Ireland Case No. 6708Facilitating murder · Co. Kildare · 21 Dec 2016
Man on trial for facilitating 2016 murder in Dublin
Christopher 'Noel' Kirwan, 62, was shot six times while sitting in his car at St Ronan's Drive, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, on 22 December 2016, after members of the Kinahan organisation mistakenly believed he was connected to the Hutch organisation. Michael Crotty, 40, of Cashel, Co Tipperary, was arrested in March 2021 and charged in April 2022 with facilitating the murder under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act, allegedly by buying a mobile phone top-up at a Spar shop in Naas, Co Kildare, on 21 December 2016. Crotty pleaded not guilty on 15 January 2024, and his trial opened at the Special Criminal Court that week. Co-accused Declan Brady, 56, of Naas, Co Kildare, pleaded guilty to the same charge the previous week. The trial is ongoing before a three-judge panel.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Charged11 Apr
3 reports - In court8 Nov
6 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Christopher 'Noel' Kirwan, 62, was shot six times while sitting in his car.
- Where
- The shooting took place at St Ronan's Drive, Clondalkin, Dublin 22.
- When
- The murder occurred on 22 December 2016.
- Cause
- Kirwan was shot dead because members of the Kinahan organisation mistakenly thought he was connected to the Hutch organisation.
- Investigation
- Gardaí found a tracker device on the bottom of Kirwan's Ford Mondeo, and the prosecution alleges three prepaid, unregistered mobile phones were linked to the shooting.
- Crotty was arrested on 2 March 2021 and questioned by gardaí.
- Charges
- Michael Crotty, 40, of Cashel, Co Tipperary, was charged under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act with facilitating the murder between 20 October 2016 and 22 December 2016.
- Crotty is accused of buying a mobile phone top-up at a Spar shop in Naas, Co Kildare, on 21 December 2016, for Sean McGovern.
- Declan Brady, 56, of Naas, Co Kildare, and Martin Aylmer, 36, of Marino, Dublin 3, were charged with the same offence on 14 April 2022.
- In court
- Crotty pleaded not guilty on 15 January 2024, and his trial opened at the Special Criminal Court that week.
- Co-accused Declan Brady pleaded guilty to the same charge the previous Friday.
- Other details
- Sean McGovern is described as a significant figure in a leadership role in the Kinahan organised crime group, currently based in Dubai.
- Kirwan is described as a father-of-four with the nickname 'Duck Egg'.
80 statements extracted from the articles
- whatChristopher 'Noel' Kirwan, 62, was shot six times as he sat in his car (tipperarylive.ie, kildarenow.com)
- whatThe charge alleges the two men acted with knowledge of the existence of a criminal organisation. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCrotty allegedly bought a top-up for the third phone at a Spar shop in Naas, Co Kildare, one day before the murder. (tipperarylive.ie)
- whatCrotty pleaded not guilty to a single charge. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereThe murder took place at St Ronan's Drive, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 (tipperarylive.ie)
- whereThe shooting took place at St Ronan's Drive, Clondalkin, Dublin 22. (kildarenow.com)
- whereThe alleged conduct took place within or without the State. (irishtimes.com)
- whereKirwan was shot dead while sitting in his car outside his Dublin home. (tipperarylive.ie)
- whereThe mobile phone credit was allegedly bought at a Spar shop in Naas, Co Kildare. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe phone credit was bought at a Spar shop in Naas, Co Kildare. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereThe phone credit was allegedly bought at a Spar shop in Naas, Co Kildare. (kildarenow.com)
- whenThe murder occurred on 22 December 2016 (irishtimes.com, tipperarylive.ie, kildarenow.com)
- whenThe shooting occurred on 22 December 2016. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe alleged participation in facilitating the murder occurred between 20 October 2016 and 22 December 2016. (irishtimes.com)
- whenMr Kirwan was shot six times on 22 December 2016. (tipperarylive.ie)
- whenKirwan was shot dead just after 5pm on December 22, 2016. (tipperarylive.ie)
- whenThe prosecution alleges Crotty bought the phone credit on 21 December 2016. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe phone credit was purchased on December 21, 2016. (dublinlive.ie)
- causeKirwan was thought, perhaps mistakenly, to be connected to those who carried out the Regency attack. (tipperarylive.ie)
- causeKirwan was shot dead because members of the Kinahan organisation mistakenly thought he was connected to the Hutch organisation. (thejournal.ie)
- causeKirwan was shot dead because cartel members mistakenly thought he was connected to the Hutch organisation. (dublinlive.ie)
- causeNoel Kirwan was shot dead because members of the Kinahan organisation mistakenly thought he was connected to the Hutch organisation. (kildarenow.com)
- investigationDetective Sergeant Ronan Dunne charged Crotty at 7am in the precincts of the court (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí found a tracker device attached to the bottom of Kirwan's Ford Mondeo. (tipperarylive.ie)
- investigationThe prosecution alleges three prepaid, unregistered mobile phones were linked to the shooting. (tipperarylive.ie)
- investigationCrotty was arrested on March 2, 2021, and questioned by gardaí. (tipperarylive.ie)
- investigationGallagher said 33 people had been arrested in situations where they were going to be involved in violence and murder. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationDetective Superintendent Gallagher said 33 people had been arrested in situations where they were going to be involved in violence and murder. (kildarenow.com)
- investigationBefore the investigation into Kirwan's murder, Crotty was not on the detective's radar for organised crime. (kildarenow.com)
- chargeThe charge covers the period between 20 October 2016 and 22 December 2016 (irishtimes.com, thejournal.ie)
- chargeMichael Crotty, 40, of Slí Aonghusa, Aras na Rí, Cashel, Co Tipperary, was charged with involvement in the murder (tipperarylive.ie)
- chargeThe charge under Section 72 states he participated in or contributed to facilitating the murder between 20 October 2016 and 22 December 2016 (tipperarylive.ie)
- chargeMichael Crotty, 40, of Cashel, Co Tipperary, was charged with involvement in the murder contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act on Monday 11 April 2022. (kildarenow.com)
- chargeBrady, 56, of Naas, Co Kildare, and Martin Aylmer, 36, of Marino, Dublin 3, were charged with the same offence on 14 April 2022. (kildarenow.com)
- chargeThe charge alleges that between 20 October 2016 and 22 December 2016, the accused participated in or contributed to the facilitation of the murder of Christopher (aka Noel) Kirwan by a criminal organisation. (kildarenow.com)
- chargeMichael Crotty, 40, of Cashel, Co Tipperary, is charged with involvement in the murder under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeDeclan Brady, 56, of Naas, Co Kildare, is charged with the same offence. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeCrotty pleaded not guilty to facilitating an organisation in Kirwan's murder. (tipperarylive.ie)
- chargeThe charge is that Crotty participated in or contributed to a criminal organisation's murder of Kirwan between October 20 and December 22, 2016. (tipperarylive.ie)
- chargeCrotty is charged with participating in a criminal organisation by facilitating the murder of Kirwan, contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act. (tipperarylive.ie)
- chargeCrotty is accused of facilitating the murder of Noel Kirwan in 2016 by buying a mobile phone top-up for Sean McGovern. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeCrotty has pleaded not guilty to a single charge. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeThe charge relates to the murder of Christopher (aka Noel) Kirwan under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeCrotty is accused of facilitating the murder of Noel Kirwan by buying a mobile phone top-up for McGovern. (dublinlive.ie)
- chargeThe prosecution alleges Crotty knew the credit would be used in a serious crime. (dublinlive.ie)
- chargeMichael Crotty has pleaded not guilty to the single charge. (kildarenow.com)
- courtCrotty was charged before the Special Criminal Court (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe DPP deemed the normal courts inadequate under the Offences Against the State Act (irishtimes.com)
- courtCrotty was remanded in custody and the matter adjourned to 23 May 2022 (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe charge was brought at the Special Criminal Court (tipperarylive.ie)
- courtDetective Sergeant Ronan Dunne charged Crotty at 7am on 11 April 2022 in the precincts of the court (tipperarylive.ie)
- courtState Solicitor Ciara Vibien applied for trial at the Special Criminal Court under the Offences Against the State Act (tipperarylive.ie)
- courtDefence solicitor Claire Finnegan asked for a six-week adjournment which was granted (tipperarylive.ie)
- courtMr Justice Alex Owens, sitting with Judge Martin Nolan and Judge Frank Griffin, remanded Crotty in custody and adjourned to 23 May 2022 (tipperarylive.ie)
- courtBoth men will be tried at the Special Criminal Court after the DPP deemed normal courts inadequate under the Offences Against the State Act. (kildarenow.com)
- courtLegal aid for Brady was put on hold pending further investigations by gardai. (kildarenow.com)
- courtBoth men were remanded in custody by Mr Justice Owens until 23 May 2022. (kildarenow.com)
- courtMr Justice Tony Hunt fixed a trial date of 11 January 2024 for both men. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is expected to last five weeks. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case was previously listed for mention on 9 October 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBrady was remanded in custody by Mr Justice Hunt. (irishtimes.com)
- courtCrotty was remanded on continuing bail. (irishtimes.com)
- courtCrotty's trial is scheduled to last up to five weeks and begin at the Special Criminal Court on Wednesday. (tipperarylive.ie)
- courtThe presiding judge read an alibi warning to Crotty and adjourned the trial to Wednesday. (tipperarylive.ie)
- courtThe trial of Michael Crotty opened at the Special Criminal Court. (tipperarylive.ie)
- courtProsecutor Dominic McGinn SC opened the trial on a Wednesday morning. (tipperarylive.ie)
- courtCrotty has pleaded not guilty to the single charge. (tipperarylive.ie)
- courtDetective Superintendent David Gallagher gave evidence in the trial of Michael Crotty. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe trial is continuing before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs, Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Gráinne Malone. (thejournal.ie, kildarenow.com)
- courtThe non-jury Special Criminal Court heard sworn testimony on the Kinahan cartel. (dublinlive.ie)
- courtThe trial continues before Ms Justice Caroline Biggs, Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Grainne Malone. (dublinlive.ie)
- courtDetective Superintendent David Gallagher gave evidence in the trial of Michael Crotty, who is accused of facilitating the murder of Noel Kirwan in 2016. (kildarenow.com)
- otherKirwan is described as a father-of-four with the nickname 'Duck Egg' (tipperarylive.ie)
- otherThe victim is described as a father-of-four. (kildarenow.com)
- otherCo-accused Declan Brady pleaded guilty to the same charge the previous Friday. (tipperarylive.ie)
- otherCrotty is 41 and is listed as being of Cashel, County Tipperary. (tipperarylive.ie)
- otherThe prosecution contends the tracker was used to follow Kirwan's movements before the attack. (tipperarylive.ie)
- otherCrotty's defence says he has no previous convictions. (tipperarylive.ie)
- otherSean McGovern has been named in court as a significant figure in a leadership role in the Kinahan organised crime group. (thejournal.ie)
- otherSean McGovern is described as a significant figure in a leadership role in the Kinahan organisation, currently based in Dubai. (kildarenow.com)
The reporting
newest first- 24 Jan2024Mobile phone credit allegedly bought in Kildare shop is linked to 2016 murder, Special Criminal Court hears
Detective Superintendent David Gallagher gave evidence on the Kinahan organisation, including that 33 people had been arrested. The article describes McGovern as a leadership figure based in Dubai, and gives the trial judges and the details of the not guilty plea.
victim, Noel Kirwan, male, irish (judged from name)Noel Kirwanaccused, Michael Crotty, 40, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Crottysuspect, Sean McGovern, named, irish (judged from name)Sean McGovern - 24 Jan2024Man injured in Regency Hotel attack named as significant Kinahan Cartel figure
Court report on the trial of Michael Crotty before the Special Criminal Court. Includes the prosecution opening, testimony from Det Supt David Gallagher on the Kinahan cartel, and the accused's not-guilty plea.
accused, Michael Crotty, 40, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Crottyvictim, Noel Kirwan, male, irish (judged from name)Noel Kirwan - 23 Jan2024Sean McGovern named in court as significant figure in leadership role in Kinahan crime group
Reports the Special Criminal Court trial evidence from Detective Superintendent David Gallagher, who named Sean McGovern as a significant figure in a leadership role in the Kinahan group and said 33 people linked to the organisation had been arrested. Also records Crotty's not guilty plea to the single charge and the cross-examination on his prior profile.
accused, Michael Crotty, 40, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Crottysuspect, Sean McGovern, male, named, irish (judged from name)Sean McGovernvictim, Noel Kirwan, male, irish (judged from name)Noel Kirwan - 17 Jan2024BREAKING: Tipperary man accused of topping up mobile phone used in 'Duck Egg' murder
Reports the opening of Crotty's trial, the prosecution's evidence about a tracker device, three prepaid phones and a Naas Spar top-up, his arrest in 2021, and his not guilty plea.
victim, Christopher (aka Noel) Kirwan, male, irish (judged from name)Christopher (aka Noel) Kirwanaccused, Michael Crotty, 40, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Crotty - 15 Jan2024BREAKING: Tipperary man pleads not guilty to facilitating murder of Noel 'Duck Egg' Kirwan
Reports Crotty's not-guilty plea at the Special Criminal Court on 15 January 2024, the trial start date and expected length, the alibi warning, and that co-accused Declan Brady pleaded guilty the previous Friday.
victim, Christopher (aka Noel) Kirwan, 62, male, irish (judged from name)Christopher (aka Noel) Kirwanaccused, Michael Crotty, 41, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Crotty - 8 Nov2022Trial date set for two men charged with helping gang murder Noel ‘Duck Egg’ Kirwan
Trial date of 11 January 2024 fixed by Mr Justice Tony Hunt for both Crotty and Brady; expected to last five weeks; previous mention was 9 October 2023; Brady remanded in custody, Crotty on continuing bail.
victim, Christopher (aka Noel) Kirwan, 62, male, irish (judged from name)Christopher (aka Noel) Kirwanaccused, Michael Crotty, 40, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Crottyaccused, Declan Brady, 56, male, named, irish (judged from name)Declan Brady - 14 Apr2022Kildare resident charged with helping gang to murder a father-of-four
Reports the charging of Brady and Aylmer at the Special Criminal Court on 14 April 2022, following Crotty's charging the previous Monday. Details the in-person charging process, legal aid applications, and remand in custody until 23 May 2022.
victim, Christopher 'Noel' Kirwan, 62, male, irish (judged from name)Christopher 'Noel' Kirwanaccused, Michael Crotty, 40, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Crottyaccused, Brady, 56, male, named, irish (judged from name)Bradyaccused, Martin Aylmer, 36, male, named, irish (judged from name)Martin Aylmer - 11 Apr2022Cashel man charged with involvement in gangland murder
Reports the initial charging of Michael Crotty at the Special Criminal Court on 11 April 2022, including the full Section 72 charge wording, the application for trial at the Special Criminal Court under the Offences Against the State Act, and the six-week adjournment to 23 May 2022.
victim, Christopher (aka Noel) Kirwan, 62, male, irish (judged from name)Christopher (aka Noel) Kirwanaccused, Michael Crotty, 40, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Crotty - 11 Apr2022Man charged with helping gang murder Noel Kirwan in 2016
Reports the initial charging of Michael Crotty at the Special Criminal Court on 11 April 2022, including the full Section 72 charge, the DPP's application for trial at the SCC under the Offences Against the State Act, and the adjournment to 23 May 2022.
victim, Christopher (aka Noel) Kirwan, 62, male, irish (judged from name)Christopher (aka Noel) Kirwanaccused, Michael Crotty, 40, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Crotty