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. 1387Impeding prosecution (getaway driver) · Co. Dublin · 9 May 2022

Former HSE employee Deirdre Arnold jailed for two years as getaway driver in Lisa Thompson murder

Deirdre Arnold, 42, a former HSE addiction counsellor, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment (one year suspended) at the Central Criminal Court for impeding the prosecution of Brian McHugh, who murdered Lisa Thompson in Ballymun in May 2022. Arnold drove McHugh to and from Thompson's home and helped him check into a hotel to evade arrest.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced4 Jul
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
27 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatArnold was subjected to domestic abuse and considerable violence by Brian McHugh during their relationship. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatLisa Thompson, 52, was found dead in her home in Ballymun. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatBrian McHugh, 40, of Cairn Court, Poppintree, Ballymun, Dublin 11, was jailed for life in March 2025 for murdering Thompson. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA jury found McHugh had inflicted 11 stab wounds to Thompson's chest and wrapped a blind cord around her neck. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatArnold checked McHugh into the Clayton Hotel near Dublin Airport to help him evade prosecution. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • whatArnold had resigned from her State job and is the sole financial support for her three children. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA senior investigating officer told the jury that details of the ligature and strangulation of Thompson had not been released into the public domain in June 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatLisa Thompson, 52, was a mother-of-two who was murdered. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatArnold's silver Hyundai Tucson was used to dispose of evidence taken from Thompson's home. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatArnold and McHugh went to Applegreen station and disposed of items taken from the deceased's house. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatArnold spent 36 hours with McHugh at the Clayton Hotel in the aftermath. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMcHugh allegedly broke Arnold's arm by holding it on the bottom of a stairway and stamping on it. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThompson's home was at Sandyhill Gardens in Ballymun. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenArnold drove McHugh to Thompson's home on May 9, 2022, and waited outside for well over an hour before driving him away. (irishmirror.ie)
  • weaponMcHugh inflicted 11 stab wounds to Thompson's chest and wrapped a blind cord around her neck. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe sentencing took place at the Central Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe judge reduced the headline sentence of five years to three years with a period of suspension on certain terms. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceArnold was sentenced to three years imprisonment with the final year suspended on both counts, running concurrently. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe headline sentence was set at five years and reduced to three years after mitigation. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherArnold was 42 and a former HSE addiction counsellor from Briarfield Grove, Kilbarrack, Dublin 5. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherBrian McHugh was 40 with a former address at Cairn Court, Poppintree, Ballymun, Dublin 11. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherArnold was in an abusive relationship with McHugh and had an interim barring order against him. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherText messages from Arnold to McHugh in June 2022 included 'I could of been like Lisa today strangle n stab'. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherOther text messages included 'Murder Lisa n al', 'Move the knife did u', and 'Ur runners n the knife'. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThompson was dealing prescription drugs from her home, with thousands of tablets worth nearly €50,000 found hidden in the attic. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThompson and McHugh had a 'bit of a fling' in the year before she died. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherArnold had one previous conviction from 2022 for attempting to drive under the influence of drugs, receiving a fine and 18 months' disqualification. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 4 Jul2025
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Former HSE addiction counsellor jailed for acting as get-away driver for 'thug'

    Sentencing of Deirdre Arnold for assisting Brian McHugh, who was jailed for life in March 2025 for the murder of Lisa Thompson in Ballymun. The judge noted Arnold was in an abusive relationship with McHugh but found she still had a choice in her actions.

    convicted, Deirdre Arnold, 42, female, named, irish (judged from name)Deirdre Arnoldconvicted, Brian McHugh, 40, male, named, irish (judged from name)Brian McHughvictim, Lisa Thompson, 52, female, irish (judged from name)Lisa Thompson
  2. 4 Jul2025
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Former HSE employee who acted as getaway driver for Lisa Thompson’s killer is jailed

    Sentencing of Deirdre Arnold, convicted in April 2025 of impeding the prosecution of Brian McHugh (jailed for life in March 2025) for the murder of Lisa Thompson. Judge McGrath reduced the headline sentence from five to three years with a period of suspension, citing Arnold's abusive relationship with McHugh and her genuine remorse.

    victim, Lisa Thompson, 52, female, irish (judged from name)Lisa Thompsonconvicted, Deirdre Arnold, 42, female, named, irish (judged from name)Deirdre Arnoldconvicted, Brian McHugh, 40, male, named, irish (judged from name)Brian McHugh