Sunday 1 November 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. 1559Murder (double murder) · Co. Louth · 7 Mar 2012

Double murder conviction upheld on appeal in Louth

Anthony Burnett, 31, and Joseph Redmond, 25, both men from Ballybough in Dublin, were shot in the head and their bodies set on fire in a car in County Louth on 7 March 2012 after going to sell a stolen car to Jason O'Driscoll, 42, a man from Dublin. O'Driscoll was convicted by a 10-2 jury majority at a retrial and sentenced to life imprisonment in October 2018 after a first jury in 2017 could not reach a verdict. The Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal on 15 May 2026, rejecting arguments about the scientific validity of vehicle identification evidence and the independence of the expert witness. The appeal had been adjourned in June 2025 after a judge realised he had presided over the original trial.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court3 Jun
    2 reports
  5. Convicted19 May
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • The two men were shot in the head and their bodies set on fire in a black diesel Volkswagen Golf in County Louth.
  • The victims had gone to sell O'Driscoll a stolen car.
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; the car was found abandoned on the morning of 8 March 2012.
Cause
The two men died of gunshot wounds to their heads before petrol was used to set fire to the car containing their bodies.
Investigation
The prosecution said a stolen Mercedes S Class was the getaway car used from the murder scene.
Charges
O'Driscoll pleaded not guilty to the murders of Anthony Burnett and Joseph Redmond.
In court
  • A first jury in 2017 could not reach a verdict after a six-week trial.
  • O'Driscoll was convicted by a 10-2 majority at a retrial and sentenced to life imprisonment in October 2018.
  • The appeal was adjourned in June 2025 after a judge realised he had presided over the original 2017 trial.
  • The Court of Appeal dismissed O'Driscoll's appeal on 15 May 2026, rejecting arguments about the scientific validity of vehicle identification evidence and the independence of the expert witness.
23 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatO'Driscoll is seeking to overturn a double murder conviction (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe two men died of gunshot wounds to their heads before their bodies were set on fire in a car (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe two men had gone to sell O'Driscoll a stolen car on March 7, 2012. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe car was found abandoned on the morning of March 8, 2012. (irishmirror.ie)
  • 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 their heads before petrol was used to set fire to a black diesel Volkswagen Golf containing their bodies. (irishmirror.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)
  • courtThe appeal was adjourned and a new date was set for 13 November 2025 (irishtimes.com)
  • courtAfter a six-week trial in 2017, a jury informed Mr Justice McCarthy it could not reach a verdict. (irishmirror.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)
  • otherMr Justice McCarthy was appointed to the High Court in 2007 and to the Court of Appeal in 2018 (irishtimes.com)
  • 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
  2. 16 May2026
    In courtirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    'Callous' double murderer Jason O'Driscoll fails in bid for freedom

    The Court of Appeal, presided over by Ms Justice Tara Burns, dismissed O'Driscoll's appeal, upholding his 2018 life sentence for the 2012 murders. The court rejected arguments about the scientific validity of vehicle identification evidence and the independence of expert witness Andrew Wooller.

    convicted, Jason O'Driscoll, 42, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jason O'Driscollvictim, Anthony Burnett, 31, male, irish (judged from name)Anthony Burnettvictim, Joseph Redmond, 25, male, irish (judged from name)Joseph Redmond
  3. 3 Jun2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Man’s appeal bid over double murder conviction delayed after judge forgets he heard original trial

    The Court of Appeal adjourned O'Driscoll's appeal after Mr Justice McCarthy, one of the three judges, realised he had presided over the original 2017 trial. The appeal will be reheard without him on 13 November 2025.

    accused, 42, male, irish (judged from name)victim, Anthony Burnett, 31, male, irish (judged from name)Anthony Burnettvictim, Joseph Redmond, 25, male, irish (judged from name)Joseph Redmond