Freddie Thompson

A 35-YEAR-OLD man charged with the murder of David 'Daithi' Douglas, who was shot dead on a Dublin street in July, has been further remanded in custody.

Frederick 'Freddie' Thompson, of Loreto Road, Maryland, in Dublin, was arrested on November 1 last and detained at Kilmainham garda station under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007. He was charged and remanded in custody following a brief hearing at Dublin District Court on November 7.

David 'Daithi' Douglas, 55, from Killala Road, in Cabra in north Dublin was shot dead outside a shop on Bridgefoot Street in Dublin on afternoon of July 1 last. The father-of-one was standing in the doorway of a shop owned by his wife Yumei when he was approached and shot several times.

The victim, who suffered a number of gunshot wounds, was rushed to St James’s Hospital, but was pronounced dead a short time later.

Mr Thompson faced his fourth hearing today, when he appeared before Judge Victor Blake at Cloverhill District Court. He was further remanded in custody to appear again on December 22 at the same court.

At his first hearing, Det Inspector Cleary gave evidence that "in reply to the charge after caution he said 'no comment'."

Mr Thompson has also been granted free legal aid.

Bail cannot be considered by the district court in murder cases and he will have to make an application to the High Court to get released pending trial. A book of evidence has yet to be completed and served on Mr Thompson has not yet entered a plea to the charge.

Owen Creaney

The family of Owen Creaney have spoken of their heartbreak after their son's murderers, Stephen Hughes and Shauneen Boyle, were handed down life sentences today.

Hughes, 29, from Craigavon and Boyle, 25, from Banbridge, punched and kicked Mr Creaney, from Lurgan, in a vicious attack in the hallway of Hughes' home in the Moyraverty Court area of the town in the early hours of Thursday, July 3, 2014.

After the horrendous beating, in which Owen suffered 15 fractures to his ribs and a broken breastbone, the pair dragged their victim upstairs before washing him and changing his clothes. They then placed him in a bedroom where he died two days later.

After he died, they put Owen's body in a wheelie bin to the rear of the house.

Shauneen Boyle 

Mr Creaney's body was later found by police. The vulnerable 40-year-old had sustained over 60 injuries.

Today Hughes was given a life sentence with a minimum period of 15 years before being considered for parole while Boyle was given a life sentence with a minimum of 14 years before being eligible for parole.

Stephen Hughes

After today's sentencing, the parents of Owen, Jim and Teresa Creaney said in a statement: “The loss of such a wonderful son has left us heartbroken. He was a kind soul and didn’t deserve what happened to him. Owen would have helped anyone. He thought he was with his friends but these people turned out to be his killers.

“Owen will be sorely missed by his immediate family, the wider family circle and his friends. He is in our thoughts every day. We miss him very much. 

“We would like to thank the police, the Public Prosecution Service and everyone involved in this case for all their help.

“We would also like to thank our friends and relations for all their kind words and prayers. They are very much appreciated.”

Also commenting on the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Lee McNevison said: “We hope that the sentences will, in some small way, provide comfort and a degree of closure for the Creaney family. They have conducted themselves with great dignity over the past two and a half years since Owen’s murder and more recently as they listened to the often difficult evidence at the trial. 

“Our thoughts today are with them and with Owen. 

“In closing, I would like to thank the community in Moyraverty and in Lurgan for their co-operation and assistance in this investigation. They provided information, made statements and gave evidence. All of this support was crucial to securing convictions.”

Charles Cleary

A 23-YEAR-OLD student, accused of the murder of his friend Leo Carolan who died following a stabbing at his flat in Dublin, has been further remanded in custody.

Gardai launched a murder investigation after the budding 25-year-old DJ from Dun Laoghaire was stabbed to death on October 4 at his home on South Circular Road.

Mr Carolan was a second-year student at the Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology, where he had been studying creative music technology.

He was living in his apartment at South Circular Road for some time after returning from France, where he he had studied Anthropology at Universite Lumiere in Lyon.

Leo Carolan

A second man, Swiss national Ludovic Thomas, was found injured on the road outside and was rushed to hospital with serious knife wounds.

Student Charles Cleary, 23, who is currently of no fixed abode but from the Rathfarnham area in south Dublin, was arrested on October 8 and held at Kevin Street garda station.

He was charged with murdering Mr Carolan and with assault causing harm to Mr Thomas. He was remanded in custody following a court appearance on October 10 last.

His fourth hearing was held at Cloverhill District Court on Friday. Judge Victor Blake further remanded him in custody to appear again on January 6 next. He has not yet entered a plea to the charges and a book of evidence has yet to be prepared. 

The district court cannot grant bail in murder cases, meaning he will have to make an application to the High Court to get released pending trial.

At his first hearing in October, Det Sergeant Adrian Whitelaw had said: "I cautioned him and in reply he he had nothing to say." Psychiatric assessments of Cleary were also ordered.

Stock image

A MOTORIST, who left two pals with life-changing injuries after a drink-driving crash in a €350 'wreck of a car', has been jailed for six years.

Seamus O’Donnell, (27), from Oillean Teora, Crolly, Co Donegal, pleaded guilty at Letterkenny Circuit Criminal Court today to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to brothers Sean and Liam Ryan in a crash outside Dungloe at 5.35am on October 5, 2014.

Judge John O’Hagan said repeated comments from him and continued coverage in the press about road traffic incidents in Donegal continued to go unheeded.

“Like a lot of cases in Donegal, it is a disaster for everybody,” said the judge.

“How long do I and my colleague have to keep beating the drum to persuade young people to take control and responsibility. The press advertise each and every tragedy which occurs. Who listens to either me or them?”

Gda Colm MacIntyre told the court that he was called to the scene of the two-vehicle crash.

He said O’Donnell’s Toyota Avensis ended upside down in a ditch after the crash and O’Donnell was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving. The Ryan brothers were rushed to Letterkenny hospital for treatment before being transferred to hospitals in Dublin.

Gda MacIntyre said he later recovered CCTV from a pub in Loughanure which showed O’Donnell had drank six pints there before leaving with a carry-out at 1.47am.

Witnesses later recalled seeing O’Donnell drive his car at speed on roads in the area prior to the collision with a motorist driving an Audi A3.

In a victim impact statement Sean Ryan said he was later told he was “on the verge of death”.

He said he was put into an induced coma and doctors had deemed him “not compatible with life. They thought I would not survive and I would not survive any surgical procedures.”

He said he suffered horrific head injuries, lost part of his skull and part of his right front skull is still missing.

He continued to suffer memory loss, social anxiety and leak of fluid from his brain.

His brother Liam suffered a broken pelvis, broken leg, multiple cuts and bruises and he suffered post traumatic stress.

The court heard both brothers had moved to Thurles, Co Tipperary, after they recovered from their injuries. Both men had been best friends of O’Donnell, a trainee welder and farm worker.

Judge John O’Hagan said O’Donnell, who had a previous conviction for drink-driving in 2010, had bought a “€350 wreck of a car”.

He said the accused had been drinking, had no insurance or NCT certificate and the consequences of his actions had been “absolutely catastrophic”.

The judge said the case was one reason why car insurance premiums are rising.

“Why do insurance premiums go up? People drive without insurance and the insurance companies have to pay up anyway and those who do pay contribute to that compensation,” he said.

The judge added: “In the case of Sean Ryan, he literally had his face smashed in and it had to be re-constructed by the excellent medical people in our hospitals. They literally wired his skull back together again. What happened to him is never going to go away.

“I have heard his story so many times here in Donegal. But you can’t put the clock back. It cannot be undone.”

The judge said he accepted O’Donnell was deeply remorseful for his actions, had pleaded guilty at an early stage and was taking action to deal with his addiction to alcohol.

He said he was mindful that the Court of Appeal had doubled the sentence he had given Shaun Kelly he killed eight people in a car crash in Inishowen in 2010, from four years with two suspended to eight years with four suspended.

Unlike the Kelly case, he said, O’Donnell was a drink-driver driving without insurance.

He sentenced O’Donnell to six years in prison for dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm, suspending the last three years of the sentence.

He also imposed concurrent sentences of six months each for driving without insurance and drink-driving and banned O’Donnell from driving for ten years.

Greg Harkin

Via Independent.ie

Stock image

A man who robbed an Apache Pizza outlet with a chainsaw-wielding accomplice was acting completely out of character to pay off a drug debt and has since left Dublin for Mayo, a court has heard.

Craig Dempsey's DNA was discovered on a blood-stained till and on an Adidas hoodie that was discovered in wasteland in Tallaght by gardai in the wake of the robbery of the restaurant last year.

A total of €2,535 was taken from the pizza outlet, Garda Niall Russell told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court today.

Craig Dempsey (25) with an address in Allenton Road, Tallaght, Dublin pleaded guilty to robbing Apache Pizza in Oldbawn Shopping Centre in Tallaght on September 6, 2015. His co-accused remains before the courts.

Dempsey also pleaded guilty to robbing a Spar store at Old Court Shopping Centre in Ballycullen and producing a broken bottle in the course of the offence on July 20, 2015. He will be sentenced on April 4 next year.

Garda Russell told Lisa Dempsey BL, prosecuting, that a staff member was preparing to close the restaurant in the early hours of the morning when Dempsey and another man carrying an electric chainsaw ran into the store shouting "money, money". The other man turned the chainsaw on while Dempsey jumped over the counter and threw the till on the ground.

The pair then fled with the till and were spotted by a taxi-driver making off into nearby wasteland. Gardai searched the wasteland and found the till and hoodie, before Dempsey was recognised from CCTV footage. He was arrested two weeks later. He has three previous convictions, including one for burglary.

Defence barrister, Sorcha Whelan BL, said Dempsey had a cocaine drug debt at the time of the offence. He has since moved from Dublin to Mayo to live with his sister and her family, the court heard.

"He has moved away to get away from the negative influences of people he grew up with in Tallaght," Ms Whelan said. She said Dempsey had got involved in the local boxing club in Mayo and helped out with his sister's children.

The court heard Dempsey's father died of lung cancer three years ago and his mother was suffering from late stage emphysema. He also found the body of his four-month baby nephew who died from cot death. This had a profound effect on him, Ms Whelan said.

She said Dempsey had stopped taking cocaine but is still using cannabis.

Judge Melanie Greally accepted Dempsey was remorseful and was acting out of character at the time of the offences. But she noted he had failed to engage with the Probation Service as he was previously ordered to do.

While appreciating why Dempsey moved to Mayo, she expressed concern that he was "sticking his head in the sand".

She put the matter back to give Dempsey one last chance to engage with probation services in Mayo and to provide urine analysis, telling him: "Your fate is in your hands.

"The alternative, and it's not an alternative I relish, is to put you back in prison in Dublin in the company of all the people who brought you to the point you're at," she said.

Isabel Hayes

VILE: Mark Desmond arrives at court after staging dirty protest

THE son of one of 'Guin­ea Pig' Mark Desmond's youngest murder victims hit out in the wake of his killing saying: "Enjoy hell you p***k."

Evil drug dealing rapist and serial killer Desmond - a suspect in the murder of four young people - died after being shot three times in the head in the Griffeen Valley Park in Lucan shortly after 8pm last Friday evening.

On Saturday, Gardai were still seeking to speak with a convicted drug dealer and close former associate of Desmond who fled his Clondalkin home with his children after word on the hit went around.

Tests are also to be car­ried out on two guns recov­ered; one from a getaway car found burnt out two kilo­metres away in Hayden's Lane and one from a location near the spot where Desmond was gunned down.

This week in the Sunday World, retired detective Alan Bailey revealed how Desmond's use of rape as a weap­on in recover­ing drugs debts made him the country's most despised gang­sters.

Hw is believed to have savagely raped both un­deerage girls and boys.

In comments directed square­ly at Desmond, Dean Carey, the son of Grand Canal Bank murder victim Darren Carey (20), who was shot dead along­side pal Patrick Murray by Desmond in 2000, blasted: "He killed my father 17 long years ago, delighted, finally justice has been served.

"You deserved it, if it was my way I would have tortured you, ye fat c**t.

"Enjoy hell you pr**k," he posted.

"Giddy up ye fat f**k.

"Finally our minds are at rest. Ding Dong the pig is gone."

Across the capital yesterday, the families of at least four men mur­dered by Desmond were coming to terms with the news the evil psycho had died after being gunned down in Griffeen Valley Park in Lucan on Friday evening.

Heartbreakingly, the mother of James Kenny McDonagh, who cam­paigned relentlessly for justice since 2010 when Desmond abducted and murdered the youngster, passed away in May.

A neighbour living in the Island­bridge Court apartments told us: "Jacqui [James's mum] never got over her son's death.

"All she wanted was justice, but I think she'll rest easier now."

The family of Patrick Murray, meanwhile, marked Desmond's death with mum Kay paying a visit to her son's grave in Palmerstown Cemetery.

Speaking with the Sunday World last week, dad Paul told us: "We found out last night…within minutes of it happening.

"I think now they can rest easier [Patrick and Darren], I think they can.

"The Gardai never went after him after the trial collapsed…that was it.

"The dogs in the street knew what he did."

Desmond (below) was regarded by gardai as one of the most violent, vile and sadistic criminals to ever come to attention to the capital.

His death was widely welcomed in Ballyfermot and parts of the south inner-city, where he was notorious for the horrific manner in which he dealt with people over outstanding drug debts - including using sexual assault as a punishment tool.

Earlier this year, gardai had to warn a number of rent boys operat­ing out of the Phoenix Park about Desmond's violent past after he was spotted paying them for sex.

Speaking at the scene on Saturday, Superinten­dent Liam Carolan ap­pealed to members of the public who were in the Griffeen Valley Park/ Hayden's Lane area between 6pm and 10pm on Friday and who may have noticed anything suspicious, to get in contact with the garda incident room at 01 6667300.

Desmond, he confirmed, was found on a footpath in the park and had suf­fered a number of gunshot wounds. He died at the scene.

Supt Carolan said there was noth­ing to suggest the body had been in the park for any length of time.

Gardai recovered one handgun from a burned-out car found two kilometres from the scene, while a second weapon was found near the murder scene.

Investigators are looking at several lines of inquiry thanks to the gangster's long list of enemies.

Officers were actively seeking to speak with a Clondalkin-based asso­ciate of Desmond's, who they believe may have been in contact with him in the lead up to the killing.

This individual and his brother are both known to be heavily involved in the drugs trade.

Although he has faced charges on several occasions, including once in connection with a multi-million euro haul, gardai have never managed to secure a significant conviction against him.

Desmond had been at the suspect's house earlier on the Friday evening, before he was blasted to death, according to Sunday World sources.

Gardai are also examining a recent link-up between Desmond and a Sligo-based drugs gang that saw him cross paths with Real IRA figures.

One of those, Aaron Nealis, was shot and wounded when RIRA leader Alan Ryan was shot dead in 2012.

But several gangland figures are also known to have wanted the Ballyfermot native dead.

He was lucky to escape with his life when a hitman on a motorbike opened fire as he sat in a car at traffic lights in Tallaght in 2005.

Shot in the arm and buttock, he was able to escape the attempt on his life organised by members of the Drimnagh drugs gang run by Brian Rattigan.

In turn, Desmond helped to organ­ise the murder of Anthony Cannon, who was shot dead in Ballyfermot.

Cannon was shot dead as he ran for his life at St Mary's Avenue and hit nine times by a gunman who fired 11 shots from a motorcycle.

Cannon, who was wearing a bul­let-proof vest at the time, had been shot twice in the head in an assassi­nation involving notorious hitman Eric 'Lucky' Wilson.

But despite the clash with the Rattigan's gang, it didn't stop Desmond later developing links with Natasha McEnroe, the jailed gang leader's ex-girlfriend.

It emerged during a court hearing, in which Rattigan was accused of or­ganising a heroin-dealing operation from his Portlaoise Prison jail cell, that she played a key role.

McEnroe also had links to 39-year-old Chris­topher 'Git' Zambra (below), who was shot dead in Dublin in 2014, as well as Desmond.

She had broken away from Ratti­gan when, in 2015, Desmond was in her house as gardai investigating a €350,000 drugs stash raided the home.

Desmond is believed to have be­come a supplier to a number of mid-level heroin dealers in the city.

Known as the Guinea Pig, Desmond came to national prominence in 2000 when Carey and Murray were savagely murdered and dumped in the Grand Canal in Co Kildare.

Although charged with murder, the charges were later withdrawn and he faced trial for possession of weapons with intent to endanger life.

His girlfriend at the time, Rachel Stephens, made statements that im­plicated him in the murders.

After a murderous criminal career in which he used sadistic sexual vio­lence to terrify his victims, few people were shed­ding tears at the news of his death.

Chapelizod Post Office (Image via Google Maps)

A post office worker who stole from ten elderly people by skimming their old age pensions has avoided a prison sentence.

Imelda Hanlon (36) stole a total of €18,752 over four years before she was caught. She used the money to pay her mortgage and gave some of it to her partner's children in an effort to forge a closer relationship with them.

Hanlon, of Oak Court Grove, Palmerstown, Dublin pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to ten sample counts of theft, from an 81-count indictment, at Chapelizod Post Office between 2010 and 2014.

Detective Garda Shane Kelly told Fiona McGowan BL, prosecuting, that Hanlon worked part-time in the post office which was owned by her mother.

She targeted old age pension payments because the post office system allows pensioners to let them build up before collecting them. When customers came in to collect a few weeks worth of payments, Hanlon would pay out most of the money but keep some back for herself.

The customers did not notice the missing money as Hanlon only took small amounts from each person and spread the thefts over four years.

In 2014, An Post launched an investigation into unusual transactions at the branch and Hanlon admitted the thefts. An Post reimbursed the victims and Hanlon has since repaid An Post.

Defence counsel, Katherine McGillicuddy BL, said the thefts started out as opportunistic and then became a habit for Hanlon. She said Hanlon was relieved when she was finally caught.

Ms McGillicuddy said her client had poor decision-making skills. Hanlon used some of the money to pay maintenance for her partner's children and to take them out to dinner. Counsel said she did not live a lavish lifestyle.

Counsel added she was let go from the post office and hadn't returned since.

Judge Martin Nolan said it was a serious crime which targeted a vulnerable section of the community.

"Let's hope they don't lose their trust in their fellow human beings. Most people are trustworthy, especially in An Post," the judge said.

He imposed a two-year sentence on Hanlon, which he suspended on strict conditions.

Conor Gallagher

Kathleen McDonagh

A TRAVELLER family who stopped Syrian refugees moving into a vacant house in Mayo have insisted they are "not racists".

The innocent Syrian family fleeing the brutal civil war in their own country were caught in the crossfire of a row between the McDonagh family and the county council.

However, Kathleen McDonagh said after thinking about it, their picket of council offices and Taoi­seach Enda Kenny’s constituency office was wrong.

Her son Bernie, who has been on a council waiting list for five years, even wished the newcomers a happy Christmas.

"When I got off my high horse and I sat down and thought, I just said I probably did do wrong, but at the time I wasn't thinking and no-one in the council would come and tell me what was the right story," Kathleen told the Sunday World.

Kathleen said she reacted angrily when a coach carrying the refugees from the brutal Syrian civil war ar­rived without warning outside her house to move into the vacant house next door on the estate in Castlebar.

Both Kathleen and son Bernie, who is married with two young children, insist they weren't being racist to­ward the Syrians.

"I don't know what's going to happen next. We weren't being racist because we're getting discriminated against, not just me, the travelling community. Why would we discriminate against the people?" said Bernie.

"They have to live as well, they're normal human beings like ourselves. If I saw them now, I'd wish them a happy Christmas," he added.

Kathleen said they are frustrated her sons are still without houses, even though there have been two houses vacant at her Cois Abhann estate.

"We did it to let the council know they are forgetting about us," she said.

Two other Syrian families were settled into their new homes in Mayo in neighbouring Westport without incident, according to sources.

Now Kathleen is worried her outspo­ken reaction will cause problems for her family when it comes to getting a permanent home in the county.

Despite their protest, the family aren't any wiser as to what will happen with the vacant house next to Kathleen.

"I still have no information," she said.

A council official told local media that "holding protests of this nature is not helping their case".

The head of local services, John Condon, said: "Traveller families are treated the same as other people on the social housing list."

But Kathleen said there didn't ap­pear to be anything being done.

"If it wasn't done they are still not helping the family," she said about their impromptu protest, adding: "All five of my kids are in caravans."

They also fear that the fact some members of the family have had brushes with the law could also count against them.

"They used that against them - they do use garda vetting and that," she told the Sunday World.

Mayo County Council did not re­spond to a query from the Sunday World this week but Kathleen insisted her neighbours have no problem with other family members moving in.

"I asked those neighbours if any of my family got a house in this estate would they have anything against it and they said no," she said.

One son, Owen McDonagh, was jailed earlier this year for violent disorder during an incident in which a man was beaten and stabbed. During a court hearing, it emerged that he had also been jailed for assault.

Bernie, who spent Thursday night in hospital as a result of the cold con­ditions in his caravan, said that he hadn't been in any trouble with the gardai for years.

"I was in trouble in the past but it's a long time ago, it shouldn't come up. The last time I was in trouble was four or five years ago," he said.

In 2010, aged 19, he was convicted of damaging his cousin's van at Cois Abhann, causing €1,800 of damage.

As a result, he had moved to Longford in a bid to stay out of trouble but has since returned to Castlebar.

Earlier this year, it was announced that Mayo would resettle 20 Syrian families totalling 86 people.

Independent councillor Gerry Ginty said that many of his council col­leagues have stayed silent on the con­troversy this week and that he always "stood by travellers".

"There's no votes in Syrians or travel­lers. My take on it is that I've defended the rights of travellers down the years and I felt a little bit let down by them really that they should be protesting about a few poor Syrians."

However, he insisted that refugees have always been given a good wel­come in Co Mayo.

"The ones in Westport were wel­comed with open arms," he said.

"There was a large number of people settled in Ballina three or four years ago and they've integrated completely into the community. No-one batted an eyelid, they were welcomed with open arms," he added.

"I know the travellers are under pressure to be housed, but so is every one. There's massive housing waiting lists all over - there's 1,600 people on the waiting list in Mayo.

"I was sort of saddened. I could have understood the protest coming from other quarters, but coming from the travellers themselves was sad.

"I'd say when they reflect on it themselves they'll probably realise the same thing has been done to them. They've been barricaded before and when efforts were made to house them locals were out protesting."

A 25-year-old woman has died in hospital after a single-car collision in Co Waterford yesterday.

Gardai in Tramore are appealing for witnesses following a fatal traffic collision in Co Waterford.

At approximately 9.30pm last night, a 25-year-old woman was seriously injured when the car she was driving struck a wall.

She was the sole occupant of the car.

The incident occurred at a location known as Five Cross Roads near the village of Stradbally, Co Waterford.

She was treated at the scene by emergency services and removed to University Hospital Waterford, where she was pronounced dead today.

The scene of the collision was examined by garda Forensic Collision Investigators and the road has since reopened to traffic. The local coroner has been notified. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact Tramore garda station on 051 391620 or the garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.

The cigs seized in the Moore Street area of north Dublin city

Black market cigarettes to the value of €9,700 were seized by Revenue officers in the heart of Dublin city during the past week.

Revenue officers, supported by the Detector Dog Unit, have seized 11,500 cigarettes and 7.65kg of tobacco in the Moore Street area of Dublin in the past week.

Detector dog Casey

The cigarettes, which included brands such as "Dorchester" and "MG", have a retail value of €9,700, representing a potential loss to the Exchequer of over €7,700.

Several people have been questioned in relation to the seizures, and files are being prepared with a view to prosecution.

Pat Gillane

AN evil trucker who tried to have his wife murdered is now a booming millionaire thanks to delivering groceries to supermarket shelves.

Scheming Pat Gillane tried to hire two men to kill his pregnant wife, who was later found stabbed and shot. Her body was discovered dumped in the boot of her car.

Gillane walked free from jail after just six years and now runs a company that has trucks delivering groceries around the country for German discount chain Lidl.

One of Pat Gillane's fleet of delivery trucks

Gillane now employs 21 people in his company, including his son John (23), and has named his company after their two initials – P&J Gillane. 

A spokesman for the supermarket confirmed Gillane’s company worked for them but said: “It is company policy not to comment in this area of the business.”

Gillane (53) was jailed in December 1997 after two men told his trial how he tried to hire them to kill Philomena.

The shameless haulier even took part in the St Patrick’s Day parade in Gort, Co. Galway, earlier this year, when he received a trophy for having one of the best floats.

Figures seen by the Sunday World show that Gillane paid out €441,315 in wages last year.

Gillane’s missing wife Philomena, who was seven months pregnant, was found shot and stabbed in the boot of a car in Athlone, Co. Westmeath, in a case that shocked the nation.

Philomena Gillane

Farmer and part-time truck driver Gillane became the first person in Ireland to be convicted of soliciting to murder and served six years in prison.

Love cheat Gillane, who admitted he had an affair with Philomena’s younger sister Bridie, previously told the Sunday World he still loves his slain wife.

“I visit her grave every two weeks,” he told told us.

But Gillane admitted he has no contact with his in-laws.

Two of Philomena’s brothers, the Gordons, confronted Gillane at his farmhouse in the lead-up to his trial. In a confrontation, Gillane’s brother Kevin injured one of the Gordons with a slash hook.

Philomena’s mother Nonie (below) dropped dead at the trial of a heart attack, while her sister Bridie – with whom Gillane had the affair – said at the time that his eight-year sentence was not long enough.

“I have no contact with them,” Gillane confessed.

He added: “I have been treated with the utmost of respect by the people of Gort, everywhere I go. 

“I will help people if I can.

“Other people will use bad language about me and tell you to stay away from me. But I have never raised my voice to anyone.”

Gillane started a haulage company last year and is running 20 large articulated lorries from his homestead near Gort.

John Gillane was just a baby when his mother, who worked as a cook in St Colmcille’s Hospital in Dublin, disappeared and was murdered in May 1994.

Gillane was released from prison December 2003.

He was convicted of soliciting to murder after a homeless man in Dublin recognised his picture in the media as the husband of the missing nurse.

The man claimed Gillane had approached him on Dublin’s James’s Street and asked him and his friend to “do away” with his wife.

“The two thugs that ended up against me, I don’t know why they did it,” Gillane later said.

When asked who he thought was responsible for Philomena’s death, he replied: “I have my suspicions, but I don’t want to say.”

Gillane added, “I’ve had a hard run of it.” When asked if he had a difficult time serving his sentence in Wheatfield prison, he replied “not at all”.

He is now travelling Ireland, delivering groceries in his trucks.

“I am putting in extremely long hours at the moment,” he sighed. 

“I am running a successful business at the minute.

“We have a lot of people employed... it’s not easy.”

The discovery of Philomena’s body in the boot of her car outside Athlone railway station (below) on May 18 1994 shocked the nation.

Philomena (42), from Beechlawn, near the village of Caltra, Co. Galway, had been missing for a week. She had been shot in the back and stabbed six times. 

She was also living a tortured existence. Just before Christmas 1993, when she was three months pregnant, she discovered that her husband had been having an affair with her younger sister, Bridie.

The discovery led to numerous rows and she consulted lawyers about a separation in the spring of 1994. 

Philomena wanted custody of their son, maintenance payments and half the value of the Gillane farm. 

The subsequent investigation into Philomena’s death suggested it was likely she was killed in the driveway of her home. 

On May 20, a homeless man in Dublin called into the Bridewell Garda Station, insisting the picture of the grieving widower was the same man who approached him and a friend on James’s Street the previous January with a chilling request. 

Christy Bolger and Michael Doyle stated that Gillane asked them to “kill a woman who worked in a hospital”. 

When they asked the man to explain further, he said the woman he wanted killed was his wife. 

“We asked why, and he said she was threatening to take everything he had.” 

When arrested in June 1995, Gillane dismissed the claim, saying Bolger and Doyle were “only winos from Dublin, they’ll do anything for a drink”. 

But their evidence was strong enough to see Gillane brought before the Circuit Criminal Court in September 1996, charged with soliciting the two men to murder his wife. 

Patrick Russell

Gardai have raided a house used by disgraced barrister and financier Patrick Rus­sell, who ripped off music legends Foster & Allen and a string of other celebrity clients.

Russell has been on the radar of the Special Detective Unit and Garda Fraud Squad in re­cent years and is suspected of being a one-time financial ad­visor to senior ex-Provos.

However, Russell's dodgy deals have finally come back to bite him and now he has found himself in debt to a very senior Provo who no longer wants advice but hard cash.

The shamed lawyer has been forced to trade his expertise for protection and is now based between Ireland and the UK, where he is giving financial advice to drug dealer Troy Jordan.

Jordan (below) has promised Russell protection in Ireland, where it is understood the financier has racked up debts to senior IRA figures, in exchange for his expertise on legal and financial loopholes.

But Russell's troubles deepened when he found himself at the centre of a wider investigation centred on the late Jim Mansfield Snr’s business dealings with gangland figures and fraudsters.

Documents and computer accesso­ries were removed from the house at the Citywest complex near Saggart, Dublin, last week and it is un­derstood that detectives are probing fresh claims that he duped clients out of money, as well as his links to senior IRA figures and convicted fraudster James 'Fat Boy' O'Gorman.

Russell has linked up with Troy Jordan, who is representing gangland widow Ann Connors in her demands from the Mansfield estate. She has claimed her late husband 'Fat' Andy Connors, gunned down at their home in 2014, owned lands that were never transferred to him by Mansfield.

Ann Connors was last year issued with an enormous €2.5 million bill from the CAB relating to her hus­band's involvement in crime but she has con­tinued to flash her cash at family occasions.

Meanwhile, Jordan was discharged from bankruptcy in the UK but is still trying to avoid paying his own €800,000 CAB bill.

The veteran criminal, who was listed as John Gilligan's best client, moved to be declared bankrupt in the UK in 2013 when he was fighting payment to the Revenue.

He initially got a declaration which was later annulled but got a second bankruptcy which was discharged last year.

Sources say that Russell has acted as an advisor to Jordan for years but that in recent months the pair have become pals in the UK and regularly socialise together.

Patrick Russell left Ireland a num­ber of years ago after he was disbarred by the Law Society and amid allega­tions that he duped a string of celeb­rity clients out of millions of euro.

No charges were ever brought in rela­tion to the mortgage and Revenue frauds that left musicians Foster & Allen and other individuals and entertainers broke.

However, this week Russell was firmly back on the garda radar when officers swooped on a home he has been renting in Saggart.

Documents and computers were seized, as well as other items relating to alleged mortgage and investment frauds.

But Russell's links to organised crime are now also being probed. The former barrister has long been a tar­get of the Special Detective Unit and he has been arrested before as part of investigations into Provo money laundering.

The Sunday World can also reveal that he worked as a financial advisor to Jim Mansfield Snr, who operated as a money launderer for paramili­tary and criminal gangs for years. Russell was so important in the Mansfield machine that he was giv­en an apartment to use in Citywest.

He was once a financial advisor to 'Black Widow' Catherine Nevin (below), who was convicted in 2000 of murdering her husband Tom at his pub, Jack White’s in Brittas Bay, Co. Wicklow.

Russell was a key witness for the State in her trial. He worked as a barrister for a number of years but quit the Law Library in 2007 before he was disbarred by a fitness-to-practice inquiry.

He was also accused of fraud at that time, when Mr Justice Peter Kelly said there appeared to be little doubt but he had committed fraud while acting as a tax con­sultant.

The judge said that Rus­sell "received sums to be paid to the Revenue to settle tax liabilities but the Revenue never received those monies".

In June 2011, Russell was arrested and brought before the High Court in connection with the alleged misappro­priation of €580,000 given to him by musician Patrick Griffin for purposes including clearing his tax liabilities.

In 2011, musicians Foster & Allen found themselves broke after their dealings with Russell.

The musicians told a court that they each paid Russell €50,000 to settle their tax liabilities and that he supplied them with a letter from the Revenue saying their affairs were in order.

However, the money was never received and the court found the letters were forged. The pair were then ordered to pay €4million each in income tax and penalties.

Russell was struck off the barristers roll in 2012 but further allegations involving mortgage frauds have since been made about him.

There was no winner of the near €30,000,000 EuroMillions jackpot this evening as the prizepool rolls over to Tuesday's draw.

Friday's National Lottery EuroMillions winning numbers are: 06, 12, 28, 37, 40.

The Lucky Stars are: 01, 05.

There was no winner across Europe as the €29,101,354 jackpot rolls over to next Tuesday's draw.

In the €500,000 Ireland-only raffle, there were 46 players who matched four numbers.

Each of these lucky individuals will have an extra €2,000 to spend over the Christmas season.

The winner numbers for the raffle are: 10, 12, 30, 33, 43.

Aidan 'the Beast' O'Driscoll

Gardai believe sanction for the execution-style killing of Aidan 'the Beast' O'Driscoll came from senior dissident republican commanders in Dublin and Northern Ireland.

Cork gardai investigating the brutal murder of the former Real IRA chief of staff believe he may have been targeted after he ignored repeated warnings to desist from associating with criminal elements in Cork and Limerick following his expulsion from the dissident republican group in 2013.

There were also concerns that O'Driscoll (37) was trying to expand an extortion operation in Cork and Limerick with a number of former gangland figures.

Detectives are investigating reports that one of the two masked gunmen involved may have associations with an active service unit of the Real IRA based in the mid-west.

The second gunman may have been brought to Cork for the killing from Dublin or Northern Ireland.

Gardai believe there was significant logistical support for Wednesday's murder.

O'Driscoll (below) was shot in an ambush attack just metres from Blackpool Church in Cork city at 5pm.

The former Real IRA man was hit once in the back before the gunman approached and shot him three more times in the back and torso as he lay on the path.

He died in Cork University Hospital just over an hour later while undergoing emergency surgery.

It is now suspected dissident republican commanders sanctioned the killing - and instructed Cork volunteers to provide support for the killers.

"This murder showed a significant level of planning," a senior garda source said.

"The victim may well have been under surveillance and there is no doubt that the killers either knew the area very well or had someone acting as a guide."

Father-of-two O'Driscoll, from Ballyvolane, had a lengthy list of enemies.

Ralph Riegel

Via Independent.ie

Shauna McHugh (Image via Independent.ie)

A tour guide at a former prison has been jailed for one year over a "flamethrower" attack on a 24-year-old mother, which left her scarred for life.

Kevin Quinn (23) pleaded guilty to charges of assault causing harm and adapting an aerosol deodorant into a weapon contrary to the Firearms Act.

Letterkenny Circuit Criminal Court heard how Shauna McHugh, from Donegal Town, had been staying at the Gallagher's Hotel in Letterkenny during the Donegal rally weekend in 2015.

In the early hours of June 22, Sergeant Sean McDaid said Ms McHugh answered a knock on the door of the hotel room where she had gone to chat to a friend.

"There was some commotion in the corridor and she looked to her right. She heard someone to her left say 'hi' and, when she turned, she saw a man light an aerosol can with a lighter and a large flame hit her in the face," said Sgt McDaid.

The garda said Ms McHugh then heard someone say "oh f**k" and heard the footsteps of someone running away.

He said a number of other people in the corridor got her into the room and doused the flames using damp towels and she was later taken to Letterkenny General Hospital.

Sgt McDaid told Judge John O'Hagan that gardai at the scene examined CCTV, which showed Quinn, who works at Crumlin Road jail museum in Belfast, go into his room and leave a short time later wearing a different top.

He said gardai were able to identify Quinn and his vehicle and arrested him as he attempted to drive out of Letterkenny later that day.

In her victim impact statement, which Sgt McDaid read to the court, Ms McHugh described how the incident had changed her life.

She said she suffered stinging burn marks on the left side of her face and forehead, and lost part of her eyelashes and eyebrows. Her face still goes bright red on occasions and she can no longer wear contact lenses.

"I couldn't sleep for about two months, I kept reliving that night over and over again," said Ms McHugh.

She quit her pharmaceutical science degree course because she was afraid of using Bunsen burners during experiments.

Judge O'Hagan examined Ms McHugh's face and commented that a burn mark on her face was "still clearly visible".

The court heard that, in garda interviews, Quinn said he had been "carrying on with the lads" and had been chasing friends down the corridor when the incident happened.

Quinn, of Killycanavan Road, Dungannon, Co Tyrone, told the court that he was "extremely sorry" for his actions and apologised to Ms McHugh.

The judge said Quinn had "realised immediately" what he had done and had been captured on CCTV slipping away from the hotel, with his attempts at evading detection an aggravating factor.

He said, if it hadn't been for the diligence of gardai, Quinn "might have disappeared over the border and would never be seen again". He noted that Quinn had a previous conviction for assault in the North and a probation report had noted a lack of responsibility and a lack of empathy towards his victim.

The judge said Ms McHugh, who now works as an optician's assistant, continued to suffer the psychological effects of the attack.

He said the attack was "such a serious matter" that it had to attract a custodial sentence and he jailed Quinn for two years, suspending the final year.

Via Independent.ie/Herald

Hammer-wielding thug raids Spar shop in Dublin (Image via Independent.ie)

This is the terrifying moment a hammer-wielding raider stole cash from the till of a popular Dublin shop.

The thug threatened to assault staff with the weapon during the horrifying raid on the Spar shop on Dublin's northside.

Incredibly, the store has been raided four times in the past six months.

The criminal entered the shop on Tonlegee Road in Coolock last Saturday at 6.30pm, and immediately put staff in fear of their lives when he brandished the hammer.

Staff were forced to back away from the man as he went behind the counter to steal cash from the shop's till.

The photograph of the raider shows the thug holding the hammer in his left hand as he seeks money from the cash drawer in the shop.

The man later fled the scene and gardai were alerted.

The photograph has been handed over to gardai in Coolock and detectives are currently trying to indentify the man.

The same shop was held up again by raiders just four days later.

A thug entered the shop on Wednesday night at around 9pm and threatened staff with a knife before robbing the ­business.

Staff at the same shop had suffered an earlier ordeal on October 31, when two men armed with a handgun and a knife embarked on a frightening hold-up on the premises. The two men escaped with a quantity of cash. The shop was also targeted by armed criminals on June 30, the first of four raids that have hit the same shop since the summer.

The manager of the store declined to comment on the spate of robberies that have plagued staff in recent months.

The series of raids have been condemned by members of the public and a senior member of a retail business in Coolock.

They have all called for an increased garda presence to deter criminals.

The robbery at the shop on Wednesday night is believed to be one of a number of armed raids and attempted raids to take place in the area on the same night.

Shop workers in the area said they heard there were at least three raids at retail premises on the same date.

One of the businesses hit was the KFC fast food restaurant at Northside Shopping Centre.

A member of staff confirmed that a man wielding a knife attempted to carry out a robbery.

The thug, who was sitting in the restaurant, approached a female staff member and spoke to her in a low voice.

"When she moved closer to hear what he was saying, she saw he was carrying a knife and she ran and told the manager," said the staff member.

The thug fled from the restaurant as the female member of staff went for help.

A senior member of staff at a different retail premises told the Herald that the spate of robberies in the locality was a matter of "deep concern" for all staff, customers, and residents in Coolock.

"There are not enough gardai on duty in Coolock," the concerned staff member said.

"We are frequently told by gardai that there are not enough gardai cars available.

"Gardai are struggling to do their job and there are not enough of them around.

"There needs to be more gardai available to respond to situations."

Via Herald.ie

The statue of Our Lady that has reportedly 'come to life'

Reports of a weeping Virgin Mary in a Kerry flat have caused speculation of a religious miracle.

IT'S one of the most fa­mous Only Fool and Horses episodes.

In the much-loved sitcom, Del Boy and Rodney transform a church roof leak into a mon­ey-spinning miracle, drawing thousands of devoted onlookers to watch the tears fall from a statue of Our Lady.

However, real-life reports of a weeping Virgin Mary in a flat in Kerry in recent weeks are causing whispered speculation of a religious miracle.

Behind a nondescript building in a Tralee carpark, the chipped, slightly damaged statue stands in a room at the end of a tiled hallway in a cosy flat among dozens of other religious figurines.

On another occasion, Teresa, who regularly goes to Lourdes, insisted she saw the statue’s features come to life.

“I could see the real features in her face. She was beautiful. I can’t describe it. I thought I was just privileged to see it and it was an honour that she showed me. She was young and her skin was so soft. It was real, you know.

“It is such a privilege. You’re here in the town and all this is happening and nobody knows about it.

“You get the same kind of feeling in Lourdes. I’ve been there 20 times. It gives me the same calmness and peacefulness here.

“I’ve never seen anything like this before, honest to God. It’s hard to put into words. Her face changed again Tuesday and I here saying my prayers. My emotions are all over the place because it is so wonderful.

“There are people out there lost who need something. I think people need it.”

Destined for the skip as it was missing several fingers on the hands, its owner, Tom Power (above), a self-professed spiritual healer, said he rescued it from a convent.

“This statue was going to be smashed up because the fingers were damaged, you see, but an old lady went to the convent and rescued it and brought it to me.”

Now Tom, who claims to hear God’s voice, insists the stat­ue has turned “mirac­ulous”.

“People have come from Northern Ire­land, a few people come over from Eng­land, people from all over Ireland. We’ve had a few hundred people here. It’s getting around. There is a buzz about it. People want to see the statue.”

Inside in the small flat on the way to the room where he heals people, Tom animatedly details a series of strange goings-on around the statue he rescued seven years ago.

Referring to the tear coming out of the statue’s eye he said it didn’t come out in a picture taken by his partner, Julie Levelle.

“It didn’t come out on film. That’s the trouble,” he said.

Leafing through a series of pictures, he points out what appears to be a white speck on the statue’s hand.

“We don’t know what the speck is. That’s the whole point,” said Julie.

“What they look like to us is specks of water around the white of the dress and the hand,” added Tom.

“And there was an artery that came down the neck. We have pictures of the artery in the neck actually.

“It’s not there anymore. It goes to prove it was real. But people see dif­ferent things. People see movements in the hands, tears in eyes, it is definitely a miraculous statue.

Tom said he moved the statue after she spoke to him.

“I do hear God’s voice. But Our Lady came forward and said could I move the statue over here. Our Lady’s voice. She’s a young woman, a young girl, Our Lady is. She told me to call her friend.

“She told me she was honouring a stat­ue that was being dishonoured because it was getting ready to go in the skip.”

“She wanted me to put a font of water in the front. If you feel that water it is really cold.”

Yet another peculiar phenomenon, he said, is the changing of the colour of white paper flowers laid at the feet of the statue from pure white to a gold tint to match to gold tint on the statue’s dress.

“A yellowy gold colour started com­ing on the dress. Now the flowers have turned the same colour as the dress. That’s miraculous, isn’t it? They were pure white.

“The other day there was an old lady here and she was looking at the statue and she called me. There was a tear running down the side of the nose. I never seen anything like that ever.”

The 73-year-old said he has heard God’s voice for the past 30 years and had appeared on a Channel 4 documentary on his healing powers.

“I don’t hear voices. I hear God’s voice. It’s a human voice, a man’s voice. I’m not a lunatic. I was on television and they vet you to see if you are looney tunes and they don’t make a programme about you for an hour unless they know you are genuine,” he insisted.

Another more reluctant believer called John, who didn’t wish to be identified, said he saw drops of water on the statue.

“I saw the water. It looked like a drop of water. I saw a vein in the neck. That has disappeared now. That was the one that drew my attention,” said the Limerick man.

Tom Powers said he wants his statue to become a draw for Irish people, but insisted he doesn’t want to make any money from his statute which people can see free of charge.

“Our Lady said she wants her people to know she is showing her­self through the statue. This is my home. Anyone is welcome here.

“I did apply to the Kerry Enterprise Board to see if we could have somewhere where people could come from distances and say a prayer and see the statue.

“They might buy a cup of tea or a cake. That will help to maintain the place, but we wouldn’t be out to make money.

“This statue belongs to the people. It is genuine. It is an amazing moment in the history of Tralee and Kerry and Ireland.”

Kym Owens

Gardai investigating the shocking assault of NUI Maynooth student Kym Owens have spoken to each of the 53 passengers that were on the same bus as the teenager.

The young woman from Castleblayney in Co Monaghan is in a "serious" but stable condition in the intensive care unit of Blanchardstown Hospital in Dublin.

Her injuries include broken eye sockets, a broken jaw and a broken nose. Kym also lost several teeth in the heinous attack.

Ms Owens (18) was attacked as she walked to her student digs in the Moyglare Abbey housing estate in Co Kildare after getting off a bus.

Gardai confirmed to the Irish Daily Mail that every one of the 53 bus passengers have now been interviewed as part of the investigation.

A source told the paper: "Kym's recovery is a priority for her family primarily and also for An Garda Siochana."

Gardai are hoping to speak to Kym as soon as medical authorisation is given but are extremely concerned that the student may not remember anything about the attack.

Two weeks ago, Kym's father told the Sunday World that the 18-year-old is "doing as well as she can".

Stock image

A four-year-old boy has died after he was hit by a car outside a leisure centre.

The child was involved in the collision outside the sports centre on Oxford Road in Thame at around 10.25am on Saturday, Thames Valley Police said.

The driver stopped at the scene, and officers and emergency services were called, but the child died on the way to hospital.

Police said his next of kin has been informed.

Senior investigating officer Sergeant Jack Hawkins, of Roads Policing based at Abingdon police station, said: "We are investigating the fatal collision and appealing for witnesses.

"Please can anyone with information which could assist inquiries contact police.

"The family of the deceased are being supported by specially trained family liaison officers at this very difficult time."

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the 24-hour Thames Valley Police inquiry centre on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

One of the weapons found near the scene of the shooting

Forensic examinations of the gun used to kill Mark 'Guinea Pig' Desmond have linked the weapon to the Kinahan cartel.

Ballistic experts conducted forensic tests on two guns found in the wake of the suspected gangland assassination of 'Guinea Pig' Desmond last week.

The notorious criminal suffered a number of gunshot wounds at Griffeen Valley Park in Lucan shortly after 8pm on Friday night.

Two firearms were discovered by gardai following the hit.

One gun was recovered from a blue-coloured Mazda 6 car, with a 05 registration plate, that was found burnt-out nearby at Hayden's Lane.

A revolver was found in nearby woodland on Saturday afternoon.

This weapon is the same model as a gun seized from the Kinahans last month, according to the Irish Daily Star.

The firearm is also said to bear a similar serial number to the gun taken from the country's most notorious gangland outfit.

The paper reports that gardai now believe the Kinahans brought the two Smith & Wesson .357 magnum revolvers into the country.

Gardai are thought to have linked the woodland weapon to a firearm recovered in a massive Kinahan gun seizure in Cabra last month.

Originally from Lally Road in lower Ballyfermot, 'Guinea Pig' (below) gained notoriety during the investigation of the brutal killings of Darren Carey (19) and Patrick Murray (20).

The two young men were shot in the head in a suspected drug-related killing and their bodies dumped at Karneystown sometime between 29 December 1999 and 10 January 2000. The men's bodies were discovered in the icy water of the Grand Canal in early 2000.

The charges against Desmond, however, were sensationally dropped by the Director of Public Prosecutions just days before the trial. The Court of Criminal Appeal later overturned Desmond's conviction and eight-year sentence on a charge of unlawful possession of firearms with intent to endanger life.

He decided to sack his legal team and represent himself in court, an example of the disdain he showed for the judicial process.

He was known to be an especially problematic prisoner who had at times smeared faeces on himself.

He was suspected in up to six murders, most of which were the most callous the capital has ever witnessed. 

Gardai linked him with the murder of James Kenny McDonagh, whose body was found dumped in the Dublin mountains. McDonagh was shot in the back of the head and his body buried in a shallow grave. 

Officers suspect he and up to two other criminal groups were behind the savage murder. It is believed that Desmond blamed the victim for shooting at him in Memorial Park in Ballyfermot in April, 2010, and that this may have led to the murder. On that occasion, Desmond managed to escape from his attackers on a quad bike when they approached him in the park. 

He was also suspected by gardai in the murder of Anthony Cannon (26) who was shot multiple times in the head in broad daylight in Ballyfermot in 2009.

Cannon was a target for some violent criminals and had a number of threats against his life. He was wearing a bullet-proof vest when he was shot on St Mary's Avenue West, Ballyfermot by a gunman who made his escape by motorbike.

Desmond himself was the subject of a assassination attempt in Tallaght in west Dublin in 2006 and only escaped when the handgun used in the attack jammed. A single shot was fired which passed through his right hand before entering his accomplice’s lower back.