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. 9531Murder · Co. Louth · 7 Mar 2012

Court of Appeal upholds Jason O'Driscoll's Louth double murder conviction

Anthony Burnett, 31, and Joseph Redmond, 25, both men from Ballybough in Dublin's north inner city, died of gunshot wounds to the head on 7 March 2012 in County Louth, and their bodies were set on fire in a car. Jason O'Driscoll, 42, was charged with their murders and pleaded not guilty. A first jury in 2017 could not reach a verdict, and at a retrial he was convicted by a ten to two majority and sentenced to life imprisonment in October 2018. He appealed, and Ms Justice Tara Burns dismissed the appeal on a Friday, with the Court of Appeal upholding the conviction and rejecting challenges to the prosecution's vehicle identification expert. The ruling was reported on 19 May 2026.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted19 May
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Anthony Burnett, 31, and Joseph Redmond, 25, were killed.
Where
  • The murders took place in County Louth.
  • Both victims were from Ballybough in Dublin's north inner city.
When
The murders took place on 7 March 2012.
Cause
The two men died of gunshot wounds to the head.
Other details
  • Petrol was used to set fire to a car containing the victims' bodies.
  • The men had gone to Louth to sell a stolen car to O'Driscoll.
Investigation
The prosecution said a stolen Mercedes S Class was the getaway car used from the murder scene.
Charges
Jason O'Driscoll, 42, was charged with the murders of Anthony Burnett and Joseph Redmond and pleaded not guilty.
In court
  • A first jury in 2017 could not reach a verdict.
  • O'Driscoll's appeal focused on a claim that a prosecution witness's expertise in vehicle identification lacked scientific validity.
  • Ms Justice Tara Burns dismissed the appeal on a Friday, and the Court of Appeal has upheld the conviction.
  • The court rejected the complaints of confirmation bias and of a 'want of independence' by the expert as not made out.
  • The court refused to add a ground of appeal about a post-conviction tweet by the expert.
Sentence
At a retrial O'Driscoll was convicted by a ten to two majority and sentenced to life imprisonment in October 2018.
15 statements extracted from the articles
  • whereThe murders took place in County Louth. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whereBoth victims were from Ballybough in Dublin's north inner city. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • whenThe murders took place on 7 March 2012. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • causeThe two men died of gunshot wounds to the head. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • investigationThe prosecution said a stolen Mercedes S Class was the getaway car used from the murder scene. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • chargeO'Driscoll pleaded not guilty to the murders of Anthony Burnett and Joseph Redmond. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • courtA first jury in 2017 could not reach a verdict. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • courtThe Court of Appeal has upheld O'Driscoll's conviction. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • courtThe appeal focused on a claim that a prosecution witness's expertise in vehicle identification lacked scientific validity. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • courtThe appeal was dismissed on a Friday by Ms Justice Tara Burns. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • courtThe court rejected the complaint of confirmation bias as not made out. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • courtThe court refused to add a ground of appeal about a post-conviction tweet by the expert. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • sentenceO'Driscoll was convicted by a ten to two majority at a retrial and sentenced to life imprisonment in October 2018. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherPetrol was used to set fire to a car containing the victims' bodies. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
  • otherThe men had gone to Louth to sell a stolen car to O'Driscoll. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 19 May2026
    Convicteddundalkdemocrat.ie, first report
    Double murderer who executed two “small-time criminals” in Louth has appeal rejected

    Reports the Court of Appeal dismissing O'Driscoll's appeal against his murder conviction, including the rejected expert-evidence and 'want of independence' grounds. Not in the existing case list.

    convicted, Jason O'Driscoll, 42, named, irish (judged from name)Jason O'Driscollvictim, Anthony Burnett, 31, irish (judged from name)Anthony Burnettvictim, Joseph Redmond, 25, irish (judged from name)Joseph Redmond