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. 0126Murder, possession of firearm with intent to endanger life · Co. Limerick · 28 May 2010

Kurt Ryan pleads guilty to commissioning murder of Lee Slattery in Limerick in 2010

Lee Slattery, a 25-year-old man from Moyross, Limerick, was shot twice at close range and buried in a shallow grave at the derelict Delmege Estate, Knocknalisheen Road, Limerick, between 27 and 31 May 2010. His body was found on 31 May 2010 after relatives spotted freshly dug grass and the fabric of his blue tracksuit. Kurt Ryan, a man now 33 who was 17 at the time, was charged with the murder after the case was reopened by a cold case unit in 2021. Ryan pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court in Cork in October 2026 to the commission of murder in association with a criminal organisation and to possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. The case is listed for mention on 27 October 2026 at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin to fix a sentencing date.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court6 Oct
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Lee Slattery, 25, was shot twice at close range and buried in a shallow grave at the Delmege Estate, Limerick, between 27 and 31 May 2010.
  • Slattery also sustained blunt force trauma to his face, a fracture to his facial bones and teeth, and injuries to his skull, which may have been administered after he was shot.
Where
The murder took place at the Delmege Estate, Knocknalisheen Road, Limerick, a derelict 19th-century house on 80 acres.
When
Slattery's body was discovered on 31 May 2010 after relatives spotted freshly dug grass and the fabric of his blue tracksuit.
Cause
The cause of death was a gunshot wound that pierced his heart and lungs, with one bullet passing through his left arm, torso, and right arm.
Weapon
A 9mm Star model semi-automatic pistol was found in a sock concealed under a brick in a disused outhouse on the estate.
Investigation
The killing was reopened by a cold case unit in 2021.
Charges
Kurt Ryan, 33, of Moylish Crescent, Limerick, was charged with the murder of Lee Slattery and pleaded guilty to the commission of murder in association with a criminal organisation and to possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
In court
The trial was held at the Central Criminal Court in Cork before Judge Eileen Creedon, and the case was listed for mention on 27 October 2026 at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin to fix a sentencing date.
Other details
Ryan, who was 17 at the time, was also dealing drugs in the area and said Slattery owed him €80 for drugs; Slattery sold drugs to support his own habit and was not a member of an organised criminal gang.
35 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatRelatives called gardaí after spotting freshly dug grass and a blue tracksuit fabric in it (irishtimes.com)
  • whatSlattery also sustained blunt force trauma to his face, a fracture to his facial bones and teeth, and injuries to his skull (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe blunt force blows may have been administered after he was shot (irishtimes.com)
  • whatSlattery was shot twice at close range and buried in a shallow grave. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatRyan was 17 years old at the time of the offence. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatSlattery was 25 years old when he was killed. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatSlattery was found face down in a crouched position, knees bent, in a grave on rough ground. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe other bullet grazed the skin and did not cause internal injuries. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatSlattery sold drugs to support his drug habit. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatRyan was also dealing drugs in the area at the time. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatRyan said Slattery owed him €80 for drugs. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatSlattery was not a member of an organised criminal gang. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatSlattery's family had not seen him in four days before his body was found. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereDelmege Estate was a 19th-century grand old house on 80 acres that was derelict by 2010 (irishtimes.com)
  • whereSlattery was shot twice at close range in a very overgrown area close to Delmege House (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe murder took place at the Delmege Estate, Knocknalisheen Road, Limerick. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenRelatives went looking for Slattery at Delmege Estate on 31 May 2010, four days after he failed to return home (irishtimes.com)
  • whenSlattery's body was discovered on 31 May 2010. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe cause of death was a gunshot wound to the trunk with injuries to the heart and lungs (irishtimes.com)
  • causeSlattery died of a gunshot wound which pierced his heart and lungs. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeOne bullet went through his left arm, into his body, injuring his lung and heart, and continuing into his right arm. (irishtimes.com)
  • weaponA pistol was found in a sock concealed under a brick in one of the old outhouses (irishtimes.com)
  • weaponThe pistol was identified as the weapon used to kill Slattery (irishtimes.com)
  • weaponA 9mm Star model semi-automatic pistol was found in a sock near a disused outbuilding. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí searched the area and the outhouses on the derelict Delmege Estate (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe killing was reopened by a cold case unit in 2021. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeKurt Ryan, 33, of Moylish Crescent, Limerick, is charged with the murder of Lee Slattery at Delmege Estate, Knockalisheen Road, Limerick, between 27 and 31 May 2010 (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeRyan pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life on 28 May 2010 at the Delmege Estate. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeRyan pleaded guilty to the commission of murder in association with a criminal organisation. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe case will continue before the jury and Judge Eileen Creedon and is expected to last about a month (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial was held at the Central Criminal Court in Cork. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe case was listed for mention on 27 October 2026 at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin to fix a sentencing date. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherSlattery, a native of Moyross, sold drugs to support his drug habit (irishtimes.com)
  • otherRyan, who was 17 at the time, was also dealing drugs in the area (irishtimes.com)
  • otherRyan denied any involvement in the murder when interviewed by gardaí (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 16 Oct2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Man pleads guilty to commissioning murder of Lee Slattery in 2010

    Ryan pleaded guilty to commission of murder in association with a criminal organisation and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. The case was listed for mention on 27 October 2026 at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin to fix a sentencing date.

    victim, Lee Slattery, 25, male, irish (judged from name)Lee Slatteryaccused, Kurt Ryan, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)Kurt Ryan
  2. 6 Oct2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Relatives of shooting victim spotted his tracksuit under freshly dug grass, court to hear

    Reports the opening of the murder trial where the prosecution gave the jury a roadmap of evidence, detailing how relatives found the body, the cause of death (gunshot wound plus blunt force trauma), the weapon (pistol in a sock under a brick), and background on both men's drug-dealing activities. Trial expected to last about a month before Judge Eileen Creedon.

    victim, Lee Slattery, 25, male, irish (judged from name)Lee Slatterysuspect, Kurt Ryan, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)Kurt Ryan