John Dundon fails to overturn murder conviction for Shane Geoghegan's 2008 shooting
The Court of Appeal rejected Limerick gangster John Dundon's bid to overturn his 2013 murder conviction for the 2008 shooting death of rugby player Shane Geoghegan, finding no basis to question the fairness of his trial or the safety of his verdict. Dundon, 41, is serving a life sentence for ordering the hit that killed Geoghegan in a case of mistaken identity.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court5 Dec
2 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports27 statements extracted from the articles
- whatShane Geoghegan played rugby for Garryowen in Limerick. (irishtimes.com)
- whatGeoghegan had just texted his girlfriend Jenna Barry to say he was on his way when she heard shots fired outside. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whatBarry Doyle admitted during Garda interviews that he shot Geoghegan in a case of mistaken identity. (irishtimes.com)
- whatShane Geoghegan was shot five times with a Glock semi-automatic pistol (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe fatal shot was to the back of the head (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGeoghegan played rugby for Garryowen in Limerick (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGeoghegan had been watching an Ireland international game at a friend's house before heading home shortly before 1am (irishmirror.ie)
- whatCounsel argued fresh evidence of a phone conversation between Lisa Collins and Christopher McCarthy recorded by the Irish Prison Service (irishmirror.ie)
- whatIn the recorded conversation, Collins and McCarthy discussed how long was long enough for Dundon to be imprisoned (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe conversation referenced Dundon receiving ten years for a particular offence but that wouldn't be sufficient (irishmirror.ie)
- whatBarry Doyle, 38, of Portland Row in Dublin 1, admitted during Garda interviews that he shot Geoghegan in a case of mistaken identity (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe shooting took place near Geoghegan's home at Clonmore, Kilteragh, Dooradoyle (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe fatal shooting occurred on 9 November 2008 (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe murder was a case of mistaken identity. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe shooting was a case of mistaken identity (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJohn Dundon was convicted at the Special Criminal Court in 2013 of ordering the hit that resulted in the death of Shane Geoghegan. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBarry Doyle was found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court and given the mandatory life sentence by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan on 16 February 2012. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe appeal was launched in April 2024 by counsel Dominic McGinn SC. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMr Justice John Edwards found no breach of the duty of disclosure owed by the DPP to the appellant. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- courtDundon was convicted at the Special Criminal Court in 2013 (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe Court of Appeal rejected Dundon's claims on Thursday 5 December 2024 (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe Special Criminal Court had approached the testimony of the three witnesses with great caution (irishmirror.ie)
- courtDoyle later pleaded not guilty at trial but was found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceJohn Dundon is serving a life sentence. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceDundon is serving a life sentence (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceDoyle was given the mandatory life sentence by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan on 16 February 2012 (irishmirror.ie)
- otherDundon appeared in the Special Criminal Court wearing only a pair of dark-coloured shorts after going on hunger strike for at least a week (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 6 Dec2024Gangster fails to overturn murder conviction 16 years after rugby player's death
Court of Appeal dismissed Dundon's appeal on 5 December 2024, rejecting the argument that a phone conversation between witnesses Lisa Collins and Christopher McCarthy, which 'fell through the cracks,' could have undermined the credibility of key prosecution witnesses.
victim, Shane Geoghegan, 28, male, irish (judged from name)Shane Geogheganconvicted, John Dundon, 41, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Dundonconvicted, Barry Doyle, 38, male, named, irish (judged from name)Barry Doyle - 5 Dec2024Limerick gangster John Dundon fails in bid to overturn murder conviction
The Court of Appeal, with Mr Justice John Edwards delivering the ruling, dismissed Dundon's appeal against his 2013 murder conviction, rejecting arguments that a phone conversation between witnesses Lisa Collins and Christopher McCarthy, recorded by the Irish Prison Service, could have undermined the credibility of key prosecution witnesses and that its absence raised a concern about the fairness of the trial.
victim, Shane Geoghegan, 28, male, irish (judged from name)Shane Geogheganconvicted, John Dundon, 41, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Dundonconvicted, Barry Doyle, 38, male, named, irish (judged from name)Barry Doyle