Ireland Murderer Shay Wildes released after 18 years for Tallaght killing
Shay Wildes shot Joe Cummins in the head with a .22 semi-automatic handgun outside the Dragon Inn pub in Tallaght, Dublin, on 26 December 2001, wishing him a Merry Christmas before firing. Wildes was sentenced to two concurrent life sentences in September 2003, one for murder and one for possession of the handgun, plus 10 and five years on two further counts of possession of ammunition. He was acquitted of the 2003 murder of Declan Griffin in Inchicore. Wildes was released from Shelton Abbey Prison in Arklow, Co Wicklow, in September 2021 after serving 18 years, having been granted temporary weekend releases over the preceding year, and moved to a caravan site in County Wexford.
- Reported
- Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Wildes shot Cummins in the head, firing a second shot as Cummins was falling and a third as he lay on the ground.
- Where
- Outside the Dragon Inn pub near a Lidl store in Tallaght, Dublin.
- When
- 26 December 2001, St Stephen's Day.
- Weapon
- A .22 semi-automatic handgun.
- Charges
- Wildes was charged with murder and possession of a .22 semi-automatic handgun and ammunition.
- In court
- Wildes was acquitted of the 2003 murder of Declan Griffin in the Horse and Jockey Pub in Inchicore.
- Sentence
- Wildes was handed two concurrent life sentences in September 2003, one for murder and one for possession of a .22 semi-automatic handgun, plus 10 and five years on two further counts of possession of ammunition.
- Other details
- Wildes was released from Shelton Abbey Prison in Arklow, Co Wicklow, in September 2021 after 18 years, having been granted temporary weekend releases over the preceding year.
- Wildes moved to a caravan site in a quiet countryside area of County Wexford.
- Martina Murphy, Cummins' partner and Wildes' cousin, said Wildes left her with five babies, the youngest 11 months old.
- No complaint about the alleged assault on Catherine had ever been made to gardaí.
10 statements extracted from the articles
- whatWildes fired a second shot as Cummins was falling and a third as he lay on the ground (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponA .22 semi-automatic handgun was used (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceWildes was handed two life sentences in September 2003, one for murder and one for possession of a .22 semi-automatic handgun (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceHe was also jailed for 10 and five years on two further counts of possession of ammunition (irishmirror.ie)
- otherNo complaint about the alleged assault on Catherine had ever been made to gardaí (irishmirror.ie)
- otherWildes was released from Shelton Abbey Prison in Arklow, Co Wicklow, this week (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHe had been granted temporary weekend releases over the past year before his full release (irishmirror.ie)
- otherWildes has moved to a caravan site in a quiet countryside area of County Wexford (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMartina Murphy, Cummins' partner and Wildes' cousin, said Wildes left her with five babies, the youngest 11 months old (irishmirror.ie)
- otherWildes was acquitted of the 2003 murder of Declan Griffin in the Horse and Jockey Pub in Inchicore (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 23 Sep2021'Merry Christmas' murderer walks free and 'moves to quiet countryside site'
Reports Wildes' release from prison after 18 years and his move to a caravan site in Co Wexford; provides background on the 2001 murder, the 2003 sentencing, and his 2005 acquittal in the separate Declan Griffin murder case.
victim, Joe Cummins, male, irish (judged from name)Joe Cumminsconvicted, Shay Wildes, male, named, irish (judged from name)Shay Wildes