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. 21476Soliciting murder · Co. Dublin

Husband jailed for hiring hitman to kill couple in Canada

Bryan Kennedy, 35, with an address in Harold's Cross, Dublin, is alleged to have hired a hitman between 1 October 2019 and 11 January 2020 to kill Stephanie Poirier and Clara Houdebrumette, a couple in rural Quebec, Canada, who were having an online affair with his wife. Kennedy cooperated with gardaí, made full admissions when questioned and pleaded guilty to soliciting murder in relation to both women. At a first sentence hearing in January, the judge allowed time for Tusla to put supports in place for his children. On 17 April 2023, Ms Justice Caroline Biggs at the Central Criminal Court sentenced him to five years' imprisonment with the final six months suspended, after setting a headline sentence of eight years.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced17 Apr
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Bryan Kennedy, 35, hired a hitman to kill a couple who were having an online affair with his wife.
  • Kennedy provided personal details of the two women and accessed his wife's Facebook page.
  • The hitman warned Kennedy that he was embarking on a dangerous road.
Other details
  • Kennedy paid the would-be hitman €8,000 by taking loans from family and friends.
  • Kennedy said he had been threatened and intimidated by the hitman.
  • Mitigating factors included Kennedy's co-operation with gardaí, full admissions on questioning and guilty plea.
Where
  • Kennedy has an address in Harold's Cross, Dublin.
  • The couple live in rural Quebec, Canada.
When
The solicitation took place on a date unknown between 1 October 2019 and 11 January 2020.
Investigation
Kennedy cooperated with gardaí, made full admissions immediately on being questioned, and told gardaí he backtracked on the deal.
Charges
Kennedy pleaded guilty to soliciting the murder of Stephanie Poirier and to the same offence relating to Clara Houdebrumette, Ms Poirier's partner.
Cause
The judge said the wife's online affair was not an excuse for the plan.
In court
At Kennedy's first sentence hearing in January, the judge allowed time for Tusla to put supports in place for his children.
Sentence
  • On 17 April 2023, Ms Justice Caroline Biggs sentenced Kennedy at the Central Criminal Court.
  • The judge set a headline sentence of eight years and reduced it to five years after considering mitigating factors, with the final six months suspended for six months.
22 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA husband hired a hitman to kill a couple who were having an online affair with his wife. (rte.ie)
  • whatKennedy provided personal details of the two women and accessed his wife's Facebook page. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe hitman warned Kennedy that he was embarking on a dangerous road. (rte.ie)
  • whatKennedy paid the would-be hitman €8,000 by taking loans from family and friends. (rte.ie)
  • whatKennedy hired a hitman in a plan to kill a couple in Canada who were having an online affair with his wife. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereKennedy has an address in Harold's Cross, Dublin. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe couple live in rural Quebec, Canada. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenKennedy's first sentence hearing was held in January. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe solicitation took place on a date unknown between 1 October 2019 and 11 January 2020. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe judge said the wife's online affair was not an excuse for the plan. (rte.ie)
  • investigationKennedy cooperated with gardaí, made full admissions immediately on being questioned and pleaded guilty. (rte.ie)
  • investigationKennedy told gardaí he backtracked on the deal. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeKennedy pleaded guilty to soliciting the man to murder Stephanie Poirier. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeKennedy pleaded guilty to the same offence relating to Clara Houdebrumette, Ms Poirier's partner. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtKennedy was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court by Ms Justice Caroline Biggs. (rte.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe judge set the headline sentence at eight years. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe sentence was reduced to five years with the final six months suspended for six months. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceKennedy was sentenced to five years' imprisonment with the final six months suspended for six months. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe judge set the headline sentence at eight years and reduced it to five years after considering mitigating factors. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherKennedy had been threatened and intimidated by the hitman. (rte.ie)
  • otherKennedy paid €8,000 to the would-be assassin by taking loans from family and friends. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe judge noted mitigating factors including co-operation with gardaí, full admissions on questioning, and a guilty plea. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 17 Apr2023
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Husband jailed for hiring ‘unhinged’ hitman

    Sentencing report. The judge set a headline sentence of eight years before reducing it to five years with the final six months suspended.

    convicted, Bryan Kennedy, 35, male, named, irish (judged from name)Bryan Kennedyvictim, Stephanie Poirier, female, non-irish (judged from name)Stephanie Poiriervictim, Clara Houdebrumette, female, non-irish (judged from name)Clara Houdebrumette
  2. 17 Apr2023
    Sentencedrte.ie, follow-up
    Man jailed over hiring hitman to kill wife's friends

    Sentencing of Bryan Kennedy at the Central Criminal Court, with the judge's reasons, the headline sentence of eight years and the mitigating factors. No matching existing case.

    convicted, Bryan Kennedy, 35, male, named, irish (judged from name)Bryan Kennedyvictim, femalevictim, femalesuspect