
Beautician who helped gunman ex evade arrest says ‘I'll be home soon' as she's jailed
A jury convicted Rachel Redmond (35) - the younger sister of career criminal Robert "Roo" Redmond - of attempting to impede Wayne Cooney's apprehension
A woman who helped her then partner - "an extremely dangerous" killer - to "lie low" after he gunned down a young drug dealer on Dublin's northside told her supporters today 'I'll be home soon, don't worry' after she was jailed for four years.
In March a jury convicted Rachel Redmond (35) - the younger sister of career criminal Robert "Roo" Redmond - of attempting to impede Wayne Cooney's apprehension or prosecution while knowing or believing him to have committed murder by driving him from the scene and paying for a hotel room in her name.
The trial heard evidence that, after he got into the car, Redmond remarked to Cooney that there had been a shooting in Darndale and he replied: "It's a mad place."
Rachel Redmond (File photo: Collins Courts)
Cooney had minutes earlier shot dead young father Jordan Davis in an execution-style killing on May 22, 2019 at a laneway beside Our Lady Immaculate Junior National School in Darndale. Mr Davis was pushing his four-month-old son in a pram when Cooney cycled up behind him and fired eight shots, three of which struck him, causing his immediate death.
Cooney fled the scene on his bicycle and went to a bus stop near the Clarehall Shopping Centre, where Rachel Redmond arranged to pick him up in her friend's car. That night, she paid for Cooney to stay at the Clayton Hotel near Dublin Airport.
Rachel Redmond
News in 90 Seconds - May 19th
At today's sentencing hearing at the Central Criminal Court, Mr Justice Paul Burns said that rather than being 'revulsed' after learning about the murder, Redmond 'chose to assist' her then-partner and allowed him to "lie low"
He said that there was no evidence that Redmond was reluctant to help Cooney and she aided him to avoid capture when important forensic evidence could have been gathered.
The judge said that the maximum sentence for this type of crime is ten years and that Redmond's actions fell in the 'upper end of middle range' for offending.
He said that her assistance in the crime was 'not spur of the moment' and that Redmond must have given considerable thought to what she was doing over the course of the day.
Dominic McGinn SC, defence counsel for Redmond, said last Monday that despite his client's plea of not guilty, she now accepts the jury's verdict and understands why they convicted her.
Mr Justice Burns said he had 'reservations' about Mr McGinn's statement that Redmond was 'blinded by the relationship and turned a blind eye rather than deliberately setting out to commit a crime."
Wayne Cooney, Jordan Davis and Rachel Redmond
The judge said that he had considered the mitigating circumstances in the case, including Redmond's lack of previous relevant convictions and her good work record. The court was told last week that Redmond has worked as a beautician, including for the IFSC and Aer Lingus. She has also worked in security for the Saudi Arabian embassy and for the psychiatric unit at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin.
He set a headline sentence of six years on each count but reduced that to five years with both counts to run concurrently. He suspended the final year of the sentence for a period of three years.
Redmond's only reaction to the sentencing being passed was to say: 'Thank you judge'. She told those who had come to support her: 'I'll be home soon, don't worry.'
Redmond had taken the stand at her trial, claiming that she did not know what Cooney had done, that she was in love with him and was unable to see the bad in him.
Last week, Redmond's counsel submitted that his client was "perhaps naive" and had "turned a blind eye rather than deliberately setting out to commit a crime". The court heard that Redmond had also written a letter of apology to the family of Jordan Davis.
At trial, the prosecution described Redmond's testimony that she didn't know Wayne Cooney had committed "any crime at all" as "absolutely risible".
Seoirse Ó Dúnlaing SC, for the State, added: "The accused is saying 'I didn't know'; If you said that to a horse you would get a kick".
Following Redmond's trial, the jury took seven hours and 33 minutes over three days to unanimously accept the State's case.
After she was convicted, she shouted from the dock: "I didn't do it though, I didn't do anything."
The trial heard Ms Redmond was in phone contact with Cooney just five minutes after the shooting and remained talking to him for over three minutes. She later went to the Clayton Hotel that night, where she used her own bank card to pay for a room for Cooney while he remained out of sight.
It was the State's case that drug dealer Robert Redmond was engaged "in some acrimony" with Mr Davis. A detective testified that "tick lists" found at two addresses linked to Robert Redmond had contained the name "Jordo" - the same nickname Jordan Davis was known by - with amounts up to €153,000 recorded as owing.
Some €70,000 was written beside one entry with the words "not yet" in capital letters.
Evidence was given that Mr Davis was warned by Robert Redmond - "I'm on your case mate, it won't be long" and "soon, very soon bang bang" - 19 days before he was shot to death.
Cooney was convicted of the murder in 2022, while Robert Redmond pleaded guilty in April 2024 to conspiring together with Cooney to murder Mr Davis on or about May 22, 2019 and was sentenced to seven years in prison.
A career criminal, Robert Redmond has 99 previous convictions which include those for the possession of firearms and ammunition with intention to endanger life and the possession of heroin, while he is currently serving a life sentence for murder. He also has convictions for blackmail and extortion, threats to kill and assault causing harm.
Rachel Redmond, who is from Coolock but has an address at Clifdenville Road, Cliftonville Avenue, North Belfast, Antrim was charged on two counts that on or about May 22 and May 23 2019, in the county of the City of Dublin, did knowingly or believing that another person, namely Wayne Cooney, committed an arrestable offence, to wit murder, without reasonable excuse did an act with intent to impede his apprehension or prosecution.
Ms Redmond had pleaded not guilty to the two counts.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Sunday World
4 hours ago
- Sunday World
Gardaí engaged in ‘controlled delivery' of arms and ammo to supermarket shooter, committee hears
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris faces questions from TDs Evan Fitzgerald, from Kiltegan in Co Wicklow, who died in a shooting incident at the Fairgreen Shopping Centre in Carlow. Photo: PA Gardaí engaged in a 'controlled delivery' of arms and ammunition to Carlow shopping centre shooter Evan Fitzgerald, a Dáil committee has been told. Fitzgerald (22) who died in the shooting incident at the Fairgreen centre, was arrested by Gardaí last year for possession of firearms and explosives. TDs today heard a suggestion that undercover officers had met Mr Fitzgerald before the two weapons and a quantity of ammunition were delivered. In other jurisdictions, "controlled delivery" can mean that weapons are supplied to suspects by undercover officers. Fitzgerald had been out on bail when he staged his Carlow attack. It is understood that a sum of €3,000 may have been involved in the acquisition of the guns and ammunition on the Dark Web. Former Labour Party leader Alan Kelly asked outgoing Garda Commissioner Drew Harris about the lead-up to the Carlow shooting incident during his appearance before the Justice Committee. Mr Kelly asked the provenance of the guns that the "deceased young man" bought off the Dark web. He added: "Was this a controlled delivery of guns and ammunition?" He also asked: "Did undercover Gardai engage face-to-face with this young man prior to this delivery of guns and ammunition?" Commissioner Harris said: "I would say that controlled delivery is very sensitive police methodology." He added: "We use it for both organised crime and for our terrorist defence." Mr Kelly returned to the issue later, saying that Evan Fitzgerald was "engaged with by An Garda Síochána', and "was met by An Garda Síochána undercover, guns and ammunition were taken from headquarters, they were delivered to him, and he was arrested. "An Garda Síochána agreed to his bail, and subsequently he killed himself. I have serious concern in relation to all of that." Mr Harris did not comment on this additional statement. The Commissioner said he was aware of Sunday newspaper allegations published last month, which he had then referred to Fiosú, the Office of the Police Ombudsman. "They have since examined the investigation file that was submitted by the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau to the DPP, and they've responded that they have no further action that they wish to take in pursuance." The decision of the Ombudsman came in recent days, on Friday 6 June last. Evan Fitzgerald, from Kiltegan in Co Wicklow, who died in a shooting incident at the Fairgreen Shopping Centre in Carlow. Photo: PA News in 90 Seconds - Tuesday June 10 Mr Kelly said: "I find that amazing. It's the quickest thing that's ever been turned around by them or their predecessors. "There are investigations in relation to a whole range of things that have run on seven years, six years, five years. "It's amazing that something can be turned around so fast." He asked to see what had been referred to them. Commissioner Harris offered to forward to the committee a description of what was asked for and what was supplied. Mr Kelly asked again whether the Commissioner was in a position to say whether Gardaí "engaged with this individual [Fitzgerald] prior to this controlled delivery, that was organised by An Garda Síochana in relation to these guns and ammunition." He also asked again about where the guns had actually come from, appearing to question whether there had been any actual importation. The Commissioner said: "Well, again, I'm not going to speak to the provenance of the firearms because that touches upon sensitive methodology.'


Sunday World
4 hours ago
- Sunday World
Brother of man missing since October says his remains have been found in Co Down river
Gary Patterson was last seen alive in his hometown of Larne in October of last year, after being reported missing by his family The remains of a man who went missing in October have been found in a Co Down river, his brother has said. Gary Patterson was last seen alive in his hometown of Larne in October of last year, after being reported missing by his family. The 45-year-old was caught on CCTV leaving his flat in Priory Gardens and withdrew £100 from a cash machine in the Co Antrim town on October 12 at 10.30am His disappearance sparked a multi-agency search operation with rivers, forests and the Larne Lough with his heartbroken brother, Simon Patterson, accepting they were 'looking for a body.' Remains that were subsequently discovered in a river Crawfordsburn near the Ballyrobert Road area on Saturday have been found to be that of Gary's. Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Simon expressed his relief at finding the body and said he received a call from the police detailing the remains were found alongside his brothers possessions. 'I first got the news on Sunday while we were doing a search and we received a phone call from police in CID [Criminal Investigation Department] asking them to come across to speak to us,' Simon said. 'There was that much information in the call [with the police], we sort of knew because the coat and his wallet had actually been found with the body. 'We're just going through the motions. Because we have known for a wee while, we've sort of contacted funeral homes and stuff to have ourselves organized whenever the body is released. 'At the end of the day, our priority is to get closure and get him laid to rest.' Throughout the months his brother was missing, Simon employed specialist diving squads with a submersible Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) to search enclaves in Larne Lough. Gary Patterson News in 90 Seconds - Tuesday June 10 Simon told this newspaper he had been conducting searches 'religiously' every week and pledged not to stop until his brother was found. Gary was described an avid collector of DVDs, quiet and 'a wee bit of a loner', by his brother. He was known to be proud of his flat where he lived alone and 'was set in his routine', usually returning home by 4pm. His distraught brother also labelled his sibling as a 'kind' man who 'never took a drink or drugs' and loved to frequent charity shops in his hometown. A spokesman from the PSNI said: 'A post-mortem has been carried out and our efforts are ongoing to identify the remains. We can provide no time scale for this process.'


Sunday World
6 hours ago
- Sunday World
Waterford assault victim ‘extremely shaken' after being pushed to the ground and robbed
Waterford Crime Unit is investigating the robbery which occurred in the early hours of Monday, June 2 A man was walking home from work through the car park at Kilcohan Shopping Centre when two males stole his wallet which contained a sum of money Waterford gardaí are appealing for information on an assault where money was robbed from a man, after he was pushed to the ground by an assailant. Waterford Crime Unit is investigating the robbery which occurred in the early hours of Monday, June 2, on the Old Tramore Road in the Kilcohan area of the city. A male was walking home from work at about 12.50am through the car park at Kilcohan Shopping Centre when two males approached him and demanded cash. He continued walking and one of the males pushed him to the ground and assaulted him. 'He then stole his wallet which contained a sum of money. The injured party was extremely shaken by this incident,' said Sgt O'Neill. The suspects are described as male with local Waterford accents, the first was about 5ft 9ins or 10ins, a slim build with a thin beard, the second male was shorter and was wearing a hoody. They walked off in the direction of St Herblain Park. CCTV has been obtained and members of the public who wish to assist in any way in identifying these suspects, can contact Waterford Crime Unit on 051 305300. Separately, gardaí have received reports of cars being broken into, damaged, and attempted thefts of the vehicles over the last week. 'This spans right across the city,' said crime prevention officer, Sgt Deirdre O'Neill. There were cars broken into on the O'Reilly Road area of the city just off the Cork Road, Lismore Lawn, Lisduggan, Hazelbourne and in the Ardkeen Village area close to the Dunmore Road. Some incidents occurred over the bank holiday weekend and through into Wednesday morning, June 4. 'CCTV has been obtained and investigations are ongoing. If you have any information or any relevant video doorbell footage, please contact gardaí at Waterford Garda Station on 051 305300,' said Sgt O'Neill. Some of the incidents are believed to have occurred early in the morning between 5am and 7am, so gardaí are asking anyone travelling to work at this time to be extra vigilant and report any suspicious activities. Any witness can report a crime by phoning 112/999, or use the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111. A man was walking home from work through the car park at Kilcohan Shopping Centre when two males stole his wallet which contained a sum of money News in 90 Seconds - Tuesday June 10