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. 5326Conspiracy to murder · Co. Dublin · 5 Dec 2016

Kinahan associate pleads guilty to conspiracy to murder Charlie Cooper in Mulhuddart

Charlie Cooper was shot multiple times at his home on Parslickstown Green, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15, on December 5, 2016, and was seriously injured but made a recovery. Jason 'Jay' O'Connor, a 46-year-old man of Whitestown Grove, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, was originally accused of attempted murder. In May 2024 he pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of conspiracy to murder, which the State accepted. On July 30, 2024, the Special Criminal Court heard that the organisation he admitted helping was the Kinahan crime group, and it adjourned sentence finalisation to October 14, 2024, where he faces a maximum term of 15 years.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court30 Jul
  5. Convicted30 Jul
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Jason 'Jay' O'Connor, a 46-year-old man, pleaded guilty in May to conspiracy to murder Charlie Cooper, a reduced charge from the original attempted murder accusation, which the State accepted.
  • Mr Cooper was shot multiple times at his home and seriously injured, then treated in intensive care and made a recovery.
  • O'Connor conspired with persons unknown in the plot to murder Mr Cooper.
Where
The shooting took place at Mr Cooper's home at Parslickstown Green, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15.
When
The attempt on Mr Cooper's life took place on December 5, 2016.
Weapon
Ten shots were fired in the kitchen of Mr Cooper's home.
Investigation
  • Gardaí found an encrypted Blackberry phone at O'Connor's home during searches.
  • Detective Inspector Liam Donoghue told the court that the organisation O'Connor admitted helping was the Kinahan crime group.
Charges
  • O'Connor pleaded guilty to conspiracy to murder Charlie Cooper under Section 4 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861.
  • O'Connor also pleaded guilty to participating in a criminal organisation between August 2 and December 7, 2016, to facilitate the commission of murder.
In court
The Special Criminal Court, with Mr Justice Tony Hunt presiding, adjourned sentence finalisation to October 14.
Sentence
O'Connor faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years.
Other details
  • O'Connor had 70 previous convictions, including assault, burglary and possession of a mobile phone in prison.
  • The defence said the death of Keith Walker left O'Connor paranoid and psychotic, and that he was mentally very unwell and suicidal in 2016.
  • Messages referred to other operations, including conversations about gun silencers, trackers, named targets and their movements.
  • O'Connor wrote a letter of apology.
24 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatO'Connor pleaded guilty in May to a reduced charge of conspiracy to murder, which the State accepted. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMr Cooper was shot multiple times at his home and seriously injured. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMr Cooper was treated in intensive care and made a recovery. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatTen shots were fired in the kitchen of Mr Cooper's Parslickstown home. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatO'Connor conspired with persons unknown in the plot to murder Mr Cooper. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatO'Connor was accused of the attempted murder of Charlie Cooper at Parslickstown Green, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15, on December 5, 2016. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatCharlie Cooper was seriously injured when shot multiple times at his home. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatCooper was treated in intensive care and made a recovery. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe shooting took place at Parslickstown Green, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe attempt on Mr Cooper's life was on December 5th, 2016. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí found an encrypted Blackberry phone at O'Connor's home during searches. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationDetective Inspector Liam Donoghue named the organisation O'Connor admitted helping as the Kinahan crime group. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeO'Connor had originally been accused of attempted murder of Charlie Cooper. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeO'Connor pleaded guilty in May to the reduced charge of conspiracy to murder. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeO'Connor pleaded guilty to conspiracy to murder Charlie Cooper under Section 4 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeO'Connor pleaded guilty to participating in a criminal organisation between August 2 and December 7, 2016, to facilitate the commission of murder. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe Special Criminal Court adjourned sentence finalisation to October 14. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtDet Insp Liam Donoghue named the organisation O'Connor admitted helping as the Kinahan crime group. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtMr Justice Tony Hunt presiding adjourned the matter for sentence finalisation to October 14. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceO'Connor faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherO'Connor had 70 previous convictions, including assault, burglary and possession of a mobile phone in prison. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe defence said the death of Keith Walker left O'Connor paranoid and psychotic and that he was mentally very unwell and suicidal in 2016. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherMessages referred to other operations with conversations about gun silencers, trackers, named targets and their movements. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherO'Connor wrote a letter of apology. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 30 Jul2024
    In courtirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Kinahan associate 'haunted' by belief he was target of gunman in drag

    Reports on Special Criminal Court proceedings where Det Insp Liam Donoghue presented evidence of O'Connor's involvement in the Kinahan crime group and his conspiracy to murder Cooper. The defence argued O'Connor was 'haunted' by the 2015 murder of his friend Keith Walker. Adjourned for sentence finalisation to 14 October 2024.

    accused, Jason 'Jay' O'Connor, 46, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jason 'Jay' O'Connorvictim, Charlie Cooper, male, irish (judged from name)Charlie Cooper
  2. 30 Jul2024
    Convictedirishtimes.com, first report
    Kinahan cartel associate plotted murder while ‘haunted’ by assassination of innocent friend, court hears

    Reports O'Connor's guilty plea to conspiracy to murder, the court's naming of the Kinahan crime group, and the adjournment of sentencing to October 14. The original charge was attempted murder.

    victim, Charlie Cooper, male, irish (judged from name)Charlie Cooperconvicted, Jason “Jay” O'Connor, 46, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jason “Jay” O'Connor