Sunday 1 November 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. 21476Soliciting murder · Co. Dublin

Man sentenced for soliciting murder of two Canadian women in Dublin

Bryan Kennedy, 35, of Harold's Cross, Dublin, pleaded guilty in July 2022 to two charges of soliciting a man to murder Stephanie Poirier and Clara Houdebrumette, two Canadian women in rural Quebec who had been in intimate online contact with his then-wife. He paid €8,000 to the would-be hitman, who later blackmailed and threatened him. Ms Justice Caroline Biggs at the Central Criminal Court set a headline sentence of eight years in January 2023, reduced to five years with the final six months suspended. The sentence was deferred until April 17, 2023, to allow Tusla to arrange supports for Kennedy's children, and he began his sentence on that date.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced16 Jan
    5 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Bryan Kennedy, 35, of Mount Tallant Avenue, Harold's Cross, Dublin, hired a man to kill two Canadian women who were in intimate online contact with his then-wife.
  • Kennedy paid €8,000 to the would-be hitman by taking loans from family and friends, and the man later blackmailed and threatened him.
  • Kennedy told gardaí he did it out of love and heartbreak and that he backtracked on the deal.
Where
The two victims, Stephanie Poirier and Clara Houdebrumette, live in rural Quebec, Canada.
When
The solicitation took place between October 1, 2019 and January 11, 2020.
Cause
The motive was intimate online contact between Kennedy's then-wife and the two Canadian women, who had been met through an online video game and later communicated via Facebook.
Charges
Kennedy pleaded guilty in July 2022 to two charges of soliciting a man to murder Poirier and Houdebrumette.
In court
Ms Justice Caroline Biggs presided over the sentencing at the Central Criminal Court.
Sentence
  • The judge set a headline sentence of eight years, reduced to five years with the final six months suspended for six months, though one source records the suspension as one year.
  • The sentence was deferred until April 17, 2023, to allow Tusla to arrange supports for Kennedy's children, and he began his sentence on that date.
Investigation
A separate investigation is under way into the man Kennedy solicited, referred to as AL or Mr X.
Other details
  • Kennedy is the primary carer for his three children and his disabled ex-wife, who uses a wheelchair.
  • Kennedy has a District Court conviction for possession of child pornography.
60 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatBryan Kennedy, 35, of Mount Tallant Avenue, Harold's Cross, Dublin, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in jail. (rte.ie)
  • whatKennedy paid a total of €8,000 to a man who later blackmailed and threatened him. (rte.ie)
  • whatKennedy told gardaí he did it out of love and heartbreak. (rte.ie)
  • whatKennedy was the main carer for his children and his now ex-wife. (rte.ie)
  • whatKennedy discovered his wife had met two Canadian women through an online video game and later communicated with them through Facebook. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe plan was hatched at the school gates with a man Kennedy knew to be dangerous. (rte.ie)
  • whatKennedy was accompanied to court by his ex-wife, his brother and his sister who gave written testimonials. (rte.ie)
  • whatKennedy was the only person able to take one of his children to ongoing and necessary medical appointments. (rte.ie)
  • whatKennedy's wife had been with him for 15 years, they had later married, and they split up in 2019. (rte.ie)
  • whatOn 6 January 2020, Kennedy arrived at his friend's home with a backpack full of old clothes and appeared white in the face and terrified. (rte.ie)
  • whatMr X demanded to know where Kennedy was and said he wanted money. (rte.ie)
  • whatMr X told Kennedy's wife that her husband had organised a hit on the two Canadians and was owed €2,000. (rte.ie)
  • whatMr X told Kennedy's wife that someone would come to the house and kneecap her if the money was not handed over that day. (rte.ie)
  • whatMr X came to Kennedy's wife's house a number of times saying pay up today or hand over Bryan or there will be trouble. (rte.ie)
  • whatHe was trying to have women killed. (extra.ie)
  • whatA husband hired a hitman to kill a couple who were having an online affair with his wife. (rte.ie)
  • whatKennedy provided personal details of the two women and accessed his wife's Facebook page. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe hitman warned Kennedy that he was embarking on a dangerous road. (rte.ie)
  • whatKennedy paid the would-be hitman €8,000 by taking loans from family and friends. (rte.ie)
  • whatKennedy hired a hitman in a plan to kill a couple in Canada who were having an online affair with his wife. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereBoth women live in rural Quebec, Canada. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereKennedy has an address in Harold's Cross, Dublin. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe couple live in rural Quebec, Canada. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenKennedy's first sentence hearing was held in January. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe solicitation took place on a date unknown between 1 October 2019 and 11 January 2020. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe motive was intimate online contact with his wife. (extra.ie)
  • causeThe judge said the wife's online affair was not an excuse for the plan. (rte.ie)
  • investigationA separate investigation is under way into Mr X, the man Kennedy solicited. (rte.ie)
  • investigationKennedy cooperated with gardaí, made full admissions immediately on being questioned and pleaded guilty. (rte.ie)
  • investigationKennedy told gardaí he backtracked on the deal. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeKennedy pleaded guilty to two charges of soliciting someone to murder the two Canadian women between October 2019 and January 2020. (rte.ie)
  • chargeKennedy pleaded guilty in July 2022 to soliciting a man to murder Stephanie Poirier between October 1, 2019 and January 11, 2020. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeKennedy pleaded guilty to soliciting the man to murder Stephanie Poirier. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeKennedy pleaded guilty to the same offence relating to Clara Houdebrumette, Ms Poirier's partner. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtMs Justice Caroline Biggs presided over the sentencing at the Central Criminal Court. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe judge had adjourned the case the previous November and required further information about care requirements for Kennedy's family. (rte.ie)
  • courtMs Justice Biggs adjourned custody until April 17 to allow Tusla to put in place supports for Kennedy's children. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtKennedy was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court by Ms Justice Caroline Biggs. (rte.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe sentence will not begin for three months to allow time for alternative arrangements for the care of his family. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Biggs postponed the sentence until April to allow Tusla to put in place supports for his ex-wife and child. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceKennedy was jailed for four and a half years by the Central Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe headline sentence was set at eight years, reduced to five years with the final six months suspended for one year. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe judge set the headline sentence at eight years. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe sentence was reduced to five years with the final six months suspended for six months. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceKennedy was sentenced to five years' imprisonment with the final six months suspended for six months. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe judge set the headline sentence at eight years and reduced it to five years after considering mitigating factors. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherKennedy is the primary carer for his three children. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHis former wife is disabled and uses a wheelchair. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherKennedy has a District Court conviction for possession of child pornography. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe would-be assassin is named AL because he cannot be identified for legal reasons. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherKennedy paid €8,000 to the would-be assassin by taking loans from family and friends. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe judge said the plan was not spontaneous but planned and meant to be executed. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherKennedy was threatened and intimidated by AL and came to be terrified of him. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherKennedy co-operated with gardaí, made full admissions immediately, and pleaded guilty. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherKennedy became aware of Facebook messages of an intimate nature between his then-wife and the couple. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherKennedy got on a ferry to England after borrowing money from neighbours to pay €8,000 to AL. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherOn February 11, 2020, AL approached Kennedy at Nutgrove Shopping Centre and was removed by security staff. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe couple expressed no concern for their wellbeing after being told of the situation. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherKennedy had been threatened and intimidated by the hitman. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe judge noted mitigating factors including co-operation with gardaí, full admissions on questioning, and a guilty plea. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 17 Apr2023
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Husband jailed for hiring ‘unhinged’ hitman

    Sentencing report. The judge set a headline sentence of eight years before reducing it to five years with the final six months suspended.

    convicted, Bryan Kennedy, 35, male, named, irish (judged from name)Bryan Kennedyvictim, Stephanie Poirier, female, non-irish (judged from name)Stephanie Poiriervictim, Clara Houdebrumette, female, non-irish (judged from name)Clara Houdebrumette
  2. 17 Apr2023
    Sentencedrte.ie, follow-up
    Man jailed over hiring hitman to kill wife's friends

    Sentencing of Bryan Kennedy at the Central Criminal Court, with the judge's reasons, the headline sentence of eight years and the mitigating factors. No matching existing case.

    convicted, Bryan Kennedy, 35, male, named, irish (judged from name)Bryan Kennedyvictim, femalevictim, femalesuspect
  3. 17 Jan2023
    Sentencedextra.ie, its first report
    Man Jailed For Trying To Have Women Killed Over Intimate Online Contact With His Wife

    Article body is empty (only website template code); details limited to the headline.

    convicted, malevictim, female
  4. 16 Jan2023
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, its first report
    Man who tried to have wife’s online partners killed by hitman jailed for 4.5 years

    Reports the sentencing hearing in which Ms Justice Biggs set a headline sentence of eight years, reduced to five years with six months suspended, and detailed the evidence including Kennedy's €8,000 payment to AL, threats made to Kennedy and his family, and his guilty plea in July 2022.

    victim, Stephanie Poirier, female, non-irish (judged from name)Stephanie Poiriervictim, Clara Houdebrumette, female, non-irish (judged from name)Clara Houdebrumetteaccused, Bryan Kennedy, 35, male, named, irish (judged from name)Bryan Kennedysuspect, male
  5. 16 Jan2023
    Sentencedrte.ie, first report
    Man sentenced over hiring hitman to kill wife's friends

    Reports the full sentencing hearing, including the judge's reasoning, defence submissions about family care, details of the blackmail by Mr X, and the deferral of the sentence until April.

    convicted, Bryan Kennedy, 35, male, named, irish (judged from name)Bryan Kennedyvictim, Stephanie, female, Canadian, non-irishStephanievictim, Clara, female, Canadian, non-irishClarasuspect, male