Ireland Man jailed for two years for extortion of acquaintance
Alan Leech (38), of Loftus Hall Apartments, Hazelbrook Square, Churchtown, Dublin 14, was jailed for two years for extortion after pleading guilty to demanding money with menaces on three occasions in January 2020. The threats were made to Bryan Kennedy and his wife; Kennedy had approached Leech about murdering the women his wife had met online and paid him €8,000 to arrange it, though the court heard Leech never contracted third parties or planned a murder. At a sentence hearing in April 2023 the judge set a headline sentence of three years, reduced to two because of mitigating factors. On 2 May 2023 Judge Orla Crowe jailed Leech for two years, and Kennedy was separately sentenced for soliciting Leech.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced2 May
3 reports
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Alan Leech, a Dublin man, was jailed for two years for extortion.
- Where
- Leech is of Loftus Hall Apartments, Hazelbrook Square, Churchtown, Dublin 14.
- When
- The offences took place during January 2020.
- Cause
- Bryan Kennedy approached Leech about murdering the women his wife had met online, and Kennedy paid Leech €8,000 to arrange it.
- Other details
- The court heard that Leech never contracted any third parties and did not plan a murder.
- After Kennedy did not pay the outstanding €2,000, Leech's messages became more threatening, and one threatened to carve Kennedy's throat.
- The threats were made to Kennedy and his wife, and Kennedy's wife said she has been frightened of leaving the house since being threatened.
- Kennedy left Ireland for the UK on 6 January 2020 out of fear of Leech.
- Leech has 43 previous convictions.
- Kennedy was separately sentenced for soliciting Leech, which is a separate case.
- Investigation
- Gardaí took 65 screenshots of WhatsApp messages between Leech and Kennedy.
- Charges
- Leech pleaded guilty to demanding money with menaces on three occasions during January 2020.
- In court
- Defence counsel said Leech had expressed remorse and pleaded guilty early.
- The judge said the offence warranted a headline sentence of three years, reduced to two years because of mitigating factors.
- Sentence
- Judge Orla Crowe jailed Leech for two years on 2 May 2023.
26 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA Dublin man was jailed for two years for extortion. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe man was jailed. (extra.ie)
- whatAlan Leech was jailed for two years for extortion. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe man is from Dublin. (extra.ie)
- whereLeech lives at Loftus Hall Apartments, Hazelbrook Square, Churchtown, Dublin 14. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe offences took place during January 2020. (thejournal.ie)
- causeKennedy approached Leech about murdering the women his wife had met online. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- causeThe man was solicited by an acquaintance to kill his wife's friends. (extra.ie)
- investigationGardaí took 65 screenshots of WhatsApp messages between Leech and Kennedy. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- chargeLeech pleaded guilty to demanding money with menaces on three occasions. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeLeech pleaded guilty to demanding money with menaces on three occasions during January 2020. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge said the offence warranted a headline sentence of three years, reduced to two years because of mitigating factors. (thejournal.ie)
- courtDefence counsel said Leech had expressed remorse and pleaded guilty early. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe court heard that Leech never contracted third parties and did not plan a murder. (irishtimes.com)
- courtDefence counsel said Leech had pleaded guilty early and expressed remorse. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceJudge Orla Crowe jailed Leech for two years. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceJudge Orla Crowe reduced a headline sentence of three years to two years because of mitigating factors. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe threats were made to Kennedy and his wife. (thejournal.ie)
- otherKennedy paid Leech €8,000 to arrange the murder. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- otherLeech never contracted any third parties nor planned to carry out a murder. (thejournal.ie)
- otherWhen Kennedy did not pay the outstanding €2,000, Leech's messages became more threatening. (thejournal.ie)
- otherOne message threatened to carve Kennedy's throat. (thejournal.ie)
- otherLeech has 43 previous convictions. (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- otherLeech threatened to carve Kennedy's throat in a WhatsApp message. (irishtimes.com)
- otherKennedy left Ireland for the UK on 6 January 2020 out of fear of Leech. (irishtimes.com)
- otherKennedy's wife said she has been frightened of leaving the house since being threatened by Leech. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 2 May2023Man solicited by acquaintance to kill wife’s friends jailed for two years
Reports the sentence of two years imposed on Alan Leech, who pleaded guilty to demanding money with menaces on three occasions in January 2020. Adds details of the solicited murder scheme, the €8,000 paid, the threats, the victim impact statement and the judge's reasoning. Notes Bryan Kennedy's separate sentence for soliciting Leech.
convicted, Alan Leech, 38, male, named, irish (judged from name)Alan Leechvictim, Bryan Kennedy, male, irish (judged from name)Bryan Kennedyvictim, female - 2 May2023Dublin Man Jailed After Being Solicited By Acquaintance To Kill His Wife's Friends
The article body is unrendered template markup with no news text. Only the headline gives any facts, and no incident date, names, or court details are stated.
convicted, male - 2 May2023Man who was solicited by acquaintance to kill wife's friends jailed for two years for extortion
Reports Leech's two-year sentence for extortion. The article mentions that Kennedy was sentenced earlier, but that is a separate case.
convicted, Alan Leech, 38, male, named, irish (judged from name)Alan Leechvictim, Bryan Kennedy, male, irish (judged from name)Bryan Kennedyvictim, female