Thursday 29 October 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. 11078Possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life; participating in a criminal organisation (fatal shooting) · Co. Limerick · 26 Apr 2007

Associate of Dundon McCarthy gang jailed for 15 years over 2007 Limerick shooting

Noel Campion was shot dead on 26 April 2007 while riding as a back passenger on a motorbike at Thomondgate in Limerick city, with the gunman firing from a nearby phone booth. Darragh Quinlivan, then 24 and affiliated to the McCarthy-Dundon gang, left Ireland after the killing, told a US police officer in January 2008 that he had killed a man, and was deported to Ireland in March 2008. The case was reopened as a cold case review in 2022, and in January 2026 Quinlivan pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and to participating in a criminal organisation by shooting Campion dead, but not to murder. On 9 February 2026 the Central Criminal Court jailed the 42-year-old for 15 years, though one report says the term was 16 years with the final year suspended.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted23 Jan
  6. Sentenced1 Feb
    3 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Noel Campion was shot eight times, with four entry and four exit wounds, and was pronounced dead at 11.25am.
Where
  • Campion was shot as a back passenger on a motorbike at Thomondgate in Limerick city, at or about the junction of High Road and Thomondgate.
  • The gunman hid in a nearby phone booth before walking out and shooting Campion.
When
The shooting took place on the morning of 26 April 2007.
Cause
  • Gardaí believe the killing was directed from the top of the McCarthy-Dundon gang during a feud with the Keane-Collopy gang.
  • The judge said the killing was a planned killing in cold blood.
Weapon
The gunman fired a firearm several times, and Quinlivan is described as firing four times at Campion.
Investigation
The case was reopened as a cold case review in 2022, and the judge found Quinlivan was the gunman.
Charges
Quinlivan was initially charged with murder but pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and to participating in a criminal organisation by shooting Campion dead.
In court
  • Quinlivan did not plead guilty to murder, and victim impact statements were presented at the sentence hearing in January 2026.
  • The judge said the case falls into the most serious category because it was a planned killing and Quinlivan was the gunman.
Sentence
  • The judge set a 22-year headline sentence for the firearm charge, reduced it to 16 years with the last 12 months suspended, and imposed four years concurrent on the criminal organisation count.
  • Quinlivan was jailed for 15 years by the Central Criminal Court on 9 February 2026, though one report says 16 years with the final year suspended.
Other details
  • Quinlivan left the scene in a Volkswagen Passat, which was later found partially burnt out.
  • Quinlivan told a US police officer in January 2008 that he had killed a man, and later described this as sarcasm.
56 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThere were eight gunshot wounds to Noel Campion, with four entry and four exit wounds. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whatNoel Campion was fatally shot 19 years ago by an associate of the Dundon-McCarthy gang. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatQuinlivan walked out from a phone booth and shot Campion four times. (rte.ie)
  • whatDarragh Quinlivan was jailed for 15 years by the Central Criminal Court for fatally shooting Noel Campion. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whereNoel Campion was shot dead as he rode as a back passenger on a motorbike at Thomondgate in Limerick city. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whereNoel Campion was shot dead as a back passenger on a motorbike at Thomondgate in Limerick City. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe gunman walked out from a nearby phone booth. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe killing took place in Limerick. (rte.ie)
  • whereNoel Campion was shot dead while riding as a back passenger on a motorbike at Thomondgate in Limerick city. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe killing of Noel Campion happened on April 26, 2007. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe shooting happened on the morning of 26 April 2007. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenCampion was due to appear in court on road traffic offences on 26 April 2007. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe shooting took place on 26 April 2007. (limerickleader.ie)
  • causeGardaí are of the view that the killing was directed by the McCarthy-Dundon criminal organisation. (limerickleader.ie)
  • causeThe killing took place during a feud between the Keane-Collopy and McCarthy-Dundon gangs. (thejournal.ie)
  • causeThe murder was directed from the top of the organised crime group. (rte.ie)
  • causeThe judge said the offence was part of a plan to kill an individual in cold blood. (limerickleader.ie)
  • weaponThe shooter discharged a firearm a number of times. (limerickleader.ie)
  • weaponThe gunman fired a firearm several times. (thejournal.ie)
  • weaponThe gunman discharged a firearm a number of times, leading to Mr Campion's death. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationThe evidence was reopened as a cold case review in 2022. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationGardaí believed the shooting was directed from the top of the McCarthy-Dundon gang. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationThe judge found that Quinlivan was the gunman who killed Noel Campion. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeQuinlivan pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life at or about the junction of High Road and Thomondgate in Limerick. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeQuinlivan pleaded guilty to participating in a criminal organisation by shooting dead Noel Campion. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeQuinlivan pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeQuinlivan pleaded guilty to participating in the activity of a criminal organisation by shooting Noel Campion dead. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeHe was initially charged with murder but pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and shooting Campion to enhance an organised crime group. (rte.ie)
  • chargeQuinlivan was originally charged with murder but pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeQuinlivan pleaded guilty to participating in the activities of the Dundon McCarthy organised criminal group by shooting Mr Campion dead. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtQuinlivan was not pleading guilty to murder. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe sentence hearing was held at the Central Criminal Court. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtQuinlivan did not plead guilty to murder. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe judge described the case as falling into the most serious category. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtVictim impact statements were presented to the court. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe judge said the case falls into the most serious category because it was a planned killing and Quinlivan was the gunman. (rte.ie)
  • courtQuinlivan was not pleading guilty to the offence of murder. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceQuinlivan was remanded in custody until February 9, when he will be sentenced. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceQuinlivan was jailed for 15 years by the Central Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge set a 22-year headline sentence and reduced it to 16 years after mitigation. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceThe last 12 months of the 16-year sentence were suspended for two years on conditions. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceQuinlivan received four years on the criminal organisation count, concurrent with the other sentence. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceQuinlivan was sentenced to 16 years in prison with the final year suspended. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe 22-year headline sentence for the firearm charge was reduced to 16 years, with the last 12 months suspended. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceQuinlivan was also sentenced to four years on the criminal organisation count, with the sentences to run concurrently. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherQuinlivan left the scene in a Volkswagen Passat, which was later found partially burnt out. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherQuinlivan told a US police officer in January 2008 that he had killed a man in Ireland. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherQuinlivan has 24 previous convictions, including for robbery with a firearm and the unauthorised taking of an MPV. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherVictim impact statement from Noel Campion's daughter, who was 11 when her father was murdered. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherNoel Campion had eight gunshot wounds. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherNoel Campion was pronounced dead at 11.25am that morning. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherQuinlivan was 24 at the time of the shooting. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherQuinlivan was deported back to Ireland from the US in 2008. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe court heard that Quinlivan had worked hard for his three children for the last 13 years. (rte.ie)
  • otherQuinlivan hid in a phone booth and ambushed the men. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherQuinlivan was deported back to Ireland in March 2008. (limerickleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 9 Feb2026
    Sentencedlimerickleader.ie, first report
    Associate of Dundon McCarthy gang jailed for 15 years for fatally shooting man in Limerick 19 years ago

    Sentencing report for a 2007 fatal shooting. Gives the sentences imposed (16 years with the last 12 months suspended, plus four years concurrent), the guilty pleas, and that Quinlivan was deported to Ireland in March 2008.

    victim, Noel Campion, 35, male, irish (judged from name)Noel Campionconvicted, Darragh Quinlivan, 42, male, named, irish (judged from name)Darragh Quinlivan
  2. 9 Feb2026
    Sentencedrte.ie, follow-up
    Man jailed for 15 years for helping gang murder rival

    Sentencing report for a 2007 killing; no matching existing case. Headline says 15 years, but the body says he was sentenced to 16 years with the final year suspended.

    convicted, Darragh Quinlivan, 42, male, named, irish (judged from name)Darragh Quinlivanvictim, Noel Campion, irish (judged from name)Noel Campionvictim, Brian 'Spider' Scanlan, irish (judged from name)Brian 'Spider' Scanlan
  3. 1 Feb2026
    Sentencedthejournal.ie, first report
    Associate of Dundon-McCarthy gang who fatally shot Noel Campion in 2007 jailed for 15 years

    Reports the sentencing of Darragh Quinlivan: a 22-year headline sentence reduced to 16 years with the last 12 months suspended, plus four years on the criminal organisation count, both concurrent. Also gives the background to the 2007 shooting, the guilty pleas, the 2008 Tacoma arrest and the feud context. No existing case in the list matches.

    victim, Noel Campion, 35, male, irish (judged from name)Noel Campionconvicted, Darragh Quinlivan, 42, male, named, irish (judged from name)Darragh Quinlivanconvicted, Gary Campion, named, irish (judged from name)Gary Campion
  4. 23 Jan2026
    Convictedlimerickleader.ie, first report
    Associate of Dundon McCarthy gang who fatally shot Noel Campion told US police officer he killed a man

    Sentence hearing report. Quinlivan pleaded guilty the previous week to a firearm offence and to participating in a criminal organisation by shooting Mr Campion, but not to murder. He was remanded in custody until February 9 for sentencing. The article also covers the 2008 US police statement, the cold case review, and victim impact statements.

    victim, Noel Campion, 35, male, irish (judged from name)Noel Campionconvicted, Darragh Quinlivan, 42, male, named, irish (judged from name)Darragh Quinlivan