Wednesday 28 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. 4260Murder · Co. Dublin · 9 Jan 2022

Christopher Devine sentenced to life for murder of Michael Tormey in Ballyfermot, Dublin

Christopher Devine, 44, was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of his brother-in-law Michael Tormey, 49, who was shot five times with a submachine gun in his front garden in Ballyfermot, Dublin, in January 2022.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced19 Dec
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
13 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatTormey was struck by five bullets causing bleeding, rib fractures and partial lung collapse. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereTormey was shot in his front garden on Thomond Road in Ballyfermot. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe murder took place in the early hours of January 9th, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • weaponThe weapon used was a MP5 pattern submachine gun. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtMs Justice Melanie Greally handed down the sentence at the Central Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceDevine was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment for murder. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe submachine gun was never recovered. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherDevine pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherDevine had no psychiatric history and had never taken psychiatric medication. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherDevine is a father of six. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherDevine was Tormey's brother-in-law through marriage and had stood as best man at his wedding. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherDevine repeatedly denied to gardaí that he murdered Tormey. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherDevine's address is Convent Lawns, Kylemore Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 19 Dec2025
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Man shot dead by relative paid ultimate price for meeting people involved in drugs trade, court told

    Sentencing hearing details: Devine received mandatory life imprisonment; victim impact statement from Patrick Tormey; judge described the killing as an act of immense brutality and treachery; jury had earlier rejected the substance-induced psychotic disorder defence.

    convicted, Christopher Devine, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)Christopher Devinevictim, Michael Tormey, 49, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Tormey