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. 1294Murder · Co. Wicklow · 6 Aug 2009

Wicklow woman released without charge in 2009 Steven O'Meara murder investigation

Steven O'Meara, 26, was shot and buried alive in a shallow grave at Ballydonnell Wood, Redcross, Co Wicklow on 6 August 2009, and his body was found on Christmas Eve that year. He was believed to have been driven to the woods to settle a €5,000 drug debt on behalf of a Dublin-based gang. Michael Dickenson was convicted of murder and jailed for life in 2012, and Clement Byrne was convicted of manslaughter in January 2013 and sentenced to eight years. A woman in her 40s was arrested on suspicion of murder on 15 July 2025 and detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 at a Co Wexford Garda station. She was released without charge after about 48 hours on 17 July 2025, and the investigation remains focused on the gunman who fired the fatal shots and the person who paid him.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested15 Jul
    3 reports
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Steven O'Meara, 26, was shot and buried alive in a shallow grave at Ballydonnell Wood, Redcross, Co Wicklow.
  • O'Meara was believed to have been driven to the woods to settle a €5,000 drug debt on behalf of a Dublin-based gang.
When
The murder took place on 6 August 2009 and his body was found on Christmas Eve 2009.
Cause
The cause of death was internal bleeding from gunshot wounds to the torso and leg, and asphyxia could not be ruled out.
Investigation
  • A woman in her 40s was arrested on suspicion of murder on 15 July 2025, detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 at a Co Wexford Garda station, and released without charge after about 48 hours.
  • The investigation, ongoing for nearly 16 years, is focused on the gunman who fired the fatal shots and the person who paid him.
In court
Michael Dickenson was convicted of murder and jailed for life in 2012, and Clement Byrne was convicted of manslaughter in January 2013 and sentenced to eight years.
Other details
O'Meara was described as a father of three in some reports and a father of four in others, and was identified by dental records and fingerprint evidence.
33 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA woman in her 40s was arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the killing of Steven O'Meara. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatO'Meara was shot and buried alive in a shallow grave at Ballydonnell Wood, Redcross. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatTwo men were previously convicted for his murder. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA woman in her 40s was arrested on suspicion of the murder of Steven O'Meara in 2009 (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatSteven O'Meara was 26 years old and a father of three (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatSteven is believed to have been driven to the woods to meet a man to settle a drug debt before being shot (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe woman was detained at a Co Wexford Garda station under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe woman was released without charge after about 48 hours (irishtimes.com)
  • whatO'Meara was shot in the trunk and leg (irishtimes.com)
  • whatO'Meara's remains were found on Christmas Eve, 2009 (irishtimes.com)
  • whatMen later convicted for their roles in the killing disclosed the burial location to gardaí (irishtimes.com)
  • whatO'Meara had a history of substance abuse and had undertaken periods of rehabilitation (irishtimes.com)
  • whatO'Meara was going to collect a €5,000 drug debt from a local man on behalf of a Dublin-based gang (irishtimes.com)
  • whatO'Meara was driven to the woods by an associate of the man who owed the money (irishtimes.com)
  • whatDickenson admitted driving the victim to the woods and witnessing the murder (irishtimes.com)
  • whereShe is detained at a Garda station in Co Wexford. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereHis body was found five months later on Christmas Eve in a shallow grave in isolated woods at Ballydonnell, Redcross (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe murder took place in August 2009. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenHis body was found nearly five months later on Christmas Eve. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenSteven O'Meara was last seen alive on 6 August 2009 in the Rosehill estate, Wicklow town (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe woman was arrested on the afternoon of 15 July 2025 (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe murder occurred on August 6th, 2009 (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe cause of death was internal bleeding owing to gunshot wounds to the torso and the leg (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeAsphyxia was a potential cause of death and it could not be ruled out he was still alive when buried (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe woman is being detained under section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationMr O'Meara was identified by dental records and fingerprint evidence (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe woman is detained pursuant to Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007 at a Garda Station in County Wexford (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are preparing a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe investigation is focused on the gunman who fired the fatal shots and the person who paid him (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe investigation has been ongoing for nearly 16 years (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceWicklow man Michael Dickenson was jailed for life in 2012 over the murder (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceClement Byrne was convicted of manslaughter in January 2013 and received eight years jail (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherClement Byrne is now back on the streets (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 17 Jul2025
    Arrestedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Wicklow woman suspected in contract killing conspiracy released by gardaí without charge

    Reports the arrest and release without charge of a woman in her 40s suspected of being a prime mover in the 2009 murder conspiracy; provides details of O'Meara's death, the drug-debt context, and the 2012 and 2013 convictions of Michael Dickenson and Clement Byrne.

    victim, 26, male, irish (judged from name)suspect, 40s, femaleconvicted, Clement Byrne, 49, male, named at arrest, irish (judged from name)Clement Byrneconvicted, Michael Dickenson, 27, male, named at arrest, irish (judged from name)Michael Dickenson
  2. 15 Jul2025
    Arrestedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Woman, 40s, arrested on suspicion of murder of Steven O'Meara in 2009

    Reports the initial arrest of the woman in her 40s on 15 July 2025, provides background on the 2009 murder including the cause of death (gunshot wounds to torso and leg) and the believed circumstances (driven to the woods to settle a drug debt). Notes that Michael Dickenson was jailed for life in 2012 and Clement Byrne was convicted of manslaughter in January 2013.

    victim, Steven O'Meara, 26, male, irish (judged from name)Steven O'Mearasuspect, 40s, femaleconvicted, Michael Dickenson, male, named at arrest, irish (judged from name)Michael Dickensonconvicted, Clement Byrne, male, named at arrest, irish (judged from name)Clement Byrne
  3. 15 Jul2025
    Arrestedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Woman arrested over murder of Steven O’Meara in Co Wicklow in 2009

    Initial arrest announcement; woman detained under section 50 at a Wexford Garda station; investigation led by a senior investigating officer in Wexford Garda station; two men previously convicted for the murder.

    victim, 26, male, irish (judged from name)suspect, 40s, female