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. 5582False imprisonment · Co. Dublin · 9 Jun 2015

Dessie O’Hare, former INLA member and convicted kidnapper, released from prison

Dessie O'Hare, a former INLA member described as a convicted kidnapper, pleaded guilty to falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne on 9 June 2015 in Rathcoole and Saggart in south Co Dublin, and to assaulting John Roche at The Towers, Saggart, the same day, causing him harm. The non-jury Special Criminal Court jailed him in April 2019 and imposed a seven-year sentence, with two counts of falsely imprisoning Byrne's wife and son taken into consideration. O'Hare told gardaí he was working for businessman Jim Mansfield jnr when others carried out the attack on Byrne. He was released from Portlaoise Prison on a Thursday afternoon, as reported by the Irish Times on 27 June 2024.

  1. Reported
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Dessie O'Hare, a former INLA member and convicted kidnapper, was released from Portlaoise Prison on a Thursday afternoon.
Where
The false imprisonment of Martin Byrne took place in Rathcoole and Saggart in south Co Dublin.
When
The offences took place on 9 June 2015.
Charges
  • O'Hare pleaded guilty to falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne.
  • O'Hare also pleaded guilty to assaulting John Roche at The Towers in Saggart on the same date, causing him harm.
In court
  • The non-jury Special Criminal Court jailed O'Hare in April 2019 after he admitted a charge of false imprisonment.
  • The court was asked to take two counts of falsely imprisoning Byrne's wife and son into consideration during sentencing.
Sentence
O'Hare received a seven-year jail term.
Other details
  • O'Hare told gardaí he was working for businessman Jim Mansfield jnr when he, along with others, carried out the attack on Byrne.
  • In October 1987, O'Hare kidnapped Dublin dentist Dr John O'Grady and held him captive for 23 days.
9 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatDessie O’Hare was released from Portlaoise Prison on a Thursday afternoon. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe false imprisonment took place in Rathcoole and Saggart in south Co Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenO’Hare pleaded guilty to falsely imprisoning Martin Byrne on June 9th, 2015. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeO’Hare also pleaded to assaulting John Roche at The Towers in Saggart on the same date, causing him harm. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtO’Hare was jailed by the non-jury Special Criminal Court in April 2019 after admitting a charge of false imprisonment. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe court was asked to take two counts of falsely imprisoning Byrne’s wife and son into consideration during sentencing. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceO’Hare received a seven-year jail term. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherO’Hare told gardaí he was working for businessman Jim Mansfield jnr when he, along with others, carried out the attack on Byrne. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherIn October 1987, O’Hare kidnapped Dublin dentist Dr John O’Grady and held him captive for 23 days. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 27 Jun2024
    Otheririshtimes.com, first report
    Dessie O’Hare, former INLA member and convicted kidnapper, released from prison

    Reports the release of Dessie O’Hare from Portlaoise Prison, with background on his 2015 false imprisonment conviction and his earlier 1987 kidnapping.

    convicted, Dessie O'Hare, named, irish (judged from name)Dessie O'Harevictim, Martin Byrne, irish (judged from name)Martin Byrnevictim, John Roche, irish (judged from name)John Roche