Ireland Case No. 22077Murder; possession of a firearm; possession of a knife · Co. Meath · 26 Aug 2021
Earl McKevitt jailed for life for murder of pizza delivery customer Conor O'Brien in Enfield
Earl McKevitt, 51, a takeaway delivery driver from Blanchardstown, Dublin, was sentenced to life in prison at the Central Criminal Court for shooting 19-year-old Conor O'Brien in the chest during a pizza delivery in Enfield, Co Meath, in August 2021. He was arrested five days later at the Talbot Hotel in Graiguecullen, Co Laois, where he was found in possession of the murder weapon, a HS model 95 semi-automatic pistol.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced3 Mar
3 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports49 statements extracted from the articles
- whatMcKevitt said shooting people was part of his job. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com, leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatNo firearm was found at the scene when gardaí conducted searches. (thejournal.ie)
- whatMcKevitt made nine deliveries in total that night which lasted until around 11.30pm. (thejournal.ie)
- whatCCTV showed McKevitt leaving the hotel after 11pm on 27 August and putting the firearm into the bushes. (thejournal.ie)
- whatGardaí searched McKevitt on arrival at the Talbot Hotel and found a firearm and knife on him. (thejournal.ie)
- whatMcKevitt told gardaí he had the gun for his own protection and was under threat. (thejournal.ie)
- whatMcKevitt talked about being trained by a person who was the number one marksman in Ireland. (thejournal.ie)
- whatMcKevitt told gardaí he thought he had ADHD and schizophrenia. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whatPsychiatric evidence meant McKevitt could not rely on a defence of mental illness. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whatThe pizza order contained instructions not to knock at the front or main house and to text or phone when delivering. (thejournal.ie)
- whatMcKevitt shot O'Brien once in the chest during a pizza delivery. (irishtimes.com)
- whatO'Brien died from a single gunshot wound to the chest. (irishtimes.com, leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatO'Brien was originally from Gorey, Co Wexford. (irishtimes.com)
- whatO'Brien was due to start a course as a trainee blacksmith in Limerick the following week. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe pizza order had instructions not to knock at the front or main house and to text or phone when delivering. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMcKevitt made nine deliveries that night until around 11:30pm. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMcKevitt changed his clothing and went to an off-licence an hour after the shooting. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMcKevitt was arrested in Carlow on 31 August 2021 in possession of a firearm at the Talbot Hotel, Graiguecullen. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMcKevitt had 39 previous convictions including robbery and arson, six committed in the UK around 2010. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMcKevitt was 51 years old and from Avondale Park, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMcKevitt had been drinking heavily in the days between the shooting and his arrest. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMcKevitt went back to Carlow on 31 August to retrieve the gun. (irishtimes.com)
- whatO'Brien was wearing a dressing gown and runners at the time of the shooting. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatO'Brien's body was discovered by his cousin the following morning after 7am. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatMcKevitt was found in possession of a knife with a sharply pointed blade at the Talbot Hotel. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatMcKevitt told gardai he shot O'Brien after making an error during the delivery, having failed to read the instructions on the docket. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatMcKevitt showed a hotel manager the gun inside his jacket and said 'You serve me or I'll use it'. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatThe firearm found at the hotel was identified as the one used to shoot O'Brien. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatMcKevitt had 39 previous convictions including robbery, arson, possession of an imitation firearm, possession of knives, possession of drugs for sale and supply, handling stolen property. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatMcKevitt had served jail time in Ireland and the UK. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatMcKevitt was charged with murdering O'Brien on September 2, 2021. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatO'Brien was originally from Gorey, Co Wexford and was due to start a course in Limerick the following week. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatMcKevitt made nine deliveries that night lasting until around 11.30pm. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatMcKevitt told gardai he thought he had ADHD and schizophrenia. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whereThe murder took place at An Seanchrann, Trim Road, Enfield, Co Meath. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whereMcKevitt was arrested at the Talbot Hotel in Graiguecullen, Co Laois on August 31, 2021. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenMcKevitt was arrested whilst intoxicated in a hotel in Carlow five days after the killing. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe murder occurred on the evening of 26 August 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponThe firearm was a HS model 95 semi-automatic pistol. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponThe murder weapon was a HS model 95 semi-automatic pistol. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- chargeMcKevitt pleaded guilty to possessing a HS model 95 semi-automatic pistol at Talbot Hotel, Graiguecullen, Co Carlow on 31 August 2021. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeMcKevitt pleaded guilty to possessing a knife with a sharply pointed blade at Talbot Hotel, Graiguecullen, Co Carlow on 31 August 2021. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe sentencing was carried out by Mr Justice Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe sentencing hearing took place at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Paul McDermott. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- sentenceConcurrent sentences of seven-and-a-half years and two years were imposed on the firearm and knife counts. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceMcKevitt was sentenced to life in prison for the murder. (irishtimes.com, leinsterexpress.ie)
- sentenceConcurrent sentences of seven-and-a-half years and two years were imposed for the firearm and knife counts. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceConcurrent sentences of seven-and-a-half years and two years were imposed for the firearm and knife charges. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherMcKevitt has 39 previous convictions including robbery and arson, with six committed in the UK around 2010. (thejournal.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 3 Mar2023Man arrested on the run in Laois hotel after killing teenager jailed for life
Sentencing hearing at the Central Criminal Court where McKevitt received a life sentence for murder plus concurrent sentences of seven-and-a-half years and two years for the firearm and knife charges. Detailed background evidence from Trim and Carlow Garda Stations was presented.
victim, Conor O'Brien, 19, male, irish (judged from name)Conor O'Brienconvicted, Earl McKevitt, 51, male, named, irish (judged from name)Earl McKevitt - 3 Mar2023Conor O’Brien ‘inexplicably and shockingly’ shot dead by Earl McKevitt over pizza delivery ‘error’
Sentencing hearing at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Paul McDermott, including full background evidence from Trim and Carlow Garda stations, the accused's admissions, and concurrent sentences for the firearm and knife counts.
victim, Conor O'Brien, 19, male, irish (judged from name)Conor O'Brienconvicted, Earl McKevitt, 51, male, named, irish (judged from name)Earl McKevitt - 3 Mar2023Man sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering teenage boy during pizza delivery
Full details of the sentencing hearing on 3 March 2023, including the judge's remarks, background evidence from Trim and Carlow Garda Stations, the arrest circumstances at the Talbot Hotel, the guilty pleas, and the concurrent sentences for the firearm and knife counts.
victim, Conor O'Brien, 19, male, irish (judged from name)Conor O'Brienconvicted, Earl McKevitt, 51, male, named, irish (judged from name)Earl McKevitt