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. 4372Murder · Co. Dublin · 9 Jan 2022

Christopher Devine unanimously convicted of murder of Michael Tormey in Ballyfermot

Christopher Devine, 44, was unanimously convicted of murder by a jury at the Central Criminal Court after shooting Michael Tormey, 49, five times with an MP5 submachine gun in Tormey's front garden at Thomond Road, Ballyfermot, in the early hours of 9 January 2022. He faces a mandatory life sentence on 19 December 2025.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court6 Dec
  5. Convicted8 Dec
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
27 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatTormey was struck by five bullets in his front garden causing bleeding, rib fractures and partial lung collapse (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe killing happened at Thomond Road in Ballyfermot in the early hours of January 9, 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereDevine's address is Convent Lawns, Kylemore Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10 (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe killing took place at Thomond Road in Ballyfermot (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe shooting occurred in the early hours of 9 January 2022 (irishtimes.com)
  • weaponThe prosecution said five bullets were fired into the victim's body with a machine gun. (irishmirror.ie)
  • weaponThe weapon used was an MP5 pattern submachine gun (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe firearm was never recovered. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe prosecution told the Central Criminal Court jury that the accused intended to end his friend's life. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtChristopher Devine has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Michael Tormey. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe prosecution said the accused drove to Mr Tormey's house on two occasions that night and fired the machine gun in two bursts. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtDefence psychiatrist Dr John Hillery found the accused was suffering from substance-induced psychotic disorder that would have diminished his capacity to control himself. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtProsecution psychiatrist Dr James Walsh told the trial the accused was not suffering from a mental disorder and met the criteria for cocaine intoxication. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe defence said the accused took industrial quantities of cocaine combined with large amounts of whiskey and vodka. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe trial continues before Ms Justice Melanie Greally and a jury of nine men and three women. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe jury unanimously convicted Devine of murder (irishtimes.com)
  • courtGarret Baker SC represented the DPP at trial (irishtimes.com)
  • courtMs Justice Melanie Greally presided over the trial (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe matter was adjourned to 19 December for sentencing (irishtimes.com)
  • courtDevine pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial lasted seven days at the Central Criminal Court (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe jury consisted of nine men and three women (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe jury deliberated for four hours and 54 minutes over two days (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceDevine faces a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe weapon was never recovered (irishtimes.com)
  • otherDevine has no psychiatric history and had never taken psychiatric medication (irishtimes.com)
  • otherTwo psychiatrists differed on whether Devine qualified for a manslaughter verdict (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 8 Dec2025
    Convictedirishtimes.com, first report
    Man who said he was ‘shovelling’ cocaine into himself unanimously convicted of murder

    Reports the jury's unanimous murder verdict, the rejection of the diminished responsibility and cocaine-intoxication defences, and the adjournment for sentencing on 19 December 2025.

    victim, Michael Tormey, 49, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Tormeyconvicted, Christopher Devine, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)Christopher Devine
  2. 6 Dec2025
    In courtirishmirror.ie, first report
    Murder trial told man intended to kill friend with 'bursts' of machine gun

    Closing speeches from prosecution and defence at the murder trial; the jury has yet to deliver a verdict.

    victim, Michael Tormey, 49, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Tormeyaccused, Christopher Devine, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)Christopher Devine