2" later pointed a rifle at a BBC journalist and shot Byrne again before moving toward the laundry‑room door. Witnesses, including journalists and hotel staff, described the scene as chaotic, with gunfire and men shouting "Get down, get fucking down." The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge Ann Ryan.
Joseph Walsh and Michael Gilmartin, who pleaded guilty to firearms offences linked to a garda investigation into the "New IRA," had their sentencing adjourned until February 5. The co-accused admitted to possessing a 9mm parabellum pistol, a magazine, a double-barrel sawn-off shotgun, and ammunition at Chestnut Drive, Cobh, on September 14 last year. They also admitted to an assault at Cork Circuit Court. At the sentence hearing, the court heard that Walsh initially took a "no comment attitude" but later stated he had a "fair idea" the bag contained something illegal. Walsh has previous convictions, including assault causing harm in 2013 and a suspended sentence in 2010. Gilmartin, who also initially remained silent, later told gardai he feared for his life. He has only previous Road Traffic Act convictions. Defence counsel for Walsh highlighted his guilty plea and a reference from a former employer. Counsel for Gilmartin argued he was of outstanding good character, suffered from health issues, and was not a "prime mover" in the offences. Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges Patricia Ryan and Ann Ryan, stated they had a "fair bit to think about" and adjourned the matter. The case was not concluded or finalised at this stage.
In a Special Criminal Court sentence hearing, Jonathan Harding, 45, of McNeill Court, Sallins, and James Walsh, 33, of Neilstown Drive, Clondalkin, were found guilty of possessing an arsenal of firearms and ammunition. The weapons, recovered on 24 January 2017 at a unit in Greenogue Business Park, included nine revolvers, four pistols, a sub‑machine gun, an assault rifle, an AK‑47, and over a thousand rounds of ammunition. The men were arrested after a surveillance operation that followed their travel in a Ford Transit van to the park. Harding had two prior convictions, including a six‑year sentence for drug possession, while Walsh had previous public order offences. The court remanded both men in custody until 30 January, when sentencing will occur.
Two men from Cork, Joseph Walsh, 36, and Michael Gilmartin, 46, admitted to possessing firearms and ammunition. They pleaded guilty to holding a 9mm parabellum pistol, a suitable magazine, and a double‑barrel sawn‑off shotgun, along with 14 rounds of 9mm ammunition and eight shotgun cartridges. The items were found at Chestnut Drive, Cluain Ard, Newtown, Cobh, on 14 September last year. Judge Tony Hunt, with Judges Patricia Ryan and James Faughnan, remanded them in custody until 11 January, when sentencing will occur.
Ciaran Ryan, 24, from Summerhill, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a CZ model 70 semi‑automatic pistol and two rounds of 7.65 Browning calibre ammunition. The items were recovered by Gardaí at Connolly Station on 19 July. During the sentencing hearing, Detective Garda Gary Dunne described how a surveillance operation had been set up around Connolly station. At 3:05 pm Ryan entered the station, bought a ticket and went to the waiting area for the Belfast train due to depart at 3:30 pm. He met a woman who handed him a white bag; she was pushing a buggy with a child. After she left, Ryan boarded the train. Gardaí followed him onboard and arrested him.
The Special Criminal Court has rejected an application by Nikita Murtagh, a 20-year-old woman from Sheriff Street, Dublin 1, to dismiss a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm. Ms. Murtagh is alleged to have possessed a CZ model 70 semi-automatic pistol, two rounds of 7.65 Browning calibre ammunition, and a shotgun cartridge. These items were allegedly recovered by gardai at Connolly Station on July 19th. Last week, counsel Michael O'Higgins SC submitted the application under Section 4E of the Criminal Justice Act 1999. Presiding Judge Tony Hunt, sitting with Judges Patricia Ryan and James Faughnan, dismissed the application today. The court subsequently fixed a trial date for January 30th. Ms. Murtagh was remanded in custody until that date. The matter remains at the pre-trial stage, with the charges alleged and contested, and no plea, finding, or sentence has been recorded.
Warren Brennan, aged 26, was re‑sentenced to ten years' imprisonment with the final three years suspended after the Court of Appeal found his original seven‑year sentence unduly lenient. Brennan had pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, robbery and related offences at a bookmakers shop on Lombard Street in December 2014 and at Alderwood Park in October 2015. He was convicted of robbing a 71‑year‑old pensioner with a hammer, repeatedly striking him on the head and body, and also striking the victim's nephew. Brennan had previously been convicted of 54 offences, including robbery and possession of a firearm. The Court of Appeal, judging that the evidence was overwhelming and that the guilty pleas had earned excessive credit, imposed a consecutive five‑year term with the final three years suspended, requiring a good‑behaviour bond for the suspended period.
Sarah Doyle, a 24‑year‑old single mother from Killaley, Togher, Drogheda, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for her role in the robbery of Clogherhead Post Office on 3 May 2016. The robbery involved three armed men who used a sledgehammer, a firearm and a taser to break into the post office and stole about €7,000. Doyle, who had no direct participation in the robbery or in threatening staff, helped the raiders by waiting in her car and driving them to safety. She received €1,000 from the proceeds. At sentencing, the judge suspended the final two years, but on appeal the Court of Appeal increased the suspended portion to two‑and‑a‑half years, keeping the overall term at four years. Doyle was required to enter a good‑behaviour bond for the suspended period. The appeal decision was based on the judge's failure to fully consider the detrimental effect of custody on the mother‑child relationship. Sarah Doyle pleaded guilty.
Nathan Coakley (24) has been sentenced to five years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his role in an armed robbery. Coakley, of Buckingham Street Upper, Dublin, pleaded guilty to possessing a kitchen knife during a hold-up at a Spar shop on Long Brook Quay on December 10, 2015. His accomplice carried an imitation firearm and assaulted a staff member when unable to access a time-locked safe. The raiders escaped with €6,114, which was never recovered. Judge Cormac Quinn imposed the five-year sentence with the final 18 months suspended, conditional on compliance with the Probation Services. The court noted that a victim, who has since relocated to Donegal, found the robbery traumatic. Coakley's previous convictions number 82, predominantly for road traffic offences, though Judge Quinn acknowledged his recent achievement in becoming drug-free and noted the absence of prior violent crime convictions.
A trial date of 2 October 2018 has been set at the Special Criminal Court for five men charged in connection with the murder of dissident republican Peter Butterly. The 35-year-old was fatally shot outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, County Meath on 6 March 2013. Books of evidence were served on the defendants during proceedings before the non-jury court. Michael McDermott of Ballinagh, County Cavan faces charges including murder, membership of an unlawful organisation, and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. Kevin Braney of Tallaght, Dublin and Frank Murphy of Bettystown, County Meath face similar charges. Laurence Murphy of Bettystown and Ray Kennedy of Blanchardstown, Dublin are charged with membership of an unlawful organisation. The trial is estimated to last up to ten weeks. Additional legal representation has been approved for each defendant.
Nikita Murtagh, aged 20, is applying to the Special Criminal Court to have a charge of unlawful possession of a CZ 70 semi‑automatic pistol, two rounds of 7.65 Browning ammunition and a shotgun cartridge dismissed. The items were allegedly seized by gardai at Connolly train station on 19 July. Murtagh is making the application under Section 4E of the Criminal Justice Act 1999. Judge Tony Hunt, with Judges Patricia Ryan and James Faughnan, will rule on the application on 21 December. She remains remanded in custody until that date.
Charles Schlaubitz, 45, was jailed for 18 months after producing an imitation firearm in the beer garden of the Pygmalion Public House and a second replica at a pharmacy on Berkeley Road. He pleaded guilty to possession of imitation firearms with intent to cause injury or intimidate. Schlaubitz, who is bipolar with manic depression, admitted to having a "bad run of things" and that he had gone too far. He was intoxicated and unfit to be interviewed after his arrest. Judge Melanie Greally noted that no major harm had been caused and that people could not circulate in public places producing what appeared to be a firearm. She handed down a three‑year sentence but suspended the final 18 months on a number of conditions. The article reports that Schlaubitz had 91 previous convictions, mainly for public order and theft offences. The case was heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Eamon McNamee, 37, pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to possessing a firearm with intent to commit assault causing harm on 19 January 2013 at Fairgreen, Saggart. The court accepted the plea, and the prosecution noted that McNamee had been on bail for over two years. The judge ordered that his bail be varied so he must sign in at a Garda station daily. McNamee was remanded on continuing bail until 29 January next year, when sentencing will take place.
In a 2017 Court of Appeal hearing, Brendan Grehan SC argued that Michael Taylor, 37, lacked sufficient evidence linking him to the 2007 murder of Paul Kelly, 26, at Winston Ville apartments. Grehan highlighted three main points: a glove found 80 m from the scene with a DNA profile matching Taylor, phone evidence showing a device linked to Taylor pinging a mast near the crime scene, and a feud between Taylor and the victim. He contended the glove's DNA was a minor profile and that a single firearm residue particle was insufficient to prove use in the shooting, arguing the evidence should have been excluded. The prosecution, represented by Denis Vaughan Buckley SC, maintained the evidence was strong and warranted a jury verdict, which had been reached after five hours. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice Seán Ryan, decided to reserve judgment on the appeal. Michael Taylor pleaded not guilty and was found guilty.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Dayle Devoy, aged 22, was sentenced to 16 months in custody for possessing 84 rounds of firearm ammunition at his family home. Devoy claimed he had discovered the stash while walking in a park. Detective Garda David Charles reported that he and colleagues found the ammunition during a search of Devoy's home, uncovering 14 rounds of 9mm Luger, .38 Special Short and .22 long rifle ammunition. Devoy pleaded guilty on 18 February 2016 and has 12 prior convictions, all at district court level, for offences including drugs and arson. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that Devoy was holding the ammunition for third parties and that he was aware of its intended use in killing, injuring or threatening people. The judge imposed a three‑year sentence with the final 20 months suspended, ordering 20 months of post‑release supervision. The case was prosecuted by Antonia Boyle BL and defended by Bernard Condon SC.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Francis Leahy, aged 58, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for robbing a Spar shop in Ringsend on 18 February 2017. He pleaded guilty to one count of robbery, stealing €360 in cash, and one count of possessing a firearm with 10 rounds of ammunition. Leahy entered the shop masked, pointed the gun at a shop worker, demanded money, and fled with the cash. Gardaí found him with the gun loaded with two rounds, eight additional rounds, and cash. He claimed he had gambling debts and had received threatening bullet cartridges in his letter box. Judge Karen O'Connor described the offence as very serious, imposed the sentence, and suspended the final 18 months on strict conditions, including drug treatment and a victim awareness programme. The victim's impact statement noted fear for his life during the robbery.
The Special Criminal Court adjourned the trial of 36‑year‑old Eamon McNamee of Lucan, County Dublin, charged with possession of a firearm with intent to commit assault causing harm at Fairgreen, Saggart, on 19 January 2013. The trial, originally set to open on 7 December 2017, was postponed until Monday to allow the defence to complete requested forensic examinations. Prosecutor Annemarie Lawlor SC indicated the case could finish within five days if it began on Monday. Judge Isobel Kennedy, with Judges Sinead Ni Chúlacháin and Cormac Dunne, granted the adjournment and remanded McNamee on bail.
The Special Criminal Court refused bail to 20‑year‑old Nikita Murtagh, charged with unlawful possession of a CZ 70 pistol, two rounds of 7.65 Browning ammunition and a shotgun cartridge recovered by gardai at Connolly Station on 19 July. The State objected on grounds that she might commit a further serious offence or be a flight risk. Judge Isobel Kennedy, with Judges Patricia Ryan and James Faughnan, ruled that the court was not satisfied to grant bail, noting it was probable she would seek to evade justice if released.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court case, Derek McGovern, 35, was acquitted of unlawful possession of a Glock 26 pistol, 14 rounds of 9mm Luger ammunition, and stolen car keys. Judge Melanie Greally directed the jury to return a verdict of not guilty on all charges after concluding that the Director of Public Prosecutions had insufficient evidence to prove McGovern's control over the items. The prosecution's case relied on demonstrating a common design to possess the items and suggested a joint enterprise with a co‑accused, but the judge found this evidence inadequate. McGovern had pleaded not guilty at the start of the trial. Judge Greally thanked the jury for their time and noted that the lack of evidence meant the jury could not convict on any of the charges.
In a non‑jury Special Criminal Court hearing, Gardai objected to bail for 20‑year‑old Nikita Murtagh, charged with unlawful possession of a CZ model 70 semi‑automatic pistol, two rounds of 7.65 Browning ammunition and a shotgun cartridge recovered at Connolly train station on 19 July. Garda Marguerite Reilly argued that bail should be denied to prevent a further serious offence and that Murtagh was a flight risk. Murtagh denied that she would commit a serious offence if granted bail. The court adjourned the hearing to Wednesday morning for the defence to submit documentation to the State.
Patrick McCann, 24, of Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty to attempted murder of 19‑year‑old Luke Wilson and to possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. The incident occurred on 13 January 2013 at Liffey Gaels, Memorial Park, Inchicore, when Wilson was shot in the arm, neck and face but escaped injury because the gun jammed twice and McCann fled. In sentencing, Mr Justice Paul Carney described the case as "might as well have appeared in the Love/Hate script" and imposed a 20‑year sentence, suspending the final three years. He cited McCann's long‑standing dependence on alcohol and drugs and a dysfunctional family background as mitigating factors. McCann was due to appeal the sentence, but after a hearing in the Court of Appeal, his barrister Keith Spencer announced that McCann wished to withdraw the appeal.
Emmett Kiely, 26, of Limerick, was denied bail by the High Court on 29 November 2017. He faces charges for a "slash hook" assault on Joseph Storan on 3 October 2017 at Maple Court, Kennedy Park, and for assaulting Terry Casey on 11 July 2017 at the same address. He is also charged with possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life on that day. The State objected to bail, arguing it could lead to further offences, and the court, citing Section 2A of the Bail Act, rejected the application, remanding Kiely in custody.
The Special Criminal Court heard that Inspector Brian Delaney was "fairly satisfied" that 30‑year‑old Eamonn Cumberton had a "significant role" in the murder of 35‑year‑old Michael Barr, the manager of the Sunset House pub, on 25 April 2016. Delaney said items recovered from a partially burnt Audi near the scene – masks, hats, firearms and ammunition – linked the car to the shooting and that Cumberton was listed as a suspect early in the investigation. On 26 May, the inspector received information that Cumberton had a baseball cap and a rubber mask from the getaway car, which further convinced him of Cumberton's involvement. Cumberton had tried to leave for Bangkok after the shooting, but his passport had expired; he later obtained an emergency passport and flew to Bangkok, returning to Dublin on 25 May. Eamonn Cumberton pleaded not guilty.
Daniel Barrett, 23, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary at a neighbour's house on 13 August 2015, armed with an imitation shotgun. He was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment by Judge Rory McCabe on 23 November 2016. Barrett had planned to appeal the severity of his sentence. During the Court of Appeal hearing, Judge George Birmingham reminded him that the court could increase sentences. Barrett's counsel, Garnet Orange SC, informed the court that Barrett had decided to withdraw the appeal. The appeal was withdrawn and Barrett was taken to continue serving his sentence.
Ciaran Ryan, 23, of Summerhill, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty at the non-jury Special Criminal Court to possessing a semi-automatic pistol at Connolly Station in Dublin on July 19th. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judge Patricia Ryan and Judge James Faughnan, accepted the plea. The court remanded Ryan in custody until December 20th, when he will be sentenced. The matter was adjourned for sentencing and is not yet concluded.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Eamonn Cumberton, aged 30, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael Barr, 35, the manager of the Sunset House pub in Dublin. Barr was shot on 25 April 2016 after two masked men in boiler suits entered the pub between 8:30 and 9:33 pm. Barr was shot seven times – five to the head, one to the shoulder and one to the neck – and died at 10:12 pm. Evidence will show that the shooters used a firearm found in a silver Audi, which was set on fire by three people on Walsh Road. The Audi contained loaded firearms, masks, balaclavas and boiler suits. Cumberton and another man flew to Thailand the day after the shooting. The defence will challenge all prosecution evidence, and the case will be heard in a voir dire to determine admissibility. The trial will resume tomorrow with Mr Justice Tony Hunt presiding.
Ciaran Ryan, aged 23, was charged in July at Dublin District Court with three firearms offences: possession of a CZ semi‑automatic pistol with two rounds of 7.65 Browning ammunition and one shotgun cartridge, allegedly committed at Connolly Station on 19 July. The Special Criminal Court, a three‑judge non‑jury court, was instructed by Mr Justice Tony Hunt, Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin and Judge James Faughnan to try Ryan after the State applied for a non‑jury trial. His co‑accused, Nikita Murtagh, 20, faces the same charges and will also be tried before the Special Criminal Court.
In November 2017 a 65‑year‑old man was sentenced to 11½ years for raping and sexually assaulting his nine‑year‑old daughter between August 1991 and August 1993. He brought a shotgun into her bedroom, threatened to shoot her mother if she reported the abuse, and raped her on a subsequent occasion before assaulting her four or five more times. The abuse ceased abruptly, and the daughter only disclosed it to a relative in 2006, with no action taken. The offences came to light in December 2012 after a family gathering, leading to a Garda investigation. The man denied all charges, claimed he did not accept the verdict, and intends to appeal. The judge, citing the man's age and health, imposed concurrent sentences, suspended the final 15 months, and back‑dated the term to July when he first entered custody. The unnamed man was convicted.
Derek Hutch, a first cousin of the late Gary Hutch, was sentenced by Judge Patricia Ryan to a four‑year term for possession of an imitation firearm and robbery of a Spar shop on Styles Road, Clontarf, on 11 June 2015. The sentence was suspended on a number of conditions after the court noted that Hutch had made "trojan efforts" in rehabilitating himself, remained drug‑free, and had received a favourable probation report. Hutch, aged 27, had nine previous convictions, including three for theft, but no prior firearm offences. The robbery involved Hutch and accomplice Christopher Coakley holding a shop manager at gunpoint with an imitation firearm, demanding the alarm code, and escaping with about €1,215. Gardaí later recovered approximately €700. Hutch has not been in contact with the Gardaí since the offence and is now focused on his family. The court emphasised his progress in drug treatment and his current drug‑free status.
Jonathan Harding, 44, pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to possessing a cache of firearms at Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole. The cache included ten revolvers, four pistols, a sub‑machine gun, an assault rifle and various ammunition magazines. Harding was remanded in custody until 11 January next year, when he and co‑accused James Walsh, 33, will be sentenced. Declan Brady, 51, was also remanded until 8 December for unlawful possession of five revolvers, twenty rounds of ammunition and a silencer found on 24 January at the same unit.
During a Garda search for drugs in February 2016, a 23‑year‑old man named Glen Synott was found with a black sock containing four 9mm Makarov rounds hidden beneath decking in his back garden. Synott admitted hiding the sock but claimed the bullets were not his, saying he had been asked to hold them for a €200 drug debt. He also stated he was out of breath and sweating because he had been "having a wank", an explanation the Garda found "flippant" and did not accept. Synott was arrested and later pleaded guilty to possession of firearms ammunition under suspicious circumstances. The court imposed a five‑year custodial sentence, suspended for five years on strict conditions, including remaining drug‑free, engaging with addiction services, random urine tests and probation appointments. He had three prior convictions, two for public order offences and one for not wearing a crash helmet on a motorbike.
Paul Heaney, aged 33, was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for two robberies at Paddy Power Bookmakers on 3 January and 28 October 2016. In the first offence he threatened a staff member with a large kitchen knife and stole €1,200. In the second he pointed an imitation firearm at the same staff member and stole €250. He pleaded guilty to both robberies and to possession of a realistic imitation firearm. He claimed he was under the influence of drugs and feared for his life due to debt. He wrote an apology letter and expressed remorse. Judge Karen O'Connor accepted his apology and his desire to change, imposing consecutive sentences totalling five and a half years, suspending the final 21 months on strict conditions. No money was recovered from either robbery.
Irmantas Paulauskas, 39, a Lithuanian national with no fixed abode, was convicted of armed robbery of €1.1 million worth of jewellery from Hartmann jewellers in Galway on 11 February 2015. He pleaded not guilty to robbery and possession of an imitation firearm with a silencer. A jury found him guilty and Judge Rory McCabe sentenced him to 14 years imprisonment on 12 May 2016. Paulauskas lost an appeal against his conviction but successfully appealed his sentence. The Court of Appeal, hearing that the robbery involved imitation firearms rather than loaded guns, reduced the sentence to 12 years, discounting one year for the difficulty of imprisonment for a foreign national. The conviction was upheld, the sentence cut, and no further changes were made to the outcome of the case.
Nikita Murtagh, aged 20, was charged in July at Dublin District Court with unlawful possession of a CZ model 70 semi‑automatic pistol, two rounds of 7.65 Browning calibre ammunition and a shotgun cartridge. The items were allegedly recovered by gardai on a Dublin‑to‑Belfast train at Connolly Station on 19 July. At a brief hearing on 1 November, the Director of Public Prosecutions applied under Section 49 of the Offences Against the State Act for Murtagh to be tried before the Special Criminal Court. Judge Tony Hunt, with Judges Patricia Ryan and James Faughnan, granted the order.
A masked man, Francis Leahy, 58, robbed a Spar shop in Ringsend on 18 February, taking €360 in cash and using a loaded gun with 10 rounds. He was immediately recognised by a shop worker as a regular customer, who initially thought Leahy was joking until the gun was pointed at him. Leahy claimed he had gambling debts and had received threatening bullet cartridges in his letter box, prompting the robbery. He was arrested shortly after, found with the gun, cash and additional ammunition, and pleaded guilty to one count of robbery and one count of firearm possession. Leahy has 21 prior convictions, including drug possession, theft, larceny and assault, and has been in custody since the offence. The case was adjourned to 28 November. The victim expressed fear for his life during the incident. The court noted the seriousness of the offence and the presence of a live firearm and ammunition.
Alan McNamara, 51, of Mountfune, Murroe, Co Limerick, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Andrew O'Donoghue. Found guilty last July, McNamara was convicted of killing O'Donoghue, a member of the Road Tramps motorcycle club, at the club's gates on June 20, 2015, during a territorial dispute. Justice Paul McDermott imposed the mandatory life sentence, backdating it to December 1, 2015. Prosecutors alleged that after tensions flared between the Road Tramps and the Caballeros, McNamara drove to the clubhouse and shot O'Donoghue, claiming he believed the victim was holding a gun. McNamara has 11 previous convictions, including assault and drug offences. His stepson, Robert Cusack, 28, of Abington, Murroe, pleaded guilty to impeding his stepfather's apprehension. Cusack admitted to taking the shotgun from McNamara after the incident and concealing it in pine trees near his mother's house. He expressed remorse and complied with bail conditions. Justice McDermott stated he would pass sentence on Cusack later that afternoon. The matter regarding Cusack was adjourned for sentencing and has not yet been concluded.
Jamie Shorthall, a 30‑year‑old plumber, carried out an armed raid on an Applegreen petrol station in Monkstown, Dublin, on 17 June 2015. He pointed an imitation Glock pistol at shop worker Phil Collins, demanded the cash tills be opened and took €1,100 before escaping on a bicycle. Shorthall pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of an offensive weapon. He has a history of 20 convictions, including burglary, criminal damage and theft. The court heard he has been attending residential treatment at Coolmine Therapeutic Community and is progressing well, with his programme ending in February 2018. Judge John Aylmer, impressed by his rehabilitation, imposed an 18‑month sentence, suspended in full on strict conditions, including completion of his treatment. The firearm was a realistic replica and the victim was unaware it was an imitation. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
The High Court heard that the Lithuanian authorities' "intention" to put Liam Campbell on trial for alleged terrorism offences and weapons trafficking to Ireland is sufficient to order his extradition. Campbell, 54, was arrested in Dundalk on a European Arrest Warrant issued by Lithuania. The warrant alleges he organised the preparation for smuggling weapons to support the Real IRA between late 2006 and early 2007, arranging illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, explosives and substances. Remy Farrell SC, representing Campbell, argued that the client would face a long pre‑trial detention and that a trial was uncertain. Counsel for the Minister for Justice, Patrick McGrath SC, insisted that the Lithuanian prosecutor's "intention" to charge and try Campbell was clear and not merely investigative. The case was adjourned to 5 December for further submissions, and Campbell remains remanded on continuing bail.
In the Central Criminal Court trial of Jason O'Driscoll, a 34‑year‑old Dublin man charged with the double murder of Anthony Burnett and Joseph Redmond, firefighters Stephen Hoey and Vincent McGuinness gave evidence about a burning car in Ravensdale Forest car park on 7 March 2012. Hoey described extinguishing the flames at the rear of the vehicle, then seeing a badly cracked skull and a ribcage on the driver's seat. He reported that McGuinness called the crew back, declared the scene a crime scene, and notified the Gardaí. A Garda ballistics officer, Shane Curran, later observed the burnt remains of two bodies in a Volkswagen Golf, noting that the bodies were fused together and that bullet fragments were recovered from both skulls. Curran testified that the fragments suggested a single firearm had discharged two bullets, but he could not confirm this without examining the weapon. The pathologist confirmed both men died from two head wounds before the fire. Jason O'Driscoll pleaded not guilty.
James Walsh, 33, pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to possessing a cache of firearms, including ten revolvers, four pistols, a sub‑machine gun, an assault rifle and ammunition magazines, found on 24 January at Greenogue Business Park. He was remanded in custody until 11 January next year, when sentencing will occur. Co‑accused Jonathan Harding, 44, and Declan Brady, 51, were also remanded until 10 November, when their cases will be mentioned again. Both were charged with unlawful possession of five revolvers, twenty rounds of ammunition and a silencer, also discovered on 24 January at the same unit.
In a High Court hearing, the Minister for Justice argued that there is no reason to refuse the surrender of Liam Campbell, a 54‑year‑old Irishman, to Lithuania where he faces charges of terrorism and weapons trafficking. Campbell was arrested in Dundalk on 2 December 2016 under a European Arrest Warrant issued by Lithuanian authorities. The warrant alleges that between late 2006 and early 2007 he organised the preparation for smuggling weapons to support the Real IRA, arranging for illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, explosives and related substances. If surrendered, Campbell could face a maximum sentence of twenty years' imprisonment. His barrister, Remy Farrell, opposed the surrender, arguing that pre‑trial detention would be significant and that a trial in Lithuania would raise concerns about fair trial rights, especially regarding translation. The hearing, expected to last three days, will resume tomorrow, with Campbell remanded on continuing bail.
Gary Gleeson, 34, of Ballyfermot, was denied bail by the High Court on 11 October 2017. He faces charges of conspiracy to murder Michael Frazer between 28 July and 7 August, possession of a 9mm Luger pistol and 10 rounds of 9mm ammunition, and intent to endanger life on Naas Road, Crumlin, on 7 August. Gleeson applied for bail on 2 October, but the State objected. Garda Val Russell and Chief Superintendent Tony Howard argued the seriousness of the charges under Section 2A of the Bail Act, leading Judge Paul Butler to reject the application and remand Gleeson in custody.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Seamus McGrane, aged 63, was accused of directing IRA activities between 19 April and 13 May 2015. He allegedly told Donal O'Coisdealbha that an operation would target a site of "military" and "symbolic" significance, with reference to the State visit of Prince Charles on 19 May 2015. McGrane denied membership in the IRA from 18 January 2010 to 13 May 2015. A recorded conversation from 10 May 2015, captured by bugged microphones, described rocket building and testing, and mentioned a target 400 metres from the Cross of Sacrifice in Glasnevin cemetery. Garda searches on 13 May 2015 at McGrane's home and business uncovered bomb‑making components, including detonators, ammunition, a rocket, fireworks, a revolver, potash, syrup, mortar tubes, a garda uniform and a checkpoint sign. The case remains before Judges Kennedy, Ni Chulachain and Dunne. Seamus McGrane pleaded not guilty.
Vincent Maher, 45, was sentenced to seven years in prison for possession of a loaded Smith & Weston revolver found in a laneway beside a Dublin pub. He was arrested after a surveillance operation and pleaded guilty to the firearm offence on 6 December 2016. The revolver, fully loaded with six bullets and wrapped in a black scarf, was recovered in a plastic bag by workmen; Maher's DNA was found on the butt. He claimed he kept the gun for personal protection, citing threats to his life, but no Garda Information Message had been issued to him. Maher also pleaded guilty to possession of heroin for personal use (22 November 2015) and possession of heroin for sale or supply (15 March 2016). All three offences occurred while he was serving a suspended sentence for possession of €20,000 worth of heroin.
John Joyce Junior, aged 25, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to threatening to kill and possession of a firearm. He pointed a rifle at Bernard Joyce's head and fired a shot, after an altercation that began when a car with four men pulled up outside Joyce's house on 16 November 2014. The attackers shouted threats, broke kitchen windows, and Joyce produced the rifle, firing a bullet that passed over Joyce's head. He then left the garden and fired at the next‑door house, home of Joyce's brother. Patrick Joyce, 22, also pleaded guilty to the same charges. Judge Cormac Quinn sentenced Joyce Junior to eight years, suspending the last 18 months, with the sentence back‑dated to March 2016. Patrick Joyce received a four‑year sentence, also with an 18‑month suspension, back‑dated to June 2016. The court noted Joyce Junior's 92 prior convictions and his history of substance abuse.
On 2 October 2015, Charles Schlaubitz, aged 45, produced an imitation firearm in the beer garden of the Pygmalion Public House on Coppinger Row. He was wearing army gear, had a can of beer, and pulled a replica gun from his pocket. Garda John Clancy was alerted and found Schlaubitz intoxicated, slurring, and unsteady. He did not conceal the gun, which was in his bag, and was restrained. Schlaubitz was arrested and bailed for a public order offence that did not proceed. Later that day he returned to a pharmacy on Berkeley Road to retrieve toiletries he had purchased for his children. He produced the same imitation handgun, was aggressive, and was asked to leave. The pharmacy staff called Gardaí, who found him semi‑naked in a corridor at his hostel. He was arrested again. Charles Schlaubitz pleaded guilty.
Kevin Braney, a 43‑year‑old Dublin man, was charged by the Special Criminal Court with membership of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and with the murder of Peter Butterly, a 35‑year‑old father of two, who was shot dead outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, Co. Meath on 6 March 2013. Braney is also charged with possession of a 9 mm Beretta pistol and seven rounds of ammunition, allegedly intended for a murder on 5 March 2013 at Blackthorn Apartments, Balbriggan. He was brought before the court on 14 September 2017, where he protested the charges as politically motivated and demanded a jury trial. The court, following the Director of Public Prosecutions' request, ordered that he be tried before the Special Criminal Court. Judge Tony Hunt remanded him in custody for a further hearing on 21 September. No objections were raised to Braney's application for legal aid.
Four men appeared before an out-of-term sitting of the Special Criminal Court on charges arising from the death of Peter Butterly. Mr Butterly, aged thirty-five, was shot outside The Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, County Meath on 6 March 2013. Michael McDermott, aged fifty-eight, from Ballinagh, County Cavan, faces a murder charge alongside allegations of membership of an unlawful organisation and unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. Laurence Murphy, aged sixty, and Frank Murphy, aged fifty-eight, both from Bettystown, County Meath, are charged with membership of an unlawful organisation. Frank Murphy additionally faces murder and firearm possession charges. Ray Kennedy, aged thirty-eight, from Dublin, is charged with membership of an unlawful organisation. All four were remanded in custody pending their return to the Special Criminal Court on 14 September.
Ahmed Ayadi, aged 25, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment for possession of a 9mm Glock pistol in suspicious circumstances and for possession of cannabis. He pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Ayadi had approached undercover Gardaí to buy a firearm, claiming he was involved in drug sales and wanted a weapon "just in case." He initially wanted an AK‑47 but chose a Glock after seeing a picture, paying €450 on 12 May 2016. Gardaí had been alerted through confidential information and set up a surveillance operation, recording meetings with Ayadi. He was arrested after his vehicle was intercepted. The judge, Karen O'Connor, noted his early guilty plea, remorse, and community work, but considered the offence serious. She imposed a six‑year term, suspended the final 12 months, and ordered 12 months of probation supervision upon release.
Vincent Banks, aged 47, from Smithfield Gate Apartments in Dublin 7, has been found guilty by the Special Criminal Court of membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army. The conviction follows his trial regarding the purchase of a Toyota Camry used in the fatal shooting of Northern Ireland prison officer David Black on 1 November 2012. Mr Black was killed in a drive-by shooting on the M1 near Lurgan, County Armagh. The vehicle was subsequently found burnt out in a ditch near Carrigallen, County Leitrim, with firearm cartridges connected to the death recovered from inside. Banks had denied the charge, maintaining he knew nothing of Mr Black or the vehicle. However, the court accepted evidence from Chief Superintendent Gerry Russell regarding Banks' membership and found his conduct surrounding the car's purchase surreptitious. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, presiding with judges Gerard Griffin and Gerard Haughton, noted that inferences could be drawn from Banks' failure to answer material questions during garda interviews. He was remanded in custody pending sentencing on 9 October.