Judge jails man for witholding information on murder
A 44-year-old Dublin man has been sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison for withholding information in relation to a murder in Co. Offaly over six years ago, in the Central Criminal Court today.
John O’Hanlon with an address at Millwood, Kilbarrack, Co. Dublin had pleaded guilty to withholding information about the murder of Paul Ryan (aged 27) of Grangemore Lawns, Donaghmede, Dublin who was shot in the head on April 12, 2003 near Birr, Co. Offaly.
The court had previously heard that on the day of the shooting Mr O’Hanlon was travelling in a car with Mr Ryan and a third man; the car pulled up on the side of the road near Birr, Co. Offaly and Mr O’Hanlon and Mr Ryan got out.
The two men were standing beside each other on the side of the road when the third man shot Mr Ryan in the head.
Mr O’Hanlon told gardaí that he fled the scene in fear of his life - travelling to Co. Derry, London and finally Amsterdam.
In Amsterdam, Mr O’Hanlon was arrested and while in custody he told Dutch authorities that he might have information in relation to a murder.
The Dutch authorities informed gardaí who flew to Amsterdam in December 2004, to interview Mr O’Hanlon about the murder but he refused to co-operate.
In June 2007, Mr O’Hanlon returned to Dublin having completed a two-year sentence in Amsterdam.
In June 4, 2007 he went to Ballbriggan garda station where he told gardaí what he had witnessed in relation to the murder of Paul Ryan.
Det Sgt Dermot Drea of Birr garda station, said gardaí were satisfied Mr O’Hanlon had no knowledge of the third man’s intentions and that the shooting had a traumatic impact on him.
He told the court that Mr O’Hanlon was a drug addict with a long history of criminal convictions dating from 1981.
Mr O’Hanlon is currently serving a six-year prison sentence for a firearm-related offence.
In handing down the sentence Mr Justice Paul Carney described the facts of the case as ‘’truly chilling’’ noting that they highlighted the seriousness of the crime but also explained why the accused would be fearful in co-operating with the authorities.
Mr Justice Carney took account of Mr O’Hanlon’s plea of guilty and time served to date in addition to the trauma he suffered as a result of witnessing the murder
However, he also noted that Mr O’Hanlon had ‘’an appalling record of previous convictions’’.
In balancing these factors Mr Justice Carney sentenced Mr O’Hanlon to three-and-a-half years in prison to date from June 4, 2007.
