Ireland Case No. 3684Murder, withholding information · Co. Dublin · 9 Jan 2022
Sentencing postponed for woman who withheld information in Dublin murder
Christopher Devine, 44, shot his brother-in-law Michael Tormey, 49, five times with an MP5 submachine gun in Tormey's front garden in Ballyfermot, Dublin, in the early hours of 9 January 2022. Devine pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, but a jury at the Central Criminal Court unanimously convicted him of murder on 8 December 2025, rejecting the substance-induced psychotic disorder defence, and he was sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment on 19 December 2025. His wife Jenifer Devine, 43, pleaded guilty to withholding information relating to the killing. She failed to appear for her sentencing on 2 March 2026, and the hearing was postponed to 13 March with a warning that a bench warrant would be issued if she did not attend.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court27 Nov
4 reports - Convicted8 Dec
2 reports - Sentenced19 Dec
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Christopher Devine shot Michael Tormey five times with an MP5 pattern submachine gun in Tormey's front garden, causing bleeding, rib fractures and partial lung collapse.
- Where
- The shooting took place in the front garden of Tormey's home on Thomond Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin.
- When
- The killing occurred in the early hours of Sunday 9 January 2022.
- Weapon
- The weapon was an MP5 pattern submachine gun that was never recovered.
- Investigation
- CCTV showed Devine's car travelling to Tormey's house before Tormey arrived home, and Devine was seen with a gun before the shooting.
- Charges
- Devine pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, and Jenifer Devine pleaded guilty to withholding information that might assist in securing the apprehension of Christopher Devine.
- In court
- The trial was heard at the Central Criminal Court before Ms Justice Melanie Greally and a jury of nine men and three women over seven days.
- The jury unanimously convicted Devine of murder on 8 December 2025, rejecting the substance-induced psychotic disorder and cocaine intoxication defences.
- Jenifer Devine failed to appear for her sentencing on 2 March 2026, and the hearing was postponed to 13 March with a warning of a bench warrant.
- Sentence
- Devine was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment on 19 December 2025.
- Other details
- Devine was Tormey's brother-in-law through marriage, as Tormey's wife Amy is Jenifer Devine's sister, and Devine had stood as best man at Tormey's wedding.
- Devine had no psychiatric history and had never taken psychiatric medication; his daughter said he had become a cocaine addict in 2021.
87 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe panel will hear evidence of five gunshot wounds. (irishtimes.com)
- whatTormey was pronounced dead at the scene. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDevine drove to Tormey's home and shot him five times. (rte.ie)
- whatTormey was struck by five bullets in his front garden causing bleeding, rib fractures and partial lung collapse (irishtimes.com)
- whatTormey was struck by five bullets causing bleeding, rib fractures and partial lung collapse. (irishtimes.com)
- whatJenifer Devine failed to appear in court for her sentence hearing on withholding information on the murder (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHer lawyer said she is suffering from serious mental health issues (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe jury found Christopher Devine was not suffering from a substance-induced psychotic disorder (irishmirror.ie)
- whatChristopher Devine pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter (irishmirror.ie)
- whatDevine drove to the victim's home and shot him five times (irishmirror.ie)
- whatTormey was struck by five bullets in his front garden which went through his body causing bleeding, rib fractures and partial lung collapse (irishmirror.ie)
- whereMichael Tormey was killed in the front garden of his home at Thomond Road in Ballyfermot. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe shooting took place in Tormey's victim's front garden area of Thomond Road in Ballyfermot. (thejournal.ie)
- whereDevine opened fire in the front garden of the victim's home. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe killing happened at Thomond Road in Ballyfermot in the early hours of January 9, 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereDevine's address is Convent Lawns, Kylemore Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10 (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe killing took place at Thomond Road in Ballyfermot (irishtimes.com)
- whereTormey was shot in his front garden on Thomond Road in Ballyfermot. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe shooting took place at Thomond Road, Ballyfermot (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe killing happened in the early hours of Sunday 9 January 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe shooting happened in the early hours of 9 January 2022. (thejournal.ie)
- whenTormey was shot dead in the garden of his home in Ballyfermot on 9 January. (rte.ie)
- whenThe shooting happened in the early hours of 9 January 2022 at Thomond Road in Ballyfermot. (rte.ie)
- whenThe shooting occurred in the early hours of 9 January 2022 (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe murder took place in the early hours of January 9th, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe shooting occurred in the early hours of January 9, 2022 (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe prosecution says Tormey was shot multiple times by Devine. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponDevine opened fire on Tormey with a submachine gun. (irishtimes.com, thejournal.ie)
- weaponThe prosecution said five bullets were fired into the victim's body with a machine gun. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponThe weapon used was an MP5 pattern submachine gun, which was never recovered. (rte.ie)
- weaponThe weapon used was an MP5 pattern submachine gun (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- weaponThe weapon used was a MP5 pattern submachine gun. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationCCTV is said to show Devine's car travelling to Tormey's house before Tormey arrived home. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe prosecution says the accused was seen with a gun before the shooting that night. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe firearm was never recovered. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationDevine repeatedly denied to gardaí that he murdered Tormey. (rte.ie, irishtimes.com)
- chargeDevine pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Tormey. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeDevine has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of Michael Tormey. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeDevine had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. (rte.ie)
- chargeJenifer Devine pleaded guilty to failing to disclose information that might assist in securing the apprehension of Christopher Devine regarding the death of Michael Tormey (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe trial is before Ms Justice Melanie Greally and a jury of nine men and three women. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is expected to last two weeks. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case is being heard at the Central Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe trial continues before Ms Justice Melanie Greally and a jury of nine men and three women. (thejournal.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe prosecution told the Central Criminal Court jury that the accused intended to end his friend's life. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtChristopher Devine has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Michael Tormey. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe prosecution said the accused drove to Mr Tormey's house on two occasions that night and fired the machine gun in two bursts. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtDefence psychiatrist Dr John Hillery found the accused was suffering from substance-induced psychotic disorder that would have diminished his capacity to control himself. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtProsecution psychiatrist Dr James Walsh told the trial the accused was not suffering from a mental disorder and met the criteria for cocaine intoxication. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe defence said the accused took industrial quantities of cocaine combined with large amounts of whiskey and vodka. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtA jury unanimously convicted Devine of murder. (rte.ie)
- courtThe jury rejected Devine's defence that he should be found guilty of manslaughter because of a mental disorder. (rte.ie)
- courtThe jury also rejected his claim that he was too intoxicated from cocaine and alcohol to form an intention to kill or cause serious injury. (rte.ie)
- courtThe jury unanimously convicted Devine of murder (irishtimes.com)
- courtGarret Baker SC represented the DPP at trial (irishtimes.com)
- courtMs Justice Melanie Greally presided over the trial (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe matter was adjourned to 19 December for sentencing (irishtimes.com)
- courtDevine pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial lasted seven days at the Central Criminal Court (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury consisted of nine men and three women (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury deliberated for four hours and 54 minutes over two days (irishtimes.com)
- courtMs Justice Melanie Greally handed down the sentence at the Central Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtGardaí called to her address and she indicated she was not going to attend court (irishmirror.ie)
- courtGardaí said they would not seek a bench warrant that day but would on the next date if there was no attendance (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJudge Greally said the evidence of Devine's condition was completely undocumented (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe sentencing hearing was postponed for two weeks to 13 March (irishmirror.ie)
- courtA jury convicted Christopher Devine of murder in December (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceDevine faces a mandatory life sentence, with sentencing set for 19 December. (rte.ie)
- sentenceDevine faces a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceDevine was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment for murder. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe prosecution says the act was murder. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe defence accepts Devine meets the criteria for cocaine intoxication rather than a mental disorder, according to the prosecution barrister. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe prosecution says Devine was consuming significant quantities of cocaine before the incident. (irishtimes.com)
- otherTormey's wife Amy is a sister of Devine's wife Jenifer, creating a family connection through marriage. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe prosecution says Devine was not suffering from a mental disorder at the time and met the criteria for cocaine intoxication. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe defence will call a consultant psychiatrist to say Devine was suffering from substance induced psychotic disorder at the relevant time. (thejournal.ie)
- otherDevine's daughter said he had become a cocaine addict in 2021. (thejournal.ie)
- otherDevine's daughter said she remembered her father having a gun beside him on the living room floor at Convent Lawns on 8 January, hours before the fatal shooting. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe weapon was never recovered (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- otherDevine has no psychiatric history and had never taken psychiatric medication (irishtimes.com)
- otherTwo psychiatrists differed on whether Devine qualified for a manslaughter verdict (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe submachine gun was never recovered. (irishtimes.com)
- otherDevine had no psychiatric history and had never taken psychiatric medication. (irishtimes.com)
- otherDevine is a father of six. (irishtimes.com)
- otherDevine was Tormey's brother-in-law through marriage and had stood as best man at his wedding. (irishtimes.com)
- otherDevine told gardai he was Mr Tormey's best man at his wedding (irishmirror.ie)
- otherDevine repeatedly denied to gardai that he murdered Mr Tormey (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 2 Mar2026Warning for wife of 'cocaine shovelling' gunman who opened fire on family member
Reports Jenifer Devine's failure to appear for sentencing, the judge's comments on her undocumented mental health evidence, and provides background on Christopher Devine's murder conviction and the circumstances of the shooting.
victim, Michael Tormey, 49, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Tormeyconvicted, Christopher Devine, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)Christopher Devineconvicted, Jenifer Devine, 43, female, named, irish (judged from name)Jenifer Devine - 19 Dec2025Man shot dead by relative paid ultimate price for meeting people involved in drugs trade, court told
Sentencing hearing details: Devine received mandatory life imprisonment; victim impact statement from Patrick Tormey; judge described the killing as an act of immense brutality and treachery; jury had earlier rejected the substance-induced psychotic disorder defence.
convicted, Christopher Devine, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)Christopher Devinevictim, Michael Tormey, 49, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Tormey - 8 Dec2025Man who said he was ‘shovelling’ cocaine into himself unanimously convicted of murder
Reports the jury's unanimous murder verdict, the rejection of the diminished responsibility and cocaine-intoxication defences, and the adjournment for sentencing on 19 December 2025.
victim, Michael Tormey, 49, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Tormeyconvicted, Christopher Devine, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)Christopher Devine - 8 Dec2025Man who machine-gunned family member convicted of murder
Reports the jury's unanimous murder verdict on 8 December 2025 after a seven-day trial at the Central Criminal Court, rejecting the manslaughter defence. Sentencing was adjourned to 19 December, when a mandatory life sentence applies.
convicted, Christopher Devine, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)Christopher Devinevictim, Michael Tormey, 49, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Tormey - 6 Dec2025Murder trial told man intended to kill friend with 'bursts' of machine gun
Closing speeches from prosecution and defence at the murder trial; the jury has yet to deliver a verdict.
victim, Michael Tormey, 49, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Tormeyaccused, Christopher Devine, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)Christopher Devine - 28 Nov2025Man admits killing but denies murdering brother-in-law after opening fire with a submachine gun
Reports the Central Criminal Court trial opening, including the plea split, the prosecution and defence positions on Devine's mental state, and witness evidence from his daughter and her boyfriend about his cocaine use and the gun on 8 January 2022.
victim, Michael Tormey, 49, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Tormeyaccused, Christopher Devine, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)Christopher Devine - 27 Nov2025Man accused of killing relative in garden with machine gun admits manslaughter
Reports the opening of the prosecution case at the Central Criminal Court. Devine has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The article gives details of the prosecution's account, including five gunshot wounds, a submachine gun and cocaine use.
victim, Michael Tormey, 49, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Tormeyaccused, Christopher Devine, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)Christopher Devine