Case No. 2674Attempted murder (foiled plot) · Co. Dublin · 17 Dec 2024
Gardaí foil murder plot on associate of Cormac Berkeley in Clondalkin
Gardaí from the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and ERU intercepted a car on Rowlagh Avenue, Clondalkin, on 17 December 2024, seizing a Glock pistol and ammunition and arresting two men in what they say was an imminent murder bid on an associate of Cormac Berkeley, who was shot dead in the same area in December 2022. Follow-up operations involved 300 gardaí across 18 locations in Dublin and a search of Charles McClean's cell at Portlaoise Prison.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested17 Dec
5 reports - Charged17 Dec
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports66 statements extracted from the articles
- whatAn imminent threat to life attack was prevented in West Dublin on 17 December 2024. (garda.ie)
- whatTwo males, aged in their 30s and 40s, were arrested under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. (garda.ie)
- whatGardaí prevented an imminent threat to life attack (garda.ie)
- whatTwo men, aged in their 30s and 40s, were arrested (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA semi-automatic Glock pistol and 9mm ammunition were discovered in the vehicle (irishmirror.ie)
- whatTwo men aged in their 30s and 40s were arrested in the operation. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMasks were also found inside the car. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe target of the attempted murder was an associate of Cormac Berkeley, 37, who was shot dead in Clondalkin two years ago. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe operation prevented an imminent murder bid on an associate of Cormac Berkeley. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatTwo men believed to be from the Clondalkin area were arrested. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- whatGardaí also seized masks, a petrol can and cocaine in the car. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe target of the foiled plot was an associate of murder victim Cormac Berkeley. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatCormac Berkeley, 37, was murdered in Clondalkin on 5 December 2022. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe associate had previously survived a hit in 2021. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatMcClean is currently serving 20 years for three gangland crimes. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatMasks, a petrol can and cocaine were also seized in the car. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatAn Garda Síochána believes the firearm was intended for use in the commission of murder. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereA vehicle was intercepted by the ERU on Rowlagh Avenue, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, shortly after 8:00pm on 17 December 2024. (garda.ie)
- whereThe interception took place in Clondalkin as part of an intelligence-led investigation in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (irishmirror.ie)
- whereCormac Berkeley was murdered in Clondalkin on 5 December 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereArmed ERU officers stopped a car on Rowlagh Avenue in Clondalkin just after 8pm. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- whenThe incident occurred on 17 December 2024 (garda.ie)
- whenThe court appearance is scheduled for 20 December 2024 (garda.ie)
- whenThe vehicle was intercepted shortly after 8pm on Tuesday evening, 17 December 2024 (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe tactical team moved in on the car on Rowlagh Avenue shortly after 8pm. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe associate survived a previous hit in 2021. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe operation took place in west Dublin on Tuesday night, 17 December 2024. (dublinlive.ie)
- weaponA semi-automatic Glock pistol and a number of rounds of 9mm ammunition were recovered from the vehicle. (garda.ie)
- weaponA semi-automatic Glock pistol and 9mm ammunition were seized from the car. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponA Glock semi-automatic pistol and ammunition were recovered from the car. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- investigationThe operation was conducted by GNDOCB, GNCSIS, and DMR regular unit members as part of an intelligence-led investigation. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe two arrested males are detained at a Garda station in the DMR under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007. (garda.ie)
- investigationFollow-up searches were conducted at 18 locations in the Dublin area and two cells at Portlaoise Prison. (garda.ie)
- investigationIn excess of 300 members of An Garda Síochána were deployed in the operation. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe firearm and ammunition will be forwarded to the Ballistics section of the Garda Technical Bureau for analysis. (garda.ie)
- investigationInvestigations are ongoing. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe pistol and ammunition will be forwarded to the Ballistics section of the Garda Technical Bureau for analysis (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationFollow-up searches were conducted at 18 locations in the Dublin area (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationTwo cells at Portlaoise Prison were searched as part of the operation (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationOver 300 members of An Garda Síochána were involved in the multi-agency operation (irishmirror.ie)
- investigation18 addresses in Dublin and two prison cells were searched as part of the operation. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationSeveral people were later caged over the 2021 incident. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe two men were still being questioned on Thursday afternoon. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationSome 300 gardaí were involved in follow-up operations in 18 different locations in Dublin and at Portlaoise Prison. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- investigationGardaí are investigating whether McClean was involved in ordering the latest hit from his prison cell. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe seized firearm and ammunition will be examined by ballistics experts. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- investigationGardaí are investigating whether McClean was involved in ordering the hit from his prison cell. (dublinlive.ie)
- chargeBoth men have been charged (garda.ie)
- chargeThe two males were arrested pursuant to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe two males, aged in their 30s and 40s, were arrested pursuant to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006. (dublinlive.ie)
- courtThe men are due to appear before Blanchardstown District Court (garda.ie)
- otherAssistant Commissioner Angela Willis stated the firearm was intended for use in the commission of murder(s). (garda.ie)
- otherAssistant Commissioner Angela Willis, head of Organised & Serious Crime, spoke following the operation (irishmirror.ie)
- otherGardaí believe the firearm was intended for use in the commission of murder(s) (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe gang is known as The Family and has replaced the Kinahan cartel as the largest domestic supplier of drugs. (irishtimes.com)
- otherCormac Berkeley was a well-known drug dealer who had been warned several times his life was in danger. (irishtimes.com)
- otherGardaí believe the firearm was intended for use in the commission of murder. (irishtimes.com)
- otherCharles McClean, a 35-year-old Dubliner, is serving several sentences for facilitating gun murders. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMcClean was sentenced to two consecutive terms totalling 16½ years for facilitating a criminal organisation and conspiring to murder Wayne Whelan. (irishtimes.com)
- otherWayne Whelan survived one murder attempt in September 2019 but was shot dead two months later. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe Family gang was at the centre of Garda searches in September when the Ghost encrypted messaging platform was infiltrated by international law enforcement. (irishtimes.com)
- otherNobody has been charged over Cormac Berkeley's murder. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe two men are being held under anti-gangland legislation and can be detained for up to a week. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- otherMcClean is serving 20 years for three gangland crimes including impeding apprehension in the 2016 murder of Mark Desmond, a conspiracy to kill Wayne Whelan, and facilitating the 2020 murder of Thomas McCarthy. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe two males are detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherAn Garda Síochána believes the firearm was intended for use in the commission of murder(s). (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 20 Dec2024Gardai foil 'plot to kill' associate of gangland murder victim
Reports the foiling of the murder plot, the arrest of two men under anti-gangland legislation, the seizure of a Glock pistol, ammunition, masks, a petrol can and cocaine, and follow-up operations including a search of Charles McClean's cell at Portlaoise Prison. Gardaí are investigating whether McClean ordered the hit and whether it was linked to a drugs debt.
victim, malesuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 40s, malesuspect, Charles McClean, 36, male, named at arrest, irish (judged from name)Charles McCleanvictim, Cormac Berkeley, 37, male, irish (judged from name)Cormac Berkeley - 19 Dec2024Gardai foil 'plot to kill' associate of gangland murder victim
Adds detail on the 2021 prior attempt on the same associate, the 300-garda follow-up operation across 18 locations and Portlaoise Prison, the search of Charles McClean's cell, the additional items seized (masks, petrol can, cocaine), the drugs-debt theory, and the legal basis for detention (Sections 72 and 50).
victimsuspect, malesuspect, malesuspect, Charles McClean, 36, male, named at arrest, irish (judged from name)Charles McClean - 19 Dec2024Murder attempt linked to ‘The Family’ gang thwarted after gun and ammunition seized
Reveals the gang connection to 'The Family', details of the 18 Dublin addresses and two prison cell searches, the involvement of multiple Garda units, and background on Charles McClean's criminal history including the 2016 killing of Mark 'Guinea Pig' Desmond and the murder of Wayne Whelan.
victim, Cormac Berkeley, 37, male, irish (judged from name)Cormac Berkeleysuspect, 30s, malesuspect, 40s, male - 19 Dec2024Gardaí prevent ‘imminent threat to life attack’ as lethal firearm seized
Provides operational details including 18 search locations in Dublin, two cell searches at Portlaoise Prison, over 300 Gardaí involved, and a statement from Assistant Commissioner Angela Willis confirming the firearm was believed to be intended for use in the commission of murder(s).
suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 40s, male - 17 Dec2024Court Apperance - An Garda Síochána prevent imminent threat to life attack, West Dublin, 17th December 2024
Confirms both men have now been charged and are due to appear before Blanchardstown District Court on 20 December 2024.
suspect, malesuspect, male - 17 Dec2024An Garda Síochána prevent imminent threat to life attack, West Dublin, 17th December 2024
Official Garda press release confirming the operation, stating the firearm was intended for use in the commission of murder(s), and noting follow-up searches at 18 locations and two cells at Portlaoise Prison with over 300 Gardaí deployed.
suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 40s, male