There is “a new form of pernicious crime” which is increasing exponentially, where someone in the grip of a drugs debt is ordered to carry out an assassination or decides to eliminate their creditor, according to Mr Justice Paul Carney.
Giving an eight-year jail sentence to a man for attempted murder, the judge said this type of defendant “is not going to be deterred by high sentences but it doesn’t mean the sentence should not reflect the gravity of the offence”.
Thomas Ryan (32), McKee Park, Cabra, had pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of Patrick Charles O’Neill on Glasnevin Avenue, Ballymun, on August 26th, 2013.
The Central Criminal Court heard that Ryan had shot himself first in the leg while pulling a double-barrel sawn-off shotgun from his trousers.
Mr Justice Carney sentenced Ryan to 10 years with the final two suspended and backdated it to August 28th, 2013, for time spent in custody. He took into account Ryan’s early plea and his admissions before unconditionally suspending the final two years of the sentence. Ryan had 13 previous convictions.
Mr O’Neill was out cycling when he saw a man pulling at his trousers and a shot went off.
A man wearing a baseball cap held a gun out and shot Mr O’Neill in the stomach, the court heard.
Mr O’Neill described being shot on the left side of the stomach area. He said he knew the culprit to see but he never had any dealings with him. He stumbled to a house where a doctor dressed the wound before handing him over to A&E personnel.
Ryan had built up a debt as a result of drugs, the court heard. He had been told it was either him or Mr O’Neill and that his family would be in danger if he went to gardaí.
Michael O’Higgins SC, defending, said his client’s remorse was “genuine” and that Ryan was relieved that Mr O’Neill had not died.