Wednesday 28 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. 2669Murder · Co. Dublin · 24 May 2016

Thomas 'Nicky' McConnell found guilty of murder of Gareth Hutch in Dublin

Thomas 'Nicky' McConnell, 38, was found guilty by the non-jury Special Criminal Court of the 2016 murder of Gareth Hutch, 36, in Dublin, becoming the fourth person convicted in the case. The court found he was part of a common design with Jonathan Keogh, who fired the fatal shots, and McConnell now faces a mandatory life sentence.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted20 Dec
    2 reports
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
24 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatMcConnell was found to be the second assassin who, along with Jonathan Keogh, followed Gareth Hutch from his home and shot him dead. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatJonathan Keogh's gun discharged bullets at close range that caused the fatal injuries. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMcConnell's gun had the safety catch on and did not fire any rounds during the assassination. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe court found McConnell's preparatory actions showed he was part of a common design with Keogh and others to commit murder. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMcConnell and Jonathan Keogh used an apartment opposite Gareth Hutch's home as a lookout spot before following and shooting him. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMcConnell was the second assassin along with Jonathan Keogh who followed Hutch from his home and shot him dead (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMcConnell parked a black BMW in front of Avondale House as the getaway car (irishtimes.com)
  • whatAfter the shooting, Keogh and McConnell got into the BMW but could not start it and ran to a Skoda Octavia (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMcConnell told gardaí he had sold the BMW to a man similar looking to himself (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe murder took place at Avondale House, North Cumberland Street, Dublin 1 (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe murder of Gareth Hutch, 36, occurred on 24 May 2016 at Avondale House, North Cumberland Street, Dublin 1. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe murder of Gareth Hutch occurred on 24 May 2016 (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe court relied on mobile phone data, CCTV footage, and lies told by the accused to gardaí rather than witness identification to prove McConnell was the second gunman. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe verdict was delivered by a three-judge, non-jury Special Criminal Court presided over by Mr Justice Alexander Owens. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtIn November 2018, Regina Keogh, Jonathan Keogh, and Thomas Fox were found guilty of the same murder at the Special Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtMcConnell's trial began in 2023 but was postponed for 16 months due to a judge's inability to continue and a pending Supreme Court ruling. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtMcConnell was found guilty by the non-jury Special Criminal Court (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe court found McConnell was part of a common design with Keogh and others to commit murder (irishtimes.com)
  • courtMcConnell pleaded not guilty to the murder (irishtimes.com)
  • courtIn November 2018, Regina Keogh, Jonathan Keogh, and Thomas Fox were found guilty of the murder (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe court relied on mobile phone data, CCTV footage, and lies told by the accused to gardaí (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe Supreme Court found that traffic and location data from mobile phones could be used as evidence even if harvested under a now-invalidated law (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceMcConnell faces the mandatory life sentence for murder. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • otherGareth Hutch was the nephew of Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 20 Dec2024
    Convictedirishtimes.com, first report
    Thomas ‘Nicky’ McConnell becomes fourth person found guilty of murder of Gareth Hutch

    Non-jury Special Criminal Court verdict finding McConnell guilty as the second assassin in the ambush killing of Gareth Hutch; court relied on mobile phone data, CCTV, and lies told to gardaí rather than eyewitness identification.

    victim, Gareth Hutch, 36, male, irish (judged from name)Gareth Hutchconvicted, 38, male, irish (judged from name)convicted, Jonathan Keogh, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jonathan Keoghconvicted, Regina Keogh, 47, female, named, irish (judged from name)Regina Keoghconvicted, Thomas Fox, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Thomas Fox
  2. 20 Dec2024
    Convictedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Man found guilty of murder off Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch's nephew

    Reports the Special Criminal Court verdict finding McConnell guilty of murder as the second assassin. The court relied on mobile phone data, CCTV footage, and lies told to gardaí rather than witness identification, and noted McConnell's gun had the safety catch on and did not fire.

    victim, Gareth Hutch, 36, male, irish (judged from name)Gareth Hutchconvicted, Thomas 'Nicky' McConnell, 38, male, named, irish (judged from name)Thomas 'Nicky' McConnellconvicted, Jonathan Keogh, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Jonathan Keoghconvicted, Regina Keogh, 47, female, named, irish (judged from name)Regina Keoghconvicted, Thomas Fox, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Thomas Fox