Jason Keating

A 25-year-old man charged with the murder of Noel “Duck Egg” Kirwan in Dublin has been further remanded in custody.

The 62-year-old, a friend of Gerard “The Monk” Hutch, was sitting in a car outside his house in St Ronan’s Drive, in Clondalkin on December 22 last when he was shot several times. He was the tenth person to die in the Hutch-Kinahan feud.

His partner was in the passenger seat was but was not injured in the shooting.

On May 8 last, 25-year-old Jason Keating of Lower Main Street in Rush was brought to Blanchardstown District Court under armed escort charged with the murder of Mr Kirwan.

Detective Sergeant Damian Gannon had told that hearing that Mr Keating made no reply to the charge after caution. Legal aid was granted and he was remanded in custody.

He faced his sixth hearing when he appeared before Judge Kathryn Hutton at Cloverhill District Court on Friday.

The court Garda sergeant told the court that the book of evidence was not ready yet but “the file is advancing”.

Mr Keating did not address the court and spoke only to his solicitor Miska Hanahoe who said she was instructed to ask that the case would be marked peremptory against the State. She argued that her client, who has been refused bail, has been in custody on remand since May 8 last.

The prosecution said, “it is a very large file, you will see it is a a most serious charge before the court”, and asked Judge “not to start the clock running”. Judge Hutton said she may consider doing so on the next date. Mr Keating was further remanded in custody for another two weeks.

A woman in her twenties who was also arrested in connection with the investigation has been released without charge and a file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Eoin Berkeley

THE case of a man accused of damaging one of Dublin’s best known gay bars with homophobic graffiti has been adjourned.

Eoin Berkeley, 24, from Hamptonwood Way, Finglas, Dublin 11 has not yet indicated how he will plead. 

He is accused of criminal damage to the facade and panels at the George Bar in the city-centre in the early hours of May 20 last.

Directions from Director of Public Prosecutions are being sought and he appeared at a district court in Dublin on Friday.

The case was adjourned and he was further remanded in custody to appear again on a date in September. 

Derogatory language and a swastika daubed in chalk had to be removed from the pub’s facade. Earlier in the proceedings, the district court had heard that there was a possibility of further charges.

Free legal aid was also granted earlier after the defence explained to the court that Mr Berkeley's access to funds was limited. 

They are the killers who committed the most unforgivable crime. In this week’s Sunday World don’t miss your FREE crime mag ‘Killer in the family’ The tragic cases whose victims died at the hands of those who were meant to love them the most. How jealousy, bitterness or an obsession to control can tear families apart.

Malcolm Reeves

Two police officers and two pilots accused of misusing a police helicopter to film naked sunbathers and a couple having sex have been cleared of all charges.

Pilots Matthew Loosemore, 45, and Malcolm Reeves, 64, and police officers Lee Walls, 47, and Matthew Lucas, 43, were charged after another officer, Pc Adrian Pogmore, shot the footage from the South Yorkshire Police helicopter.

Pogmore, 51, of Guilthwaite Crescent, Whiston, Rotherham, who was the only person in the aircraft when all four of the offending videos were filmed, had admitted four counts of misconduct in a public office.

But the other men told the jury they did not know what Pogmore was doing as he filmed the sequences using the chopper's high-powered camera.

And the jury the jury of six men and six women at Sheffield Crown Court agreed, clearing them of misconduct in a public office charges.

The jury had been shown footage shot from the aircraft, including an 11-minute sequence clearly featuring a couple having sex on their patio in a range of positions.

At one point in the footage, the woman waves at the helicopter.

Pogmore, who was described by prosecutors as "a swinging and sex-obsessed air observer", knew the couple through the wife-swapping scene and had even previously had sex with the woman.

Some of the defendants appeared to be in tears after the jury foreman returned the verdicts following four hours of deliberation.

Their families in the public gallery overlooking the court hugged each other and cried.

As Lucas left the courtroom he said "thank you" to the jury.

The judge said: "The defendants are dismissed. You can all go home."

Pogmore, who has already been sacked by South Yorkshire Police, will be sentenced on Tuesday.

Quang Hong Vu

Gardai are renewing their appeal for information about missing Quang Hong Vu.

Quang, originally from Vietnam, was last seen on Saturday 22nd of July at approximately 19.50hrs on O’Connell Street, Dublin 1.

When last seen he was wearing a grey jumper, white t-shirt, blue jeans and carrying a black bag.

He is approximately 5ft 8 inches tall with short dark hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Store Street Garda Station 01-6668000 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111. 

Commuters have been warned to expect delays this evening following a "serious collision" on the N7.

The crash happened the N7 Dublin/Limerick Road between Junction five Athgoe and Junction six Castlewarden in the right lane.

One outbound lane was closed from J7 and traffic was diverted onto Kill, rejoining the N7 at Junction eight Johnstown.

Emergency services have attended the scene.

Gardai say that the N7 has now fully reopened but that "delays are still being experienced due to heavy volume of traffic."

This comes hours after the Irish Taxi Drivers Federation warned that ongoing Luas works will cause havoc in Dublin.

Those travelling around Dublin this bank holiday weekend will face significant disruptions in the city centre as ongoing Luas Cross City works will see a full closure of the south city quays at O’Connell Bridge starting today.

Drivers heading to Gaelic football and soccer matches over the weekend have been advised to avoid the city centre and take new routes.

"It has created untold disruption to traffic all over. It’s just chaos at times. The roads are like driving through a building site," said Joe Herron, President of the Irish Taxi Drivers Federation.

"People say they have an idea how it’s going to turn out but nobody knows for sure. It’s going to get worse. When you think about the limited amount of space for road traffic around Trinity, it’s going to be chaos.

"I also think of the absolute and total chaos that happens when the Luas has been involved in collisions with cars in the past. If that happens around that area at all you could lock up the city for day," he added.

Dublin Chamber's Head of Public Affairs Graeme McQueen has said the city centre is "very much open for business this weekend".

"We would encourage people to use public transport – particularly those heading to matches in Croke Park and Aviva Stadium, which are both located beside train stations. If you do need to drive into the city, all car parks in the city centre remain open, with diversions in place," he said.

"There is no ideal time for works like this to take place, but early August is generally one of the quietest periods of the year for traffic in the city centre.

"The good news for all users of the city is that the conclusion of the Luas works is now in sight. The past 4 years have not been easy, but we’ll soon be reaping the benefits with the Luas up and running through the heart of the city," Mr McQueen added.

Those heading to Croke Park are advised to Take M50 Northbound to Junction 3 use Swords Road or Dublin Tunnel to access Croke Park.

Liverpool and Athetic Bilbao fans are advised to take the M50 Southbound to Junction 14 and use Leopardstown Road, Brewery Road and Stillorgan Road to access the Aviva Stadium.

The College Green public transport corridor will temporarily be rescinded and will reopen for private cars for the duration of the works between Friday 4 August and Saturday 12 August.

O’Connell Bridge will remain open to northbound and southbound traffic but those travelling west will be directed onto D’Olier Street and then onto College Green.

Full depth road construction at Aston Quay and Burgh Quay will lead to full road closures, while there will be smaller works on Bachelor’s Walk and Ormond Quay’s Walk.

This construction will replace the temporary road surfaces with new resurfaced carriageways.

Graeme McQueen of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce has said the city centre has seen a lot of disruption during the works and that it is important it is finished soon.

“There is no ideal time to carry out the works but August is probably the best one with schools out and a lot of people off work on holidays so there will be less people travelling by car in the city centre.

“It is important the work is finished on time and the city centre is back up and running as soon as possible and well in advance of school coming back and people returning from their holidays,” he said.

Mr McQueen said Dubliners have to look at this being the end of what has been tough process for everyone in city.

“We just have to grin and bear it now. Everyone is focused on the end and we’re going to get the benefits of all the work and disruptions,” he added.

The works come in advance of the proposed launch of the new service in December.

Ongoing tram testing has continued over the summer and driver training is due to commence in September.

Access to car parks in the city will be maintained but those travelling through are advised to use alternative routes.

Church of Our Lady of Victories in Ballymun

A Dublin man left a bicycle with his name on a sticker attached to it on church grounds after making off with €500 of mass donations, a court has heard.

Justin Murray (38) cycled to the Church of Our Lady of Victories in Ballymun to “creep” in and steal money but fled on foot when he was seen taking collection envelopes by a parishioner.

Gardai later found the bike which had a sticker with “Justin Murray” on it discarded on the church grounds.

Murray, of Moatview Court, Coolock, affirmed signed pleas of guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing cash at the church on November 6, 2016.

He has 77 previous convictions including ten thefts and 20 burglaries.

Garda Ross Brierley said he and colleagues also identified Murray as the thief from CCTV in the area.

The garda told Fiona Murphy BL, prosecuting, that a parishioner who had been helping out after mass that morning saw a male enter and take money from the church collection.

At first she thought he was there to help, but soon realised he was stealing money.

She said the male fled on foot when he spotted her.

Gda Brierley said he arrested Murray the next day at a shopping centre after he and colleagues were satisfied he was the culprit.

He said Murray was on bail for a robbery at the time.

He agreed with Dean Kelly BL, defending, that Murray had gone into the church “to creep into a private area and steal money” but that he had instead come face-to-face with the parishioner.

The garda further agreed that Murray's very early guilty plea to the offence was of great assistance.

Mr Kelly submitted to Judge Elma Sheahan that his client was on an enhanced regime in custody and wished to be transferred to Cork Prison as he found it easier to stay off heroin in that institution.

Judge Sheahan ordered a probation report and remanded Murray in continuing custody until February next year.

GARDAI investigating after a body was discovered earlier today have upgraded their inquiry to murder.

The grim discovery of the man's body was made this morning in north Dublin at approximately 10.40am.

He is understood to have been stabbed up to 40 times.

Gardai do not believe that the murder is gang related.

The man's remains were discovered in a laneway off the Ballyboughal to Oldtown Road (R129), approximately a kilometre outside Ballyboughal.

It is understood the body was found in or near a ditch.

Superintendent Noel Carolan from Balbriggan Garda station said at a media briefing this afternoon:

"We're appealing to anybody who might have been in the area this morning or yesterday evening. We're not entirely sure how far back this man's body actually came to the scene here.

"Anyone who was here over the last day or two who saw anything suspicious or unusual like vehicles or people in the area to get in contact with us at Balbriggan Garda station.

"We'd like anyone who was his family, his work colleagues, would be in a position to come forward and let us know when they last saw him."

He said investigating officers are satisfied the man met a violent end:

"We are satisfied it is a violent , and we are at a stage where we have commenced a murder investigation.

"We don't have any reports of anyone missing in the area or locality

"It looks as if he could have been there overnight or maybe even a couple of days before that."

They do not believe the area the body was recovered was where the stabbing took place:

"In all probability we are probably looking at a situation where the fatal injuries did not take place here.

"It probably means there is more than just one scene."

He confirmed they believe the victim is aged in his 30s and also believe he is not Irish.

Gardai wish to appeal for witnesses or to anyone with information to contact Balbriggan Garda Station on 01 8020510, The Garda Confidential Telephone Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.

Cathal McMahon and Gavin White

Joe Usher

THIS IS the bachelor farmer whose bizarre appetite for his neighbour’s leather skirt, coats and garments has plunged a tiny rural community into turmoil.

Farmer Joe Usher, of Cooney’s Cross, Ballybeg Small, Wexford, this week brushed off a suspended sentence he received for engaging in a four-year burglary campaign against his highly respected neighbour and employer Marianne Murphy.

In the course of nine separate acts of burglary, Usher stole a leather skirt, coats and other clothing items belonging to Ms Murphy, after entering her family home without her knowledge while she and her family were out.

Murphy offered no apology for his clothes-swiping antics when confronted by the Sunday World at his farmhouse on Thursday.

“No, I don’t want to discuss it. I’m not going there at all,” he said.

“I’m not going to talk about it anywhere. It might be unusual, but I’ve nothing to say about it.

“That’s it, I’m not saying no more.”

Previously, Judge John Cheatle at Wexford District Court had heard how Usher had repeatedly, and without her knowledge, made his way into Ms Murphy’s home to remove women’s clothing.

The prosecution came as a result of complaints made to Gardaí in Castlebridge from Ms Murphy, who reported that coats and other garments had been stolen from her over a period of years.

The matter came to a head after Usher was found in the house by her daughter when she returned home unexpectedly.

Security cameras were installed which also picked up Usher stealing a leather skirt while the residents were away attending a wedding.

Coats were found at the home of the defendant, leading to his arrest and admissions that he was responsible for the thefts.

The court learned that he committed nine burglaries over a period of four years.

The garments, though recovered, had been cut into strips and were no longer wearable.

Usher did not break into the house as he had a key and his activities were assisted by the fact that he was aware of the family’s movements.

Solicitor June O’Hanlon, appearing for the accused, accepted that what occurred was a breach of trust, but pointed out in mitigation that Usher had no criminal record.

A sum of €600 was offered by way of compensation by a man described as single and living a lonely life.

He worked as a farmer, raising cattle, said Ms O’Hanlon, who felt that the burglaries became a habit and did not indicate any grudge held by her client.

Judge John Cheatle remarked it was a serious matter, but he decided to suspend the five months imprisonment.

A source close to the Murphy family said Marianne would not be willing to discuss the details of the case.

“It’s very, very sensitive and not something, I think, that Marianne would like to discuss,” they said.

“This is a small community and we are all neighbours. I think she would rather just forget about this now.”

Jennifer Deysel Crosbie

Gardai are appealing to the public for assistance in tracing the whereabouts of 41-year-old Jennifer Deysel Crosbie, who is missing since Thursday, August 3rd 2017.

Jennifer is described as approximately 5ft 2” in height, of slim build with shoulder length blonde hair. When last seen she was wearing green shorts, navy tights, black heeled boots and a navy jacket.

Jennifer’s family and the Gardaí are very concerned for her welfare.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Pearse Garda Station 01 666 9000, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station. 

A Dublin man who raped his 14-year-old niece twice in her bed when she was living with him has been jailed for eight years.

In a victim impact statement handed in to court, the now-19-year-old victim said she would never trust another person like she had trusted her uncle. She said she bottled up what he did to her for years.

“I looked at the world like it was a dull, horrible place and I would be better off dead,” she said.

The 49-year-old married father and grandfather, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his victim, continues to maintain his innocence, the Central Criminal Court heard.

His wife and children continue to support him and described him as a caring father whose grandchildren “adore” him.

He was found guilty by a jury of two counts of raping his niece between January 1, 2012 and April 1, 2013 following a trial in the Central Criminal Court in June this year.

Handing down a nine-year sentence with the final year suspended, Mr Justice Paul McDermott said the man subjected his niece to two “nasty, violent rapes” when she was still a child. The judge said the man used a degree of force and instilled fear in his victim.

“It was a breach of trust of a vulnerable 14-year-old girl,” the judge said. “He took full advantage of her living away from her family.”

The man had shown no remorse, the judge added.

Detective Garda Michael McGrath told Mary Rose Gearty SC, prosecuting, that the girl was living with her uncle and extended family members in 2012.

“She and he got on very well,” Ms Gearty told the court.

One evening, the pair were sitting on the couch watching TV together when the girl dozed off. She woke up to find her uncle pulling at her pyjama bottoms before he told her: “It's time for bed”.

The girl ran upstairs to her bedroom and got under the blanket, before she heard her uncle following her upstairs and entering the room. She struggled to get away from him but he grabbed hold of her hands and raped her, the court heard.

The girl felt “dirt, shame and disgust” afterwards, Ms Gearty said. “She felt she should have been stronger and fought.”

Between three and four months later, the girl woke in her bed to find her uncle on top of her, raping her. She had been wearing pyjamas when she went to bed but was completely unclothed when she woke up.

She moved out of the home shortly afterwards.

Towards the end of 2012, the girl's mother noticed a “massive change” in her daughter. She was crying all the time and not showering, the court heard.

The girl told her mother her uncle had “tried it on” but said no more then that. She eventually confided in her mother in 2014 and made a statement to gardaí.

When interviewed by gardaí, the man repeatedly denied the allegations against him. He said he had not taken his niece's virginity and said she had lost it to her boyfriend.

He told gardaí he tended to go to the pub every evening after work and would drink around 14 pints, but he said he would come home “merry” rather than drunk.

He has 37 previous convictions, entirely for road traffic offences.

In her statement, the victim said she became deeply depressed in the wake of the rapes, started “slicing” her wrists and had suicidal thoughts.

“I felt like I had nothing to live for, like I was just existing,” she said. “I'll never trust another person like the trust I had for him.”

She said she had lost family relationships as a result of what her uncle did to her, including her cousin to whom she was particularly close.

She said she stopped showering because “no matter how many times I washed, it never went away”.

Defence barrister, Giollaíosa O Lideadha SC, said his client continues to maintain his innocence in relation to the charges against him.

He handed up a number of letters of support from his wife and children. His wife of over 25 years said she was “totally shocked and saddened” to hear of the allegations against him. She asserted her belief in her husband's innocence.

His daughter said her father was her best friend and always would be.

Mr O Lideadha requested legal aid for an appeal, which was granted.

A Kildare man jailed for dangerous driving causing the death of one of his best friends has been spared an increased jail sentence despite an appeal by prosecutors.

Keith Jackson Fleming (26), with an address at Glenshane, Kilteel, Co Kildare, had pleaded guilty at Naas Circuit Criminal Court to dangerous driving causing the death of Dara Cottuli at Old Milltown, Kill, in the county on November 28, 2015. He also pleaded guilty to driving without a license or insurance and failing to give a sample.

He was sentenced to four years imprisonment with the final year suspended by Judge Michael O'Shea on March 9, 2017.

The Director of Public Prosecutions unsuccessfully sought a review of Jackson Fleming's sentence on Monday on grounds that it was “unduly lenient”.

Giving judgment in the three-judge Court of Appeal, Mr Justice George Birmingham said Jackson Fleming, the deceased and a third man were out socialising on the night in question. They had borrowed a car and went to the Kilteel Inn in Co Kildare.

According to the barman, they purchased a round of alcohol which consisted of two pints of Heineken and a pint of Coors Light. They bought three or four rounds before the proprietor was of the view that they had had enough.

At a certain time in the evening, residents in the Old Milltown area heard a vehicle being driven fast and within seconds they heard a bang.

At the scene, Jackson Fleming was described as being “out of his head on drink and drugs”. He failed to provide a blood sample but subsequently admitted that he had taken D10s and Xanax, described as relaxants.

Forensics indicated that the vehicle had veered to the right of the road and struck a ditch. It continued rotating clockwise colliding with a timber fence and hedge, destroyed a heavy-duty stone pillar and the final collision sent the vehicle back across the road.

The mechanical state of the vehicle had no bearing on the collision and weather conditions didn't contribute. Significant speed was involved, according to the forensics examination.

A very powerful victim impact statement was presented to the Circuit Court which spoke of the close relationship between the deceased and his mother. The deceased's family stated that they felt like Dara was given a death sentence while “we were given a life sentence”.

Jackson Fleming had seven previous convictions including two for burglary, one for exceeding the speed limit and one under the Misuse of Drugs Act for which he received a suspended sentence. The present offence was committed at a time when the suspended sentence for the drugs matter was still operative.

Almost one year later, Jackson Fleming committed another dangerous driving offence “on the same road” on which the fatality had occurred.

Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Lorcan Staines BL, said the headline sentence of four years was too low and that the Circuit Court judge erred in activating 18 months of the suspended sentence and directing that it be served concurrently.

Mr Justice Birmingham said the offence was “very serious” involving “classic aggravating factors”: “speed, alcohol and drugs”. The fact Jackson Fleming had a relevant previous conviction and relevant subsequent conviction was significant.

There was no doubt that the sentence imposed was “lenient, indeed very lenient” but that did not provide a basis for the Court of Appeal to interfere. The question was whether the sentence fell outside of the range available.

Mr Justice Birmingham said the very experienced Circuit Court judge was facing a particularly difficult and tragic situation.

Three young men had gone out to socialise with each other. Really bad dangerous driving resulted in the death of a young man bringing devastation to his family.

One of the two men who survived the crash had taken his own life and the judge was called on to sentence the “sole survivor”.

Mr Justice Birmingham said some people would undoubtedly take the view that Jackson Fleming should be face the full rigours of the law while other would take the view that there was a case for leniency.

In the Court of Appeal's view, the approach decided upon by the sentencing judge was not an impermissible one. In the unusual and tragic circumstances of the case, the court was not persuaded that an error had been established.
 

Irish Glass Bottle site

GARDAI are looking to have further charges brought against a 24-year-old man accused of rape and false imprisonment of a Spanish student in Dublin, a court has heard.

The young woman, aged 18, who had just come to Ireland in recent months to live with a host family had been in Dublin on July 15 when she was allegedly brought to waste-ground in the city’s south-side and raped.

The accused, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is charged with rape, false imprisonment and threat to kill or cause serious harm to the woman at the Irish Glass Bottle site, in Ringsend in south Dublin.

The man, who was described by his lawyer as having a significant history of mental problems, made no bail application at his first hearing on July 21 last.

At that hearing Detective Garda Bryan Hunt had said in evidence that when the man was charged, “He was cautioned after each charge and made no reply to each charge.”

“The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) has directed trial on indictment on all three matters,” Det Garda Hunt had also said.

The accused faced his third hearing today when he appeared before Judge Kathryn Hutton at Cloverhill District Court.

Det Garda Hunt asked for the case to be adjourned for four weeks, “for further charges” and he added that a file is to be submitted to the DPP.

Defence barrister Aoife O’Halloran took instructions from her client in court and then told the judge that there was consent to the four-week adjournment.

The man, who was wearing a grey tracksuit, spoke once during the hearing to confirm that he wanted to appear in person rather than via-videolink at his next hearing.

Judge Hutton was told that the man  “is in custody by consent”.

At his first hearing last month, the court directed a psychiatric assessment and for psychiatric report to be obtained following a request by his solicitor. 

The basis for the application was concerns raised by the defence for his mental well-being. His solicitor had said the man “does have a significant history” and he had medical reports on him.

The defence solicitor had said given the seriousness of the charge and the fact his client is in receipt of a social welfare payment he was making an application for legal aid, which was also granted.

The accused had been originally arrested on July 17, two days after the alleged rape but he was released without charge the following day. However, he was re-arrested for the purpose of being charged on July 21 last and has been in custody on remand since then.

The numbers for tonight’s €28,246,597 Euromillions jackpot are:

29 30 36 40 41 2 9

There is no Irish winner of tonight’s jackpot, however one lucky punter is €257,084 richer after matching five numbers and one lucky star.

Liam Byrne's partner Simoan McEnroe with Anita Freeman

VETERAN criminal James ‘Jaws’ Byrne has been receiving social welfare payments every week for the past 43 years – pocketing well over €500,000 from the wage packets of hard-pressed taxpayers.

James 'Jaws' Byrne has been unemployed since 1974

Despite being unemployed since 1974, he owns his home in Raleigh Square in Crumlin with no mortgage, has gifted his daughter an apartment and wears a €35,000 Rolex Oyster watch on his arm.

Wife Sadie drives a Lexus jeep, yet claims she manages her household with the €227 a week she receives from her State pension.

Sadie Byrne claims she exists on her €227-a-week pension

The Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) believe that is just pocket money to the Byrnes and their cohorts, who had the audacity go to the High Court and look for the State to pay their legal bill to fight the Proceeds of Crime cases against them.

Last week Justice Carmel Stewart refused their applications and in a damning judgement delivered a crystal clear message to criminals trying to hide their riches.

In her lengthy judgement, she threw out the applications of the Byrnes, Liam Roe, Sean McGovern, Anita Freeman and Kelly Quinn.

The Byrnes’ son Liam, the top target of a €100million Garda clampdown on organised crime, along with his wife Simoan McEnroe, daughter Maria Byrne and Darren and Jennifer Foster, were also named in the proceedings.

Liam Byrne

In their rush to have their legal fees footed by the taxpayer, the applicants, all targeted by the CAB’s investigations into the Kinahan Cartel, had their lifestyles laid bare in a courtroom.

Liam Roe had told the court that he is unemployed and lives with his father at Mangerton Road in Drimnagh.

He claimed his lavish lifestyle is funded by his father and says he has no assets at all.

Roe, who Gardaí believe is among the top rungs of the cartel, has a driver, but claimed to the court that his friends provide his transport.

Despite not claiming unemployment benefit for 15 years, the CAB showed that in one year alone he had travelled six times to the U.K., Spain and the U.S..

He was able to attend the Conor McGregor vs Chad Mendes fight in Las Vegas in July 2015 and flew to Dubai in March 2016.

Roe was awarded a €300,000 compensation claim in 1999 after an accident, but claims he no longer has access to those funds.

In 2006 he sold a house to his cousin Liam Byrne for €294,000, but couldn’t explain where the money had gone.

A year later he was stopped at Dublin Airport with €60,000 in cash.

In recent years he has managed to pay large sums of money to the Atlas Centre, where VRT is paid for imported cars.

He also claimed to have earned a mere €6,000 from the Alfie Byrne pub in Dublin 1 – where he was a registered director of the company – which was raided by the CAB in March 2016.

CAB seized a Kawasaki Ninja motorbike and an Audi A5 from Roe, but Justice Stewart said his story didn’t add up and if he wants them back he will have to be more upfront about the sources of his finances.

Sean McGovern, who was Liam Byrne’s business partner at LS active car sales – which was the focus of a high-profile CAB raid in the wake of the Regency Hotel – also told the court that he is unemployed.

When his home on Kildare Road, where he lives with his civil partner Anita Freeman, was raided, a Rolex watch valued at €10,000 and another €10,000 in cash were seized.

McGovern told the court he had been an apprentice plumber, but hasn’t worked for the last three years.

He bought his home in March 2015 and carried out renovations on the premises to the tune of €250,000 – way more than the €150,000 he paid for the property.

Documents detailed by CAB showed that the money for the purchase of the house came from a bank account in Mauritius and a company called Grand Baie Trust Limited sent the cheque.

During the proceedings McGovern requested that a forensic accountant be paid for under the free legal aid scheme to find out where the €250,000 renovation funds went, but Justice Stewart pointed out that he should know as he had paid for them.

Anita Freeman, who the court heard is in receipt of disability benefit, said she had worked from an early age and earned €360 a week, but was made redundant in 2016.

Despite this, CAB says she paid VRT of €5,900 on a BMW car and took eight flights in 2016 – two to Dubai and one to Las Vegas.

Justice Stewart refused the couple free legal aid, saying their lifestyle did not match their means.

Kelly Quinn, the partner of murdered David Byrne, told the court she hasn’t worked since 2008, at which point she earned €15,000 a year.

She said she was on social welfare payments, including rent subsidy, but couldn’t explain how she was driving a €62,000 Lexus.

Nor did her dole payments explain how she could take seven flights last year to the U.K., Spain and Las Vegas.

She told cops that cash of more than €7,000 found in her home was from a whip-around by friends after her partner’s murder at the Regency Hotel assassination. 

Wheatfield Prison

HUTCH gang members suffered a major blow in their efforts to smuggle drugs and phones into Wheatfield Prison this week, when a state-of-the-art drone was discovered crash-landed on the prison roof.

The Sunday World understands a quad-copter drone was discovered on a section of the roof adjacent to the exercise yard used by jailed Hutch family members – including ‘Del Boy’ Hutch – on Tuesday.

It is understood the drone, which had been fitted with a video camera, had a wire affixed to it to allow it to carry a pouch. A source said the drone was a sophisticated piece of machinery.

“The drone was discovered by a team of officers clearing contraband from the prison roof.

“This was a sophisticated and highpowered drone which would have been capable of carrying a number of phones and a sizeable quantity of drugs per trip.

The belief is that the drone crashed after delivering it’s consignment into the prison.

“Given the site of the crash, the belief is it was couriering drugs to members of the Hutch gang. “The area of roof where it was discovered is adjacent to an exercise yard used by members of the Hutch family and their associates.

“The fact the drone was fitted with a camera means those operating it could pinpoint drops to a particular location or person.”

Sources say the drone has now been passed over to Gardaí for investigation.

Kinahan Cartel target Derek ‘Del Boy’ Hutch and associated gangmembers are housed in a special protection wing of Wheatfield Prison.

Cousin Alan Hutch (33), is also behind bars in Wheatfield for threatening to kill three gardaí.

However, they are given access to the exercise yard adjacent to the drone crash site on a daily basis.

‘Del Boy’ is just one of dozens of the extended Hutch gang whose lives are under threat from the Kinahan cartel as a result of the feud sparked by the murder of his brother Gary in Spain. 

'Mini Mayweather' and 'Mini McGregor'

A ‘Mini McGregor’ will take on Floyd Mayweather’s tiny doppelganger is a Las Vegas showdown the night before the real fighters take to the ring.

The event, organised by Larry Flynt, will take place in the Hustler Club in the Nevada city and will see the two mini-fighters take each other on over three rounds. 

The Mini Mayweather previously took on a Mini Pacquiao in a previous fight back in 2015.  

That fight took place around the same time the real Mayweather and Pacquiao fight took place at the MGM in Vegas. 

The mini-boxers didn’t quite make it to the ring in the MGM, but did go at it in the lobby of the famous hotel before going for three rounds at Beacher’s Madhouse, where tickets cost an astonishing $1,500. 

Dwarf boxing is popular in the Philippines, where drunken western tourists cheer on mini fighters. 

The tourists are usually invited into the ring and take turns at being referee. 

The South China Morning Post recently reported that the fighters receive 250 pesos a night – the equivalent of about €5. 

“It’s barely enough to live on, especially when they have to travel long distances from their accommodation to get to work every night,” a worker in one of the bars said.“They’re really not treated well at all.”

Glorian Tomen, who runs the group Little People of the Philippines, described the fights as “degrading”. 

“People in the Philippines don’t understand what dwarfism is about and they make people like us the butt of ridicule,” she says. “I hope my fellow little people can find jobs that better suit them. The government should give more support so that little people can get jobs that do not degrade them.”

Joe 'Packie' Moore

A DUBLIN man who was strangled with bubble wrap and dumped naked in a river in Colombia may have been in the country on behalf of the Kinahan cartel.

The body of Ballyfermot man Joe ‘Packie’ Moore (55) was discovered in a river close to the drugs hotspot city of Medellin in May.

It has now emerged that gardai are probing reports Moore had been in Colombia to “smooth things over” for the Kinahan cartel, who are understood to owe millions of euro to their Colombian suppliers of cocaine.

“Packie Moore was considered to be a ‘Mr Fix-it’ type of individual,” a source said last night.

“He was heavily linked to organised crime in this country for well over two decades.

The question is, why was he in Colombia? “He was trying to smooth things over for the cartel because they have cash-flow issues as a result of all the seizures gardai have made against them since the feud began.

“However, no one knows exactly what Packie was doing in Colombia when he was murdered.”

What is known is that the Ballyfermot man left Ireland for Spain around 20 years ago but continued to be involved with characters involved in serious crime.

He was considered a close associate of fellow Ballyfermot man and notorious international drugs trafficker George ‘The Penguin’ Mitchell. However, in recent years, he had been in contact with a dangerous Ballyfermot mob whose henchman was raided by the Criminal Assets Bureau only last month.

The gang is suspected of importing millions of euro worth of drugs every month into the capital in second-hand cars imported from north-west England.

Moore was recently photographed with a 33-year-old Ballyfermot criminal who was heavily involved in a bitter feud in the region which led to four murders almost a decade ago.

Sources have also revealed that Moore was a key associate of murdered gangland criminal PJ Judge.

PJ ‘Psycho’ Judge, a ruthless henchman connected with a number of gangland murders, was himself killed in a gun attack in the car park of the Royal Oak pub in Finglas in December, 1996. Judge was a major suspect in at least three gangland deaths, was a big player in Dublin’s heroin trade and suspected of dealing in ecstasy and cannabis.

Moore was considered one of Judge’s closest pals before he left Ballyfermot for Spain around two decades ago after a garda crackdown on crime. Earlier this week it emerged that Moore had been strangled with bubble wrap and his dead body dumped naked in a Colombian river.

His body was repatriated and he was cremated last month, with the aid of the Kevin Bell Trust.

He was a very popular figure in his native Ballyfermot and dozens of tributes have been posted online by friends and family.

Gardai at the scene of the shooting

GARDAI are investigating if a Dublin man who was shot multiple times in an attempted murder was targeted because of his friendship with a woman.

Tony O’Connor (34), who has no involvement in crime, was recovering from his injuries after he was ambushed in the driveway of his home in Stamullen, Co Meath on Thursday evening.

It emerged last night that Clonsilla man Mr O’Connor had previously been threatened by gangland criminals linked to the so-called ‘Taliban’ brothers because of his friendship with a woman known to them.

It is understood that they threatened him last month at his home.

Mr O’Connor remained in a serious but stable condition in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, Co Louth, last night.

Eight shots were fired at the victim who was hit at least three times in the elbow and abdomen, but he was conscious when the emergency services arrived.

Mr O’Connor is expected to survive. Speaking to reporters at Ashbourne Garda Station yesterday, Superintendent Jim Cannon revealed that a car believed to have been used by the gunman to get to and from the scene has been found.

“There was an attempt made to burn the car,” he said, adding that a gun had been found inside the vehicle. Both the car and handgun are being examined.

Supt Cannon said the gunman was wearing a balaclava and dark overalls when he approached the victim.

The car, a blue Seat Leon with the registration 151 DL, turned left towards Stamullen village as the gunman fled the scene. It was found on the Bellewstown Road.

Detectives believe a white BMW is also relevant to the investigation. The scene of what is the third shooting in less than a year in the housing estate was sealed off yesterday pending a forensic examination.

Gardai earlier confirmed that the incident was not linked to the brutal Hutch/Kinahan feud.

“This is a very quiet area, the victim is not known to gardai and this is what we would describe as a despicable act, where there were children present and there were other people present and this man is obviously an innocent victim,” the superintendent said. “You can take it that people were at risk from the firing of these shots.

“It is very clear that the gunman in this case has no regard whatsoever to the safety of the residents of the area.”

Sources confirmed last night that gardai are investigating if the highly feared ‘Taliban’ brothers ordered the botched murder attempt.

The brothers, aged 34 and 32, are wanted for questioning in relation to a spate of killings including two double murders. This includes the murders of north inner city Dublin cousins Glen Murphy (19) and Mark Noonan (23), who were shot in Finglas in November 2010.

The brothers grew up in the Coolock area and were heavily involved in organised burglaries and armed robberies even when they were teenagers.

The feared siblings then progressed onto contract killings and became the main hitmen for the ‘Mr Big’ drugs organisation.

A man in his 40s has been hospitalised with stab wounds after an incident in Co Louth overnight.

The attack took place in Knockbridge village at around midnight on Friday night.

Following the incident, the victim was taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.

He was treated for facial injuries and received a number of stitches.

Gardai have launched an investigation into the attack and are currently reviewing CCTV footage.

Witnesses have been asked contact Ardee garda station.