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. 2010Impeding the apprehension or prosecution of an offender, perverting the course of public justice · Co. Dublin · 9 May 2022

Deirdre Arnold trial: jury shown CCTV footage in Lisa Thompson murder getaway driver case

Lisa Thompson, a 52-year-old woman and mother-of-two, was found stabbed to death at her home in Ballymun, Dublin, on 9 May 2022. Deirdre Arnold, a 42-year-old woman employed by the HSE, is accused of driving Brian McHugh, 40, to the scene, waiting outside for over an hour, driving him away, and later checking him into a hotel to help him evade prosecution. Arnold was charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of McHugh and with perverting the course of public justice, and pleaded not guilty at arraignment on 21 March 2025. Her trial began at the Central Criminal Court on 24 March 2025 before Mr Justice McGrath, and as of 25 March the jury was shown CCTV footage of a silver Hyundai Tucson on the evening of 8 May 2022.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court21 Mar
    3 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Lisa Thompson, 52, was found stabbed to death at her home in Ballymun, Dublin, on 9 May 2022.
  • Deirdre Arnold, 42, is accused of driving Brian McHugh, 40, to the victim's home, waiting outside for over an hour, driving him away, and checking him into a hotel to help him evade prosecution.
Where
The victim's home was at Sandyhill Gardens, Ballymun, Dublin 11, and Arnold has an address at Briarfield Grove, Kilbarrack, Dublin 5.
When
The charges relate to a date between 9 and 10 May 2022.
Cause
Death was caused by ligature strangulation causing asphyxia and multiple stab wounds to the left side of the chest, with no contributing factors.
Weapon
The stab wounds were caused by a knife or a knife-shaped object.
Investigation
CCTV footage shows a silver Hyundai Tucson at a service station on the evening of 8 May 2022, and fingerprints on a jewellery valuation certificate linked to Thompson found in Arnold's car matched her.
Charges
Arnold is charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Brian McHugh and with perverting the course of public justice.
In court
  • Arnold pleaded not guilty to both counts at arraignment on 21 March 2025, and the trial is before Mr Justice McGrath at the Central Criminal Court with a jury of seven men and five women, or eight men and four women per the arraignment report.
  • The trial began on 24 March 2025 and is expected to last up to eight days.
Other details
  • Brian McHugh is identified as having committed the arrestable offence of murder.
  • The postmortem was carried out by Chief State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan on 11 May 2022.
47 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatDeirdre Arnold is 42 years old and employed by the HSE (irishtimes.com)
  • whatDeirdre Arnold is 42 years old and on trial at the Central Criminal Court (irishtimes.com)
  • whatShe is accused of being the getaway driver for the murderer of Lisa Thompson (irishtimes.com)
  • whatLisa Thompson was found stabbed to death in her home (irishtimes.com)
  • whatShe drove McHugh away from the scene and later checked him into a hotel (irishtimes.com)
  • whatParamedics found numerous puncture wounds to the chest and a window blind cord wrapped around the neck (irishtimes.com)
  • whatTwo knives were missing from a block of knives in the kitchen (irishtimes.com)
  • whatPathologist Dr Linda Mulligan found death was through ligature strangulation causing asphyxia and multiple stab wounds to the left side of the chest (irishtimes.com)
  • whatCCTV footage will show Ms Arnold and McHugh getting out of the car at the service station, with McHugh showing jewellery to the cashier (irishtimes.com)
  • whatDeirdre Arnold is a 42-year-old woman accused of being the getaway driver for the murderer of Lisa Thompson (irishtimes.com)
  • whatLisa Thompson was a mother-of-two found dead at her home (irishtimes.com)
  • whatArnold later checked McHugh into a hotel to help him evade prosecution (irishtimes.com)
  • whatCCTV footage shows a woman driving a silver Hyundai Tucson on the evening of May 8th (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThere were multiple stab wounds on the left side of the chest centred on the area above the heart (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThere was a group of 11 stab wounds covering an area 7cm vertically by 10cm horizontally (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThere were six stab wounds to the heart, two of which were through and through injuries (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThere were further stab wounds in the left lung, one of which was also a through and through wound (irishtimes.com)
  • whatBloods showed evidence of fluoxetine, an antidepressant, and a separate antipsychotic drug (irishtimes.com)
  • whatJohn McDonagh, a born-again Christian, had known Lisa Thompson for six or seven years after meeting her through a neighbour (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMcHugh had reappeared and was in contact with Lisa Thompson by text about two or three weeks prior to her death (irishtimes.com)
  • whereDeirdre Arnold has an address at Briarfield Grove, Kilbarrick, Dublin 5 (irishtimes.com)
  • whereLisa Thompson had an address at Sandyhill Gardens, Ballymun, Dublin 11 (irishtimes.com)
  • whereMs Arnold's address is Briarfield Grove, Kilbarrack, Dublin 5 (irishtimes.com)
  • whereEvidence will be heard regarding the Clayton Hotel near Dublin Airport and a conversation Arnold had about booking a room (irishtimes.com)
  • whereDeirdre Arnold has an address at Briarfield Grove, Kilbarrack, Dublin 5 (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe charges relate to a date between May 9 and May 10, 2022 (irishtimes.com)
  • whenMs Thompson was pronounced dead at 4.48pm (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe Tucson left the service station at 3.21am and returned at 4.04am (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe two people on CCTV remained at the service station until 4.49am (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe charges relate to a date between May 9th and May 10th, 2022 (irishtimes.com)
  • whenChief State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan carried out a postmortem on the deceased on May 11th, 2022 (irishtimes.com)
  • causeDeath was caused by a combination of ligature strangulation causing asphyxia and multiple stab wounds to the chest with no contributing factors (irishtimes.com)
  • weaponThe stab wounds were caused by a knife or a knife-shaped object (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeArnold is charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Brian McHugh (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeArnold is charged with perverting the course of public justice (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeBrian McHugh is identified as having committed the arrestable offence of murder (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeShe is charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Brian McHugh (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeShe is also charged with perverting the course of public justice (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeArnold is charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of Brian McHugh, who committed murder (irishtimes.com)
  • courtArnold pleaded not guilty to both counts at arraignment (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial is before Mr Justice Patrick McGrath at the Central Criminal Court (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial is expected to last up to eight days (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial is before Mr Justice Patrick McGrath and a jury of seven men and five women (irishtimes.com)
  • otherMs Arnold pleaded not guilty to both counts (irishtimes.com)
  • otherFiona Murphy SC is counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions (irishtimes.com)
  • otherBrian McHugh is 40 years old (irishtimes.com)
  • otherLisa Thompson is 52 years old (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 25 Mar2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Lisa Thompson murder: Jury shown footage in trial of woman accused of being getaway driver

    Trial in progress: jury shown CCTV footage of a silver Hyundai Tucson on the evening of May 8th 2022; Chief State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan gave evidence on postmortem findings (ligature strangulation and 11 stab wounds, 6 to the heart); witness John McDonagh described last contact with Lisa Thompson; prosecution case that Arnold drove McHugh to the victim's home, waited over an hour, drove him away, checked him into a hotel, and allowed her vehicle to be used to dispose of evidence.

    accused, Deirdre Arnold, 42, female, named, irish (judged from name)Deirdre Arnoldsuspect, Brian McHugh, male, named, irish (judged from name)Brian McHughvictim, Lisa Thompson, female, irish (judged from name)Lisa Thompson
  2. 24 Mar2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Woman (42) accused of being getaway driver in Lisa Thompson murder case

    Covers the prosecution's opening statement at the trial, including details of the Hyundai Tucson, the Applegreen service station visit, the Clayton Hotel booking, the postmortem findings of ligature strangulation and stab wounds, and the search of McHugh's home at Cairn Court where jewellery linked to Thompson was found.

    victim, Lisa Thompson, 52, female, irish (judged from name)Lisa Thompsonaccused, Deirdre Arnold, 42, female, named, irish (judged from name)Deirdre Arnoldsuspect, Brian McHugh, 40, male, named, irish (judged from name)Brian McHugh
  3. 21 Mar2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    HSE employee to stand trial accused of impeding investigation into Lisa Thompson murder

    Reports on jury selection and arraignment; jury of 8 men and 4 women sworn in; trial expected to last up to 8 days; judge informed jury that Lisa Thompson had an address at Sandyhill Gardens, Ballymun, Dublin 11; Arnold pleaded not guilty to both counts.

    accused, Deirdre Arnold, 42, female, named, irish (judged from name)Deirdre Arnoldvictim, Lisa Thompson, female, irish (judged from name)Lisa Thompsonsuspect, Brian McHugh, named, irish (judged from name)Brian McHugh