Sunday 1 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 19740Reckless discharge of a firearm · Co. Limerick · 13 Jul 2019

Appeal dismissed over Askeaton reckless firearm discharge conviction

At around 3.30am on 13 July 2019, Larry O'Connor, 40, of Ballykisteen, county Tipperary, fired at least four shots from a pump-action shotgun at the home of his cousin Danny Harty and his partner Noreen Dooley in Askeaton, county Limerick, where their 10-month-old twins were sleeping upstairs. Daniel O'Connor, 42, drove him to the scene. Larry O'Connor was convicted by a jury at Limerick Circuit Court in March 2022 on six charges including reckless discharge of a firearm and sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment in May 2022, while Daniel O'Connor, who pleaded guilty to burglary, received seven years with the final year suspended. The Court of Appeal dismissed Larry O'Connor's appeal in July 2023.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court24 Mar
  5. Convicted11 Jul
    2 reports
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Larry O'Connor fired at least four shots from a pump-action shotgun at the house of his cousin Danny Harty, breaking in and firing into the kitchen and through a ceiling onto the first floor.
  • Danny Harty, his partner Noreen Dooley, and their 10-month-old twins were asleep in an upstairs bedroom during the attack.
Where
The attack took place at Deelside, The Quay, Askeaton, county Limerick.
When
The shooting occurred at around 3.30am on 13 July 2019.
Weapon
A pump-action shotgun was used.
Other details
  • Danny Harty told gardaí he had a child with Joanne O'Connor, a sister of Larry O'Connor, but the relationship had ended six or seven years before the incident.
  • A destruction order for the Seat Leon was granted at Newcastle West Court in September 2023.
Investigation
Gardaí seized a Seat Leon, used as a getaway vehicle, from a public car park in Portlaoise; the car had been purchased at an auction in Northern Ireland.
Charges
Larry O'Connor was charged with six counts including reckless discharge of a firearm; Daniel O'Connor was charged with burglary with intent to commit reckless discharge of a firearm.
In court
  • Larry O'Connor was convicted by a jury at Limerick Circuit Court in March 2022 after a two-week trial; Daniel O'Connor pleaded guilty during the trial.
  • The Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice George Birmingham, dismissed Larry O'Connor's appeal in July 2023.
Sentence
Larry O'Connor was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment by Judge Patrick Meghan in May 2022; Daniel O'Connor received seven years with the final year suspended.
48 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatLarry O'Connor was convicted in March 2022 after pleading not guilty to six charges related to the shooting. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatHe broke into the house, firing a shot into the kitchen hitting a fridge and a window, and fired a shot through a ceiling onto the first floor. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatMr Harty said in his statement of proposed evidence that he did not know why the O'Connors would do this. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatMr Harty told gardaí he had a child with Joanne O'Connor, a sister of Larry O'Connor, but the relationship had broken up six or seven years before the incident. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatMr Harty told gardaí: 'Why wait for seven years to do something?' (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatThere was conflicting evidence: Mr Harty said he saw the appellant's face when his scarf slipped down as he was handling the sawn-off shotgun, which conflicted with Ms Dooley's evidence. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatMs Dooley had said in a statement to gardaí there had been a 'bad feeling' between the O'Connors and Mr Harty. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatLarry O'Connor is 40 years old. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • whatLarry O'Connor fired two shots from outside the house and then entered and fired two more. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • whatDanny Harty, his partner Noreen Dooley, and their 10-month-old twins were asleep in an upstairs bedroom during the attack. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • whatHe broke into the house, firing a shot into the kitchen that hit a fridge and a window, and fired a shot through a ceiling onto the first floor. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • whatHe then entered the house and fired two more shots. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatA Seat Leon was used in the course of a firearm being discharged in Askeaton on 13 July 2019. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatA man recklessly discharged at least four shots at a house where infant twins were sleeping. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whereThe victims were asleep in an upstairs bedroom at Deelside, The Quay, Askeaton. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whereLarry O'Connor lives at The Lodge, Great National Hotel, Ballykisteen, county Tipperary. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • whereThe attack took place at Deelside, The Quay, Askeaton, county Limerick. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • whereLarry O'Connor has an address at The Lodge, Great National Hotel, Ballykisteen, County Tipperary. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whereThe incident happened at Deelside, The Quay, Askeaton. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe shooting happened at around 3.30am on 13 July 2019. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe attack occurred at around 3.30am on July 13, 2019. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • whenThe attack took place at around 3.30am on July 13, 2019. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened in the early hours of 13 July 2019. (limerickleader.ie)
  • weaponLarry O'Connor used a pump-action shotgun to fire the shots. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • weaponLarry O'Connor fired two shots using a pump-action shotgun at the home of his first cousin, Danny Harty. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationGardaí located and seized the Seat Leon in a public car park in Portlaoise. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationThe car was purchased at an auction in Northern Ireland. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationNo owner of the Seat Leon has been established. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeDaniel O'Connor pleaded guilty to one count of burglary with intent to commit the reckless discharge of a firearm during the early stages of the trial. (tipperarylive.ie, limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeLarry O'Connor was convicted of several charges, including reckless discharge of a firearm. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeDaniel O'Connor pleaded guilty to a burglary charge. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtAt the Court of Appeal, Anthony Sammon SC argued prosecuting counsel Lily Buckley BL should not have used the words 'bad feeling' in her opening address to the jury. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe court reserved judgement following the hearing. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtLarry O'Connor was convicted by a jury on all counts after a two-week trial. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • courtLarry O'Connor appealed on the ground that the trial judge erred in law in permitting background evidence of a prejudicial nature. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • courtThe Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, dismissed the appeal. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • courtThe Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtHe was convicted by a jury at Limerick Circuit Court of six charges relating to a shooting at his cousin's house in Askeaton. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtHe appealed on a single ground that the trial judge erred in law in permitting background evidence of a prejudicial nature. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtPresident of the Court of Appeal, Mr Justice George Birmingham, said the three-judge court had not been persuaded by the arguments. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtTwo people were convicted following a trial. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe trial took place at Limerick Circuit Court in 2022. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe Court of Appeal dismissed Larry O'Connor's appeal against his conviction in July 2023. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtJudge Coolican granted the destruction order application. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceHe was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment by Judge Patrick Meghan at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court in May 2022. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceLarry O'Connor was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment by Judge Patrick Meghan at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court in May 2022. (tipperarylive.ie)
  • sentenceLarry O'Connor was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceDaniel O'Connor was sentenced to seven years, with the final year suspended. (limerickleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 24 Sep2023
    Otherlimerickleader.ie, follow-up
    Gardai secure destruction of ‘high-powered getaway car’ used in Limerick shooting

    Reports a destruction order granted at Newcastle West Court for the Seat Leon used in the 2019 Askeaton shooting, with details of the convictions, sentences and car's history.

    convicted, Larry O'Connor, 33, named, irish (judged from name)Larry O'Connorconvicted, Daniel O'Connor, 42, named, irish (judged from name)Daniel O'Connorvictim, 10 monthsvictim, 10 months
  2. 11 Jul2023
    Convictedlimerickleader.ie, follow-up
    Man jailed over shooting in Limerick town while infants slept loses appeal

    The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, dismissed Larry O'Connor's sole ground of appeal on 11 July 2023, upholding his conviction and 12-year sentence. The article also confirms Daniel O'Connor's seven-year sentence (final year suspended) and details of the shooting.

    convicted, Larry O'Connor, 40, male, named, irish (judged from name)Larry O'Connorconvicted, Daniel O'Connor, male, named, irish (judged from name)Daniel O'Connorvictim, Danny Harty, male, irish (judged from name)Danny Hartyvictim, Noreen Dooley, female, irish (judged from name)Noreen Dooley
  3. 11 Jul2023
    Convictedtipperarylive.ie, its first report
    BREAKING: Tipp man jailed for firing shots into house where infants were sleeping fails to overturn conviction

    Reports the Court of Appeal's dismissal of Larry O'Connor's appeal, providing additional details about the shooting sequence, the victims (Danny Harty, Noreen Dooley and their 10-month-old twins), the specific charges, the sentencing of both O'Connor brothers, and the role of Daniel O'Connor in driving Larry to the scene.

    convicted, Larry O'Connor, 40, male, named, irish (judged from name)Larry O'Connorconvicted, Daniel O'Connor, male, named, irish (judged from name)Daniel O'Connorvictim, Danny Harty, male, irish (judged from name)Danny Hartyvictim, Noreen Dooley, female, irish (judged from name)Noreen Dooleyvictim, 10 months
  4. 24 Mar2023
    In courtlimerickleader.ie, first report
    Man jailed over gun attack at home in Limerick town seeks to overturn conviction

    Court of Appeal hearing where defence counsel Anthony Sammon SC argued the prosecution's use of 'bad feeling' in the opening address was prejudicial and that the motive evidence was speculative; the court reserved judgement.

    victim, Danny Harty, male, irish (judged from name)Danny Hartyvictim, Noreen Dooley, female, irish (judged from name)Noreen Dooleyvictim, 10 monthsconvicted, Larry O'Connor, 40, male, named, irish (judged from name)Larry O'Connorconvicted, Daniel O'Connor, male, named, irish (judged from name)Daniel O'Connor