Ireland Crime

Sentencing of James Flynn, who was convicted of conspiracy to steal the getaway car and acquitted of participating in the robbery itself. Notes the Special Criminal Court's findings on his role as an accessory before and after the robbery, and the sentence reduction for mitigation.

The article body is page template code with no reporting. Only the headline gives details: a guilty verdict for stealing a car allegedly used in a robbery where a garda was shot dead. No location, date or other names are given.

Reports on the Special Criminal Court judgment: Flynn was found guilty of conspiring to steal the getaway car but not of direct participation in the robbery; Treanor was acquitted of robbery and of conspiracy to commit burglaries. Flynn's sentencing hearing is set for November 13 and Brady is awaiting an appeal against his conviction.

Reports the Special Criminal Court verdicts in the trial of two co-accused: Flynn convicted of vehicle theft and remanded for sentencing, Treanor acquitted. Adds the trial length and the judges' reasoning on evidence.

Adds the Special Criminal Court verdicts of 11 September 2023: Flynn convicted of conspiracy to steal the car, Treanor acquitted of conspiracy to commit burglaries, and the robbery verdict still pending.

Verdicts in the trial of two accused: Treanor acquitted on all charges and Flynn convicted of conspiracy to steal a car, with sentencing set for November 13th. The robbery was linked to the murder of Det Garda Adrian Donohoe, but Brady, who was convicted of that murder in a separate case, was not a defendant here.

Reports the Special Criminal Court verdicts: Flynn convicted of conspiracy to steal the getaway car, Treanor acquitted of robbery and of conspiracy to commit burglaries. Sets Flynn's sentencing hearing for 13 November.

Special Criminal Court convicted Flynn of conspiring to break into a house and steal the getaway car keys, acquitted him of the 25 January 2013 robbery, and acquitted Treanor of both charges. Flynn was remanded for sentencing on 13 November.

Reports that the trial ended after 55 days of evidence and that verdicts are due by 19 September 2023. Both accused deny the charges.

Reports the defence closing arguments in the Special Criminal Court trial of Brendan Treanor and James Flynn, including the defence's attack on the evidence and the prosecution's circumstantial case. It does not report a verdict.

Reports the prosecution and defence closing arguments before any verdict, including the prosecution's circumstantial evidence and the defence denials.

Reports the defence closing speech for Brendan Treanor at the Special Criminal Court, with Flynn's closing speech to follow. Adds the prosecution's conspiracy charge, the defence arguments on evidence and the 'spotter cars' claim, and that Mr Justice Tony Hunt is presiding. Aaron Brady is referred to but is not an accused in this trial.

Reports the closing speech of Lorcan Staines SC on 17 May 2023, while the trial was still running. Adds the tattoo and phone-silence evidence described by counsel, the charges of conspiracy to enter homes to steal car keys, and the pleas of not guilty. Defence closing speeches by Sean Guerin SC and Bernard Condon SC were still to come.

Closing speeches in the Special Criminal Court trial of Brendan Treanor and James Flynn. Adds the prosecution argument on Treanor’s tattoo, phone and satnav evidence, the stolen Passat, the accused’s pleas of not guilty, and the schedule for the remaining closing speeches. No verdict is reported.

Reports the exclusion of Tony Brady from the ongoing trial, the charges and not guilty pleas of Flynn and Treanor, and that the trial has sat for more than 50 days.

Adds mid-trial court developments: Tony Brady's exclusion from the trial for his online video, the judge's ruling that he was not making a contempt finding, that the trial had sat for over 50 days, and that the prosecution closing speech was continuing. Flynn and Treanor pleaded not guilty.

Reports that Tony Brady was excluded from the trial for the rest of the proceedings after publishing a video accusing a garda of perjury; the trial had been sitting for more than 50 days and was expected to end that week. Adds the exclusion ruling and the judge's reasons, and restates the charges and not-guilty pleas.

Reports the prosecution's closing speech in the trial, including its circumstantial evidence and the claim that the gang was armed. Defence speeches were due to begin on Wednesday.

Reports the close of the prosecution case, closing speeches due next week, and the court's rejection of defence arguments that the conspiracy charge does not exist. Adds that the trial has run for 49 days, both accused pleaded not guilty, and Flynn's defence will call two witnesses.

Reports a May 2023 ruling in the Special Criminal Court trial that the back tattoo is admissible evidence. It adds the prosecution's account of the tattoo, the charges against Treanor and Flynn, and the defence's objection.

Covers a mid-trial ruling in the Special Criminal Court: the court admitted a back tattoo as evidence over the defence's objection. It adds the prosecution's argument that the tattoo is circumstantial evidence, the charges and pleas of the two accused, and the status of Aaron Brady's sentence and appeal.

Reports testimony from housemate Colin Hoey at the ongoing trial of Treanor and Flynn; Hoey was treated as a hostile witness, said he could not recall seeing Brady or Flynn on the night of the raid, and alleged gardaí threatened him with jail and asked him to change his statement.

Reports testimony from Charlene O'Callaghan at the Special Criminal Court trial of Treanor and Flynn, in which she said Treanor was at home in Armagh on the night of the robbery. Also mentions a PSNI bail check at the address shortly after she returned, a Facebook access issue at around 8pm, and a threat that forced the couple to move out after the shooting.

Witness testimony from Charlene O'Callaghan at the Special Criminal Court trial of Treanor and Flynn; she places Treanor at their home in Tullydonnell, Co Armagh, on the night of the robbery, supported by CCTV of her at a takeaway in Crossmaglen at 10.05pm.

Tattoo evidence and its admissibility argued at trial; Garda Aidan Hanlon testified about photographing Treanor on 19 April 2021; credit union employees Mary Hanlon, Pat Bellew and Bernadette McShane and former Det Gda Joe Ryan gave evidence about the robbery; the court ruled the tattoo photograph was lawfully taken.

Reports on trial proceedings: prosecution's presentation of Treanor's back tattoo as a 'pictorial admission,' testimony from credit union treasurer Mary Hanlon and former Det Gda Joe Ryan describing the robbery, details of the charges and the five raiders, and confirmation that both defendants pleaded not guilty.

Trial evidence: State's argument that Treanor's tattoo is a 'pictorial admission'; testimony from Garda Aidan Hanlon on photographing the tattoo on 19 April 2021; legal argument over admissibility; testimony from credit union employees Mary Hanlon, Pat Bellew and Bernadette McShane, and former Det Garda Joe Ryan describing the robbery; court ruling that the photograph was lawfully taken.

Reports detailed trial testimony from former detective garda Joe Ryan and credit union volunteer Bernadette McShane at the Special Criminal Court, describing the robbery sequence, the robbers' appearances, and the moment Donohoe was found dead.

Reports witness testimony from Pat Bellew (Lordship CU secretary) and Mary Hanlon (Cooley CU treasurer) describing the robbery, the shooting of Det Garda Donohoe, and the getaway; details the creeper burglary conspiracy charges spanning September 2012 to January 2013 across Cavan, Monaghan, Louth and Westmeath; confirms both defendants pleaded not guilty.

First day of trial evidence; witnesses Pat Bellew (Lordship Credit Union secretary) and Mary Hanlon (Cooley Credit Union treasurer) described the robbery and gunshots; dashcam footage played; a hammer recovered from Bellew's car; trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Alan Mitchell

Evidence from victims of creeper burglaries in Cavan and Westmeath given at the Special Criminal Court on 8 February 2023, including descriptions of the break-ins and details of stolen vehicles and recovered items.

Reports the Special Criminal Court's refusal to separate the burglary and robbery charges in the ongoing retrial, details of witness testimony (Lydia Doyle, Stephen Smith, Jacqueline McGee) regarding the car-key burglaries, and Det Gda Laura Bolger's mapping evidence linking Flynn's residence at Dunroamin House to the burglary sites.

Defence argues prosecution is using unrelated burglary evidence to prejudice the accused and requests separate trials; prosecution says charges are joined due to a continuum of facts ending with the shooting of Det Garda Donohoe; Mr Justice Hunt to rule on separate trials the following Tuesday.

Prosecution opening at the Special Criminal Court describing the creeper burglary scheme, the robbery charges, and the circumstantial evidence the State will rely on, including phone records, a Satnav, CCTV and a silver Mercedes seen near the credit union.

Provides the prosecution's opening address in detail, including the description of creeper burglaries, the role of the stolen Volkswagen Passat in blocking the credit union, the ages of the defendants at the time (24 and 22), Flynn's time in America, and the evidence to be called including phone records, a sat nav found at Dublin Airport, and documents found at Brady's house. Confirms the trial is expected to last around four months.