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. 7203Murder · Co. Dublin · 5 Jun 2016

Man jailed for life for 2016 murder of Neil Fitzgerald in Tallaght

Neil Fitzgerald (36), a man, was shot on 5 June 2016 at Hills Lane, Crooksling, Tallaght, Dublin 24, and prosecutors said his friend Conor Dolan (33), a man, was paid €10,000 to kill him. Dolan was interviewed 12 times in June 2016, denied involvement and was released, then was arrested at Dublin Airport on 15 May 2020 on his extradition from the UK. He pleaded not guilty on July 4, pleaded guilty later that July, and after a new jury was empanelled he was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court to the mandatory life sentence, backdated to 15 May 2020. On 2 November 2023 he was jailed for life, which is the latest development.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced2 Nov
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Conor Dolan was jailed for life for the murder of Neil Fitzgerald.
  • Dolan shot Fitzgerald in the back and then repeatedly shot him as he tried to escape.
When
The murder took place on 5 June 2016.
Where
The murder took place at Hills Lane, Crooksling, Tallaght, Dublin 24.
Cause
Dolan was reported to have been paid €10,000 to murder his friend; the prosecution said he was promised €20,000 but received only €10,000.
Weapon
  • The State said the package Dolan picked up contained the firearm used in the killing.
  • Fitzgerald was shot six times; one source described him as riddled with bullets, while another said he was shot twice in the head and four times in the upper body.
Investigation
  • CCTV showed Dolan picking up a package at a Topaz filling station in Citywest on 4 June 2016.
  • Phone data showed that only two phones not belonging to local residents were near the murder site that night, those of Dolan and Fitzgerald.
  • Dolan was interviewed 12 times between 6 and 8 June 2016, denied involvement and was released.
  • Dolan was arrested and placed in custody at Dublin Airport on his extradition from the UK on 15 May 2020.
  • The prosecution said it would use circumstantial evidence to prove Dolan arranged to pick up Fitzgerald from a pub in Tallaght, and said Dolan confided in his ex-girlfriend that he carried out the murder.
Charges
Dolan originally pleaded not guilty to the charge on July 4 and later pleaded guilty in July to murdering Fitzgerald.
In court
A new jury had to be empanelled on the second day of the trial after the defence applied to have the jury discharged.
Sentence
Justice Eileen Creedon sentenced Dolan at the Central Criminal Court to the mandatory life sentence, the only sentence open to the court, backdated to 15 May 2020.
Other details
Dolan, who gave an address at Ashbrook Apartments, Navan Road, Dublin 7, has 32 previous convictions.
25 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatConor Dolan was jailed for life for the murder of Neil Fitzgerald. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatDolan shot Fitzgerald in the back and then repeatedly shot him as he tried to escape. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatConor Dolan pleaded guilty in July to murdering Neil Fitzgerald. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe murder took place at Hills Lane, Crooksling, Tallaght. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe murder took place at Hills Lane, Crooksling, Tallaght, Dublin 24. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe murder took place on 5 June 2016. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe murder took place on June 5, 2016. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeDolan was paid €10k to murder his friend. (irishmirror.ie)
  • weaponThe State said the package Dolan picked up contained the firearm used in the killing. (irishtimes.com)
  • weaponFitzgerald was shot six times in an execution-style killing. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationDolan was seen on CCTV picking up a package at a Topaz filling station in Citywest on 4 June 2016. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationPhone data showed only two phones not belonging to local residents were near the murder site that night, those of Dolan and Fitzgerald. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationDolan was interviewed 12 times between 6 and 8 June 2016, denied involvement and was released. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationDolan was arrested and placed in custody at Dublin Airport on his extradition from the UK on 15 May 2020. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe prosecution said it would use circumstantial evidence to prove Dolan arranged to pick up the deceased from a pub in Tallaght. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeDolan pleaded guilty in July to murdering Fitzgerald. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtDolan originally pleaded not guilty to the charge on July 4. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtA new jury had to be empanelled on the second day of the trial after the defence applied to have the jury discharged. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe only sentence open to the court was life imprisonment. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe sentence was backdated to 15 May 2020. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceJustice Eileen Creedon sentenced Dolan to the mandatory life sentence for the murder. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe sentence was back-dated to May 15, 2020. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherDolan had 32 previous convictions. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherDolan allegedly carried out the murder for €20,000 but had only been paid €10,000. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe prosecution said Dolan confided in his ex-girlfriend that he carried out the murder for €20k but had only been paid €10k. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 2 Nov2023
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Man paid €10k to murder his friend in 'execution-style killing' jailed for life

    Reports the Central Criminal Court sentence of life imprisonment for Conor Dolan, including the payment of €10k, the prosecution's account and backdating of the sentence to May 15, 2020. No existing case matches this 2016 killing.

    convicted, Conor Dolan, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)Conor Dolanvictim, Neil Fitzgerald, 36, male, irish (judged from name)Neil Fitzgerald
  2. 2 Nov2023
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Man paid €10,000 to murder friend confessed to ex-girlfriend while taking cocaine

    Reports the life sentence imposed on Conor Dolan at the Central Criminal Court, with evidence from Dolan's ex-girlfriend, the payment dispute, the phone and CCTV evidence, and the sentence backdating to May 2020.

    victim, Neil Fitzgerald, 36, male, irish (judged from name)Neil Fitzgeraldconvicted, Conor Dolan, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)Conor Dolan