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. 3079Murder · Co. Donegal · 12 Feb 2008

Woman in 60s arrested over 2008 dissident murder of Andrew Burns in Donegal

A woman in her 60s was arrested in connection with the 2008 gun murder of Andrew Burns, a Strabane native, who was shot twice in the back near Donnyloop Church, Co Donegal, in a dissident-linked killing attributed to Óglaigh na hÉireann. Martin Kelly was previously convicted and sentenced to life for the murder in 2012.

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

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
30 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA woman in her 60s was arrested in connection with the murder of Andrew Burns (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe victim was shot twice in the back (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatKelly was told to bring Burns from his home in Strabane to Donnyloop for a punishment shooting (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThree men were waiting in a hedge at the church car park (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatAndrew Burns was a Strabane native (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe murder was dissident linked (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMartin Kelly was linked to the Óglaigh na hÉireann group (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatKelly was told to bring Burns from Strabane to Donnyloop for a punishment shooting (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatKelly drove the victim to the church car park where three men were waiting in a hedge (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA gunman fired at Burns, who ran but was hit by a second fatal shot (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatAll three men got into Kelly's car and he drove them back across the border (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThey stopped to hide the gun in a hedge (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe victim was shot on a roadway close to Donnyloop Church, Co Donegal (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereShe was held at a Garda station in the North West region (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe shooting took place on a roadway close to Donnyloop Church (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe murder occurred on 12 February 2008 (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe woman was arrested on Thursday 14 May 2026 (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe shooting occurred on 12 February 2008 (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeAndrew Burns was killed by Óglaigh na hÉireann (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe woman is being held pursuant to Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939 (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí are appealing for information about a red van in the area of Donnyloop, Castlefin, Co Donegal at around 7pm on 12 February 2008 (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationKelly was interviewed by gardaí and PSNI at a hotel in Northern Ireland where he admitted to his role (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationA woman in her 60s was arrested in connection with the murder of Andrew Burns in Co Donegal (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe woman was released without charge on Friday 15 May 2026 (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationA file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí believe several people were involved in the murder (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationKelly was interviewed by gardaí and PSNI at a hotel in Northern Ireland where he admitted his role (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtMartin Kelly was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the murder in 2012 (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe murder was linked to the dissident group Óglaigh na hÉireann (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe victim was a Strabane native (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 15 May2026
    Arrestedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Woman held in Andrew Burns murder probe released without charge

    Reports the release without charge of a woman in her 60s arrested in the Andrew Burns murder investigation, and provides background on the 2008 killing and Martin Kelly's 2012 life sentence conviction.

    victim, Andrew Burns, male, non-irish (judged from name)Andrew Burnsconvicted, Martin Kelly, male, named at arrest, irish (judged from name)Martin Kellysuspect, 60s, female
  2. 15 May2026
    Arrestedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Woman arrested over dissident murder of Andrew Burns in Donegal

    New arrest of a woman in her 60s under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939; Gardaí appealing for information about a red van near the scene on the night of the murder.

    victim, Andrew Burns, male, non-irish (judged from name)Andrew Burnssuspect, 60s, femaleconvicted, Martin Kelly, male, named at arrest, irish (judged from name)Martin Kelly