Ireland Crime

Named as

Convicted

Born

Between June 1973 and May 1974, from the ages reported

Offences

Extortion

Where

Co. Louth

Reporting

2 reports, 7 May 2026 to 15 Jun 2026

Outlets

rte.ie

• Three men sentenced for extortion of Drogheda businessman Extortion · Co. Louth

  Following the breakdown of a business partnership, businessman Neil Kelly had a pipe bomb and four bullets left at his front door in Drogheda in August 2023, and was threatened that he would end up like Kevin Lunny. Thomas O'Gorman (63), Francis O'Hanlon (61) and Darren Cole (52) held meetings with Mr Kelly between November and December 2023 at the City North Hotel in Gormanstown, demanding money with menaces. O'Hanlon was arrested in February 2024, and all three men pleaded guilty to one count of demanding money with menaces. On 15 June 2026, Judge Dara Hayes at Dundalk Circuit Court sentenced O'Gorman to seven and a half years, O'Hanlon to five years and three months, and Cole to four and a half years, each with the final 12 months suspended.

  Sentenced, 15 Jun 2026Convicted · 2 reports

Each entry shows how that report described them.

1. 15 Jun2026
   Sentencedrte.ie, in Three men sentenced for extortion of Drogheda businessman

   Three men jailed over extortion of Drogheda businessman

   convicted, Darren Cole, 52, male, named, irish (judged from name)Darren Cole♂52IE
2. 7 May2026
   In courtrte.ie, in Three men sentenced for extortion of Drogheda businessman

   Extortion case hears of 'devastating' threats to man

   convicted, Darren Cole, 52, male, namedDarren Cole♂52

Matched on the name as printed, ignoring quoted nicknames, and split by the ages reported. Two people who share a name and age would appear together here.