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. 6916Facilitating attempted murder on behalf of a criminal organisation · Co. Dublin · 1 Jun 2019

Man jailed over role in 2019 attempted murder of Noel Boylan in Dublin

On 1 June 2019, a hooded gunman shot Noel Boylan once in the stomach while he was walking his dog at Blakestown Way, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15, and Boylan ran into a Lidl supermarket to seek shelter. Derek Byrne, aged 40, was recognised on CCTV as the buyer of the getaway car, which had been bought on 27 May 2019 after being advertised on DoneDeal and was registered to a false name. Byrne was originally charged with attempting to murder Boylan, but he pleaded guilty to intentionally facilitating a serious offence by a criminal organisation, namely that attempted murder. On 18 December 2023 the Central Criminal Court sentenced Byrne to a headline sentence of 11 years; reports differ on the final term, with some saying he was jailed for seven and a half years and others saying eight years and six months with the final 12 months suspended.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced18 Dec
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Noel Boylan was shot once in the stomach by a hooded gunman while walking his dog.
  • Boylan ran into a Lidl supermarket to seek shelter as shoppers, including children, ran for cover.
Where
The shooting took place at Blakestown Way, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15.
When
The shooting took place in daylight on 1 June 2019.
Cause
  • The shooting became an attempted murder when the gunman's weapon jammed.
  • A probation report indicated that Byrne became involved because of a payment towards a drug debt.
Weapon
The gunman fired a single shot at Boylan.
Investigation
  • The getaway car was bought on 27 May 2019 after being advertised on DoneDeal and was registered to a false name.
  • Byrne was recognised on CCTV footage as the purchaser of the Toyota car.
  • CCTV footage captured the gunman attempting to fire into the supermarket.
Charges
  • Byrne was originally charged with attempting to murder Boylan.
  • Byrne pleaded guilty to intentionally facilitating a serious offence by a criminal organisation, namely the attempted murder of Boylan.
In court
  • The judge set a headline sentence of 11 years and took Byrne's guilty plea and remorse into account in mitigation.
  • The judge said the facilitation offence was a wholly separate and sinister crime from Byrne's firearm conviction.
Sentence
Reports differ: one says Byrne was jailed for seven and a half years, while another says he received eight years and six months with the final 12 months suspended for three years, conditional on engaging with probation services.
Other details
Byrne admitted purchasing the car used by the gunman on behalf of an organised crime gang.
28 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatNoel Boylan was shot by a hooded gunman while out walking his dog. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatNoel Boylan received a gunshot wound to the stomach. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • whatDerek Byrne was jailed for 7½ years by the Central Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatNoel Boylan was shot by a hooded gunman while he was out walking his dog. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatNoel Boylan ran to seek shelter in a Lidl supermarket. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe shooting took place at Blakestown Way, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe shooting took place on June 1st, 2019. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe shooting became an attempted murder when the gunman's weapon jammed. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeA probation report indicated that Byrne got involved in the matter due to a payment of a drug debt. (irishmirror.ie)
  • weaponThe gunman fired a single shot into Noel Boylan. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe getaway car was bought on May 27, 2019 after being advertised on DoneDeal. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationByrne was recognised on CCTV footage as the purchaser of the Toyota vehicle. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationCCTV footage captured the gunman attempting to fire into the supermarket. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe getaway car was bought on May 27th, 2019 after being advertised on DoneDeal and was registered to a false name. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationByrne was recognised on CCTV footage as the purchaser of the car. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeByrne pleaded guilty to intentionally facilitating a serious offence by a criminal organisation, namely the attempted murder of Noel Boylan. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeByrne was originally charged with attempting to murder Noel Boylan. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeByrne pleaded guilty to intentionally facilitating a serious offence by a criminal organisation. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge set a headline sentence of 11 years for Byrne. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe court took into account Byrne's guilty plea and his remorse in mitigation. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge said the facilitation offence was a wholly separate and sinister crime from Byrne's firearm conviction. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe judge set a headline sentence of 11 years. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceByrne was jailed for seven and a half years by the Central Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceByrne was sentenced to eight years and six months in prison, with the final 12 months suspended. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe suspended part of the sentence is conditional on Byrne engaging with probation services and attending all appointments. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceByrne was sentenced to eight years and six months in prison, with the final 12 months suspended for three years. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherByrne admitted purchasing the car used by the gunman on behalf of an organised crime gang. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherByrne has 78 previous convictions, mostly for road traffic-related matters. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 18 Dec2023
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Man who helped criminal organisation try to murder Dublin man is jailed for 7½ years

    Sentencing report at the Central Criminal Court for Derek Byrne, who pleaded guilty to facilitating the attempted murder of Noel Boylan. No existing case matches this 2019 incident.

    convicted, Derek Byrne, 40, male, named, irish (judged from name)Derek Byrnevictim, Noel Boylan, male, irish (judged from name)Noel Boylansuspect, male
  2. 18 Dec2023
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Man jailed for role in attempted hit near Dublin Lidl

    Reports the sentence hearing at the Central Criminal Court: a headline sentence of 11 years, a sentence of eight years and six months with the final 12 months suspended, and Byrne's guilty plea to facilitating the attempted murder. The lede gives the sentence as seven and a half years, which differs from the body text.

    convicted, Derek Byrne, 40, male, named, irish (judged from name)Derek Byrnevictim, Noel Boylan, male, irish (judged from name)Noel Boylansuspect