Ireland Case No. 2528Murder · Co. Louth
Power appeals murder conviction in Court of Appeal, Dundalk
Irene White, a 43-year-old mother of three, was stabbed to death at her home in Dundalk, Co Louth, on 6 April 2005. Anthony Lambe, a 41-year-old man from Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, pleaded guilty to the murder and was jailed for life in January 2018. Niall Power, a 45-year-old man from Riverstown, Dundalk, who described himself as the middle man who arranged the killing, walked into Dundalk Garda Station the day after Lambe's sentencing, pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to life in July 2019. Power is now appealing his conviction at the Court of Appeal, arguing he was suffering a mental breakdown when he pleaded guilty, with legal aid granted in January 2025 for a psychiatric assessment.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court11 Jun
3 reports - Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced27 Mar
3 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Irene White, a 43-year-old mother of three, was stabbed to death at her home in Dundalk, Co Louth, on 6 April 2005.
- Anthony Lambe, a 41-year-old man from Annadrumman, Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, pleaded guilty to the murder and was jailed for life in January 2018.
- Niall Power, a 45-year-old man from Gyles Quay, Riverstown, Dundalk, described himself to gardaí as the middle man who arranged the killing.
- Where
- The murder took place in the kitchen of Ice House, Demesne Road, Dundalk, Co Louth.
- When
- The killing took place on 6 April 2005.
- Weapon
- Irene White was stabbed more than 30 times, with one report giving the figure as 34.
- Cause
- Power says he paid Lambe €2,000 to carry out the murder, while another account says Lambe was hired in return for €4,000 in debts to be written off.
- Investigation
- Power walked into Dundalk Garda Station the day after Lambe was sentenced and admitted his part in the murder.
- Charges
- Power pleaded guilty to the murder of Irene White.
- Sentence
- Power was sentenced to life in prison in July 2019.
- In court
- Power is appealing his conviction at the Court of Appeal, arguing he was suffering a mental breakdown when he pleaded guilty; legal aid was granted in January 2025 for a psychiatric assessment and the matter was adjourned to 14 March 2025.
- Other details
- Both men say they were acting under the instructions of a third person whom neither will name, and the DPP refused to act on a Garda file recommending that person be charged.
- Power and Lambe are kept in different wings of Mountjoy Prison and have no contact.
59 statements extracted from the articles
- whatNiall Power and Anthony Lambe were jailed for life for the murder of Irene White. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatAnthony Lambe stabbed Irene White to death. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whatNiall Power pleaded guilty to the murder of Irene White at her home in Dundalk on 6 April 2005. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatAnthony Lambe, 41, of Annadrumman, Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, was the man who actually stabbed Irene White to death. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatPower's barrister told the court he was suffering from a mental breakdown at the time of his plea. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatIrene White was a 43-year-old mother of three. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatNiall Power is a 45-year-old married father of four from Gyles Quay, Riverstown, Dundalk. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatPower was charged with the murder of Irene White. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatPower was the second man given a life sentence for murdering Irene White. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatAnthony Lambe, 41, of Annadrumman, Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, was the man who stabbed Irene White to death. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatPower handed himself into gardai the day after Lambe was sentenced to life. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereIrene White was killed in her home. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe murder of Irene White took place in Dundalk. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereIrene White was killed at her home at Ice House, Demesne Road, Dundalk, Co Louth. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whereThe murder took place in the kitchen of Ice House, Dundalk (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe killing took place in April 2005. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe killer broke into Irene White's home in April 2005. (dublinlive.ie)
- whenIrene White was murdered on April 6, 2005. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whenThe murder took place in April 2005 (irishmirror.ie)
- causePower paid Lambe €2,000 to kill Irene White. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponIrene White was stabbed more than 30 times. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- investigationPower walked into Dundalk Garda Station the day after Lambe's conviction and admitted his part in the murder. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationPower walked into Dundalk Garda station the day after the murder and admitted his part in it. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationTwo women informed Gardaí that Lambe told them he did it (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationOne woman had been living in Australia and Gardaí went there to interview her (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationPower confessed the day after Lambe was jailed by walking into Dundalk Garda Station (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationAn individual was previously questioned but no charges have been preferred (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeNiall Power pleaded guilty to the murder of Irene White. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtLambe was convicted in January 2018 after pleading guilty. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- courtPower told the Court of Appeal that he had been unable to secure a solicitor to represent him. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtPower plans to appeal his conviction for the murder. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe matter was adjourned to December 6. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtLegal aid was granted to Power to appeal his murder conviction. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe matter was adjourned to 14 March. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtLambe pleaded guilty to the murder (irishmirror.ie)
- courtLambe was convicted in January 2018 (irishmirror.ie)
- sentencePower pleaded guilty and later received a life sentence. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentencePower pleaded guilty and was jailed for life. (dublinlive.ie)
- sentenceNiall Power was sentenced to life in prison in July 2019. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- sentenceAnthony Lambe was jailed for life in January 2018 after pleading guilty to murder. (dundalkdemocrat.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- sentencePower was sentenced to life in prison in July 2019. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceLambe was jailed for life in January 2018 after pleading guilty to murder. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceNiall Power is also serving a life sentence for the murder (irishmirror.ie)
- otherPower said he was contracted to organise the murder by a third person whom he has refused to name. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherPower says he was never paid for the killing. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe two men are kept apart in different wings of Mountjoy Prison and have no contact. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe DPP refused to act on a Garda file recommending a named third person be charged with the murder, saying there was not enough evidence. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherSecurity company owner Niall Power paid Anthony Lambe €2,000 to murder Irene White. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherPower says a third person contracted him to organise the murder and has refused to name them. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherLambe and Power are held in different parts of Mountjoy Prison and have no contact. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherNiall Power described himself to gardaí as the middle man in arranging the murder. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherBoth men said they were acting under the instructions of another individual. (dundalkdemocrat.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- otherIrene White was a mother of three (irishmirror.ie)
- otherIrene White was stabbed 34 times (irishmirror.ie)
- otherLambe was hired by Niall Power to kill Irene in return for €4,000 in debts to be written off (irishmirror.ie)
- otherNiall Power was a former security company owner and family friend of Irene and her ex-husband Alan (irishmirror.ie)
- otherNeither Power nor Lambe will identify or testify against the mastermind behind the murder (irishmirror.ie)
- otherLambe is a former alcoholic and drug addict and former history student (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe parkrun at Mountjoy is the only official parkrun in Ireland held in a prison (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 12 Apr2026Killer who stabbed Irene White to death has become 'Forrest Gump' of Mountjoy
Feature profile of convicted murderer Anthony Lambe at Mountjoy Prison, describing his role in the prison parkrun and providing background on the 2005 murder of Irene White, including the ongoing investigation into the mastermind who remains uncharged.
victim, Irene White, female, irish (judged from name)Irene Whiteconvicted, Anthony Lambe, 43, male, named, irish (judged from name)Anthony Lambeconvicted, Niall Power, male, named, irish (judged from name)Niall Power - 18 Jan2025'Middle man' in murder of Irene White gets legal aid in bid to appeal conviction
The Court of Appeal adjourned Power's application for an extension of time to appeal his murder conviction to 14 March 2025, granting legal aid for a psychiatric assessment of his mental state at the time of his guilty plea. Mr Justice John Edwards noted no prima facie grounds had been lodged and required an affidavit before the matter could proceed.
victim, Irene White, female, irish (judged from name)Irene Whiteconvicted, Niall Power, 45, male, named, irish (judged from name)Niall Powerconvicted, Anthony Lambe, 41, male, named, irish (judged from name)Anthony Lambe - 6 Dec2024Man who pleaded guilty to murder to argue he was suffering 'mental breakdown'
Court of Appeal hearing on Power's appeal; barrister argues he was suffering a mental breakdown when he pleaded guilty; matter adjourned to 17 January 2025 for filing of Enlargement of Time application.
victim, Irene White, 43, female, irish (judged from name)Irene Whiteconvicted, Niall Power, 51, male, named, irish (judged from name)Niall Powerconvicted, Anthony Lambe, 41, male, named, irish (judged from name)Anthony Lambe - 11 Jun2024Man who acted as “middle man” in Irene White murder inb Dundalk tells court he can’t find a solicitor willing to represent him in appeal case
Power told the Court of Appeal he could not find a solicitor, and the appeal was adjourned to December 6. The article also describes Power's role and Lambe's earlier guilty plea and sentence.
victim, Irene White, 43, female, irish (judged from name)Irene Whiteconvicted, Niall Power, 51, male, named, irish (judged from name)Niall Powerconvicted, Anthony Lambe, 41, male, named, irish (judged from name)Anthony Lambe - 28 Mar2024Men jailed in Mountjoy Prison for same murder no longer talk to each other
Feature on the prison arrangements for two men already jailed for the 2005 murder of Irene White: they no longer speak, Lambe is in the Progressive Unit and Power works as a cleaner. It also reports that the DPP refused to act on a Garda file seeking charges against a named third person.
victim, Irene White, female, irish (judged from name)Irene Whiteconvicted, Niall Power, 43, male, named, irish (judged from name)Niall Powerconvicted, Anthony Lambe, 43, male, named, irish (judged from name)Anthony Lambe - 27 Mar2024Pair jailed for murder of Irene White kept apart in prison after falling out
Article is a prison follow-up on the convicted men's relationship. It adds that they are kept apart in Mountjoy, that Power says he was contracted by a third person he has refused to name, and that the DPP declined to charge that person.
convicted, Niall Power, 43, male, named, irish (judged from name)Niall Powerconvicted, Anthony Lambe, 43, male, named, irish (judged from name)Anthony Lambevictim, Irene White, female, irish (judged from name)Irene White