Saturday 31 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. 20360Giving a false account of the movement of a suspect (perverting the course of justice) · Co. Dublin · 5 Dec 2019

Mark Casserly given suspended sentence for false alibi in Wayne Whelan murder investigation

Wayne Whelan, 42, was shot dead in the front of a car at Mount Andrew Rise, Lucan, Co Dublin on 18 November 2019. His son Anthony Casserly, 26, was initially charged with murder but pleaded guilty to facilitating the killing and was sentenced to seven years in prison in January 2022. Mark Casserly, 49, Anthony's father, gave two statements to gardaí in December 2019 claiming his son was at home at the time of the shooting. Mark was arrested in February 2020 and later pleaded guilty to giving a false account of the movement of a suspect. In July 2023, Judge Pauline Codd handed him a five-year prison sentence suspended in full on strict conditions.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced13 Jul
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Wayne Whelan, 42, was shot dead in the front of a car at Mount Andrew Rise, Lucan, Co Dublin on 18 November 2019.
  • Mark Casserly, 49, gave two separate statements to gardaí in December 2019 claiming his son Anthony Casserly was at home between 7pm and 9pm on the night of the murder.
  • Anthony Casserly, 26, was initially charged with murder but pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006.
Investigation
Mark Casserly was arrested in February 2020 and interviewed four times, but nothing of evidential value was obtained.
Charges
Mark Casserly pleaded guilty to giving a false account of the movement of a suspect during the murder investigation in December 2019.
Sentence
  • Anthony Casserly was sentenced to seven years in prison in January 2022 for assisting in the murder of Whelan.
  • Judge Pauline Codd handed Mark Casserly a five-year prison sentence suspended in full on strict conditions in July 2023.
Other details
  • Whelan was so badly burned that he had to be identified using DNA analysis.
  • Anthony Casserly was living with his partner in a converted shed at the back of the family property at the time of the murder.
  • Mark Casserly has previous convictions including two for false imprisonment and one for aggravated burglary.
16 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatMark Casserly told gardaí that his son Anthony Casserly was at home at the time of the murder of Wayne Whelan on 18 November 2019. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatCasserly Sr gave two separate statements to gardaí in which he said his son was at home on 18 November 2019 between 7pm and 9pm. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatIn a statement on 5 December 2019, Casserly said he was at home watching a football match and his son was also at home. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatIn a second statement on 12 December, Casserly said his son was in and out of the house and that the family ordered takeaway which his son paid for and took to the shed. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatCasserly Sr told gardaí his son would have had to walk past him and through the house to leave. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereWhelan was in the front of a car at Mount Andrew Rise in Lucan, Co Dublin, when a gunman shot him. (thejournal.ie)
  • investigationThe defendant was arrested in February 2020 and interviewed four times, but nothing of evidential value was obtained. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeCasserly Sr pleaded guilty to giving a false account of the movement of a suspect during the murder investigation in December 2019. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeAnthony Casserly was initially charged with murder but pleaded guilty to a lesser charge under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 that he facilitated the murder. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceAnthony Casserly was sentenced in January 2022 to seven years in prison for assisting in the murder of Whelan. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Pauline Codd handed Casserly Sr a five-year prison sentence suspended in full on strict conditions. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherWhelan was so badly burned that he had to be identified using DNA analysis. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherAnthony Casserly was living with his partner in a converted shed at the back of the family property at the time. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherCasserly Sr has previous convictions including two for false imprisonment and one for aggravated burglary. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherCasserly Sr has three children and one grandchild for whom he has taken on the role of father figure while his son is in custody. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherCasserly Sr is not currently working due to an injury sustained in a workplace accident and is caring for his wife who has serious health conditions. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 13 Jul2023
    Sentencedthejournal.ie, first report
    Father who gave false alibi for son in murder investigation given suspended sentence

    Reports the sentencing of Mark Casserly for giving a false alibi; provides details of the underlying murder, the two false statements, CCTV evidence contradicting them, and background on both Casserly and his son.

    convicted, Mark Casserly, 49, male, named, irish (judged from name)Mark Casserlysuspect, Anthony Casserly, 26, male, named, irish (judged from name)Anthony Casserlyvictim, Wayne Whelan, 42, male, irish (judged from name)Wayne Whelan