Veronica Guerin killer Brian Meehan ordered to break links with John Gilligan for parole
Brian Meehan, 58, a man from Kimmage, drove hitman Patrick Dutchy Holland on a motorbike to kill crime journalist Veronica Guerin, 36, on 26 June 1996 in County Kildare, after John Gilligan ordered the hit. Meehan was convicted in November 1999 and is serving a life sentence at Shelton Abbey open prison in County Wicklow. He was turned down for parole in November 2023 and is entitled to re-apply in July 2025. The Independent Parole Board has imposed conditions on his temporary day releases, requiring him to break all links with Gilligan and other serious criminals, and he has now been granted five such releases.
- Reported
- Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Brian Meehan, 58, is serving a life sentence for the murder of Veronica Guerin, 36, on 26 June 1996.
- Meehan drove hitman Patrick Dutchy Holland on a motorbike to kill Guerin, and John Gilligan ordered the hit.
- Where
- The murder took place in County Kildare.
- Meehan is from Stanaway Road, Kimmage, and serves his sentence at Shelton Abbey open prison in County Wicklow.
- In court
- Meehan was convicted in November 1999.
- He was turned down for parole in November 2023 and is entitled to re-apply in July 2025.
- The Independent Parole Board imposed conditions for temporary release, including breaking all links with John Gilligan and other serious criminals.
- Other details
- Meehan has been granted five day releases and spent the most recent one visiting family and friends around Dublin.
- John Gilligan was found not guilty of Guerin's murder and served 17 years in custody for drug-related offences.
- Meehan had to give a personal undertaking that he was finished with criminality.
- The Parole Board could keep him in custody for another three to four years.
20 statements extracted from the articles
- whatBrian Meehan is serving a life sentence for the murder of Veronica Guerin in 1996 (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMeehan is 58 years old (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMeehan drove hitman Patrick Dutchy Holland on a motorbike to kill Veronica Guerin (irishmirror.ie)
- whatJohn Gilligan ordered the hit on Veronica Guerin (irishmirror.ie)
- whereMeehan is from Stanaway Road, Kimmage (irishmirror.ie)
- whereHe serves his life sentence at Shelton Abbey open prison in Co Wicklow (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe murder occurred on 26 June 1996 (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe condition was imposed by the Independent Parole Board before he was granted temporary release (irishmirror.ie)
- courtHe was turned down for parole in November 2023 (irishmirror.ie)
- courtHe is entitled to re-apply for parole in July 2025 (irishmirror.ie)
- courtGilligan was found not guilty of her murder (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMeehan was ordered to break off all links with John Gilligan and other serious criminals as a condition of temporary release (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMeehan was back on the streets the previous week for a day of freedom (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHe spent the day visiting family and friends around Dublin (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHe has been released five times for a day (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMeehan has served 26 years behind bars since his conviction in November 1999 (irishmirror.ie)
- otherGilligan served 17 years in custody for drug related offences (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMeehan had to give a personal undertaking that he was finished with criminality (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe Parole Board could decide to keep him in custody for another three to four years (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe average life sentence in Ireland is now 24 to 25 years (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 13 Jul2025Veronica Guerin killer ordered to break links with John Gilligan to be set free
Reveals the conditions imposed by the Independent Parole Board on Meehan's temporary day releases, including breaking all links with John Gilligan, and provides context on his parole timeline, the family's reaction, and the possibility of serving up to 30 years given the high-profile nature of the case.
victim, Veronica Guerin, 36, female, irish (judged from name)Veronica Guerinconvicted, Brian Meehan, 58, male, named, irish (judged from name)Brian Meehan