One of ‘Southwest Seven' pleads guilty to conspiring to import drugs
One of seven men charged with conspiring to bring a large quantity of drugs into the country pleaded guilty to the offence at the Special Criminal Court this morning.
Conor Costello (31) of Earhart Park, Madamsbank Road, Derry in Northern Ireland pleaded guilty before the three-judge court to a charge that he conspired with others on dates between December 18, 2024 and January 15, 2025, both dates inclusive, within and outside the State, to import controlled drugs worth in excess of €13,000.
The offence is contrary to section 71 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006.
The three-judge, non-jury court adjourned Costello's case and those of his six co-accused to October 20.
The other men charged with the same offence are Gary Monks (40) of Amulree Place, Glasgow, Scotland; Ryan Watson (32) of Mailerbeg Gardens, Modiesburn, Glasgow; Miljan Koprivica (45) of Bollin Drive, Manchester.
Three Filipino men are also charged: Hanz Pangahin (36), Christopher Ampo (44) and Feljon Lao (62).
Conor Costello
News in 90 Seconds - July 23rd
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Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
'Gerry Hutch has brains to burn - and he's not finished with politics yet'
The Monk Gerry Hutch is like the cat with nine lives. Throughout his life he has managed to make money from a life of crime and stay one step ahead of the law at the same time. He says himself he was forced into criminality through poverty and deprivation, and like many others was left with no other choice. At the same time he recently made it publicly clear he does not want to see young people from his native North inner city of Dublin getting involved in crime like he had to as a kid. Gardai are still investigating the Monk for being head of the Hutch crime organisation. He claims he is innocent, Whether he will ever be prosecuted for this offence remains to be seen. The Three Judges in the Special Criminal Court also cleared him of the Regency Hotel murder of Kinahan henchman David Byrne and were dubious about the evidence of the State's star witness against him, the ex-Sinn Fein councillor Jonathan Dowdall. Dowdall and his family are now in the Witness Protection Program and will be given a new identity and a new life abroad as part of the deal. Whether you like Gerry Hutch or not he has brains to burn and is a very clever guy. Whatever money he made from crime years ago he invested it wisely and built up a very successful property portfolio stretching from Dublin, London to Lanzarote where he lives most of the time, to Bulgaria and the United States. Independent candidate Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch outside RDS Simmonscourt, Dublin, (Image: Brian Lawless/PA Wire) He is a multi millionaire who has never forgotten where he came from or his humble beginnings. When Gerry Hutch speaks, he is a bit like Michael O'Leary in some respects, you need to pay attention. He has his finger on the pulse and talks a lot of sense. It was no fluke that he received over 3,000 first preference votes in last year's General Election and narrowly missed out on a Dail seat, finishing fifth in the Four Seater Dublin North constituency. He was 2,000 votes ahead going into the last 11th count and was then pipped at the post by Maria Sherlock of Labour who got a massive vote transfer. Instead of whining about why he lost, Hutch decided to educate himself about our Proportional Representation election system and personally contacted a number of academics to see what he could learn. This contact has resulted in him giving his views on Irish politics in a new book How Ireland Voted In 2024. He came to the conclusion that the single transferable voting system that Ireland uses favours the big established political parties which can distribute votes strategically among multiple candidates. He wrote: "This is what happened. I was over 2,000 votes ahead of the next candidate at one stage and looked likely to take the seat. However, an unusually high transfer between the established candidates meant I was overtaken at the last count. "This system highlights the challenges faced by Independents but also underscores the need for reform." But one of the big things he learned from the election was the absolute detachment of working class communities in deprived areas from politics. Many people, especially the youth, don't realise that they have to register to vote. Gerry Hutch revealed: "One critical insight I gained is that many working class individuals underestimate the power of the vote. Political parties benefit from the lack of awareness, as it maintains the status quo. "This has to change through both education and changing the requirements for citizens to register to vote. During my campaign I spoke to many people who were unaware that they needed to register to vote. "I strongly believe that everyone in Ireland should be automatically registered , allowing them to vote upon presenting ID at the polling booth. "The current system disproportionately affects working class communities and those less fortunate, as they must first navigate the registration process before they can even cast their votes. "Many of the households I visited and individuals I spoke to were unaware of the registration requirement and were disappointed to learn they had missed the deadline. The system benefits the established political order while doing very little to educate non voters on the importance and impact of participating in elections." Hutch has hit the nail on the head. If we are serious about getting people out to vote and not having the future of the country being decided every time by 65pc of the population who show up then we need to persuade the other 35pc to vote. The starting point for all of this is to get them on the voting register and to make it easy to do so. The big parties may privately not like it but there is little they can do. There needs to be a big national campaign to make it easier for people to vote. Gerry Hutch also believes that his recent arrest in Lanzarote last October over money laundering allegations was a " stitch up" because he was running for the Dail at the time. He is adamant that he committed no crime on the holiday island where he has a home and also rents out several properties to local people at affordable prices. The Monk is not finished with politics and is determined to run for the Dail again. We can now expect a massive registration drive in the North Inner city. In fact it should be happening in every constituency in Ireland. Let the smaller parties and the independents take note. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Sunday World
05-08-2025
- Sunday World
Violent thug involved in ‘RAT' branding attack is leader of Dublin crime mob
Devon Hennessy has operated as one of the leaders of a west Dublin mob involved in drug dealing, gang feuds, gun and firebomb attacks, and extreme violence in recent years Devon Hennessy has been warned of a threat to his life The thug who has pleaded guilty this week to falsely imprisoning and assaulting a man who was beaten and had the word 'RAT' branded on his body is a violent gangland figure with a lengthy involvement in serious crime. Devon Hennessy (29) of Edgewood Lawns, Corduff, Dublin, admitted at the Special Criminal Court to assaulting the victim as part of a joint enterprise aimed at 'enhancing the ability of a criminal organisation to commit a serious offence'. Devon has operated as one of the leaders of a west Dublin mob involved in drug dealing, gang feuds, gun and firebomb attacks, and extreme violence in recent years. He has survived several attempts on his life and his father Jason Hennessy Snr was shot dead as part of a feud in west Dublin on Christmas Eve, 2023. Last August, Devon survived an attempted assassination after a gunman opened fire on him while he was driving a bullet-proof BMW. Gardai later seized the vehicle, which was suspected to have been previously used by associates of the notorious Dundon crime gang. The shooting, however, was not the first time Devon had been targeted by gunmen. He has been involved in various gang wars throughout most of his adult life and was a key player in the Corduff feud which began at the end of 2018 following a dispute between two rival drugs. By the following year, there were multiple shooting incidents, assaults, stabbings, firebomb attacks and a machete attack at Finglas Garda Station linked to the feud. Devon, who was key player in the violence, survived a number of incidents when gunmen opened up on his home and vehicle around that time, including one incident where five shots were fired at a car he was travelling in in 2019. 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The garda witness said he was aware there were 'background issues' between Hennessy and this other man and he immediately intervened and tried to restrain Hennessy. The Corduff feud has seen vehicles fire bombed He said Hennessy resisted him and tried to go back to the other man shouting at him 'you are a dead man'. A number of other officers had to assist to continue to physically restrain Hennessy, while other associates of his tried to get involved in the situation. The feud continued as Devon and his gang regularly became involved in violent incidents and pushed drugs in west Dublin. The violence eventually caught up with the gang and Devon's father Jason Hennessy Snr was fatally injured while having a meal with associates in Browne's Steakhouse in Blanchardstown on Christmas Eve in 2023. Tristan Sherry, pictured, died after his gun attack on Hennessy Snr The gunman, Tristan Sherry, was attacked by seven men and killed at the scene. Jason Hennessy Snr died in hospital 11 days after he was shot. Three men have been found guilty of murdering Sherry, three others have been convicted of violent disorder and another was jailed for removing a firearm from the scene. The feuding continued in the aftermath of the attack, including the attempt on Devon's life as well as another hit attempt linked to the feud which was foiled by gardai. The gang was also behind numerous firebomb attacks in the area, including on the homes of innocent people, as they continued to try to rule the locality through fear and violence. Jason Hennessy Snr Just weeks after the August 2024 gun attack, Hennessy was back before the courts after he was found guilty of having zopiclone tablets for sale or supply after he and an associate were caught with them in a car near Cloverhill Prison. The drugs were wrapped in four packets, each containing a mobile phone and weights, and gardai suspect they were hoping to get them into the prison. Devon would soon find himself inside that same jailhouse after his involvement in the assault and false imprisonment of Barry Moore at a house on Sheephill Avenue, Dublin, on February 12, 2025. His brothers Jason Hennessy Jr (28) and Brandon Hennessy (22) of Sheephill Avenue, Blanchardstown, Dublin; as well as 45-year-old Kenneth Fitzsimons and his son Dean Fitzsimons, of Castlecurragh Vale, Mulhuddart, Dublin, were also arrested in relation to the attack and are awaiting trial on the matter. Devon and the four other men went on hunger strike in Cloverhill Prison in March this year, telling staff they were unhappy with restrictions placed upon them while on remand in the high-security facility. However, the hunger strike lasted less than 24 hours The Hennessy's house 'They didn't last much longer than if they'd skipped their dinner,' a source told us at the time. 'They gave up as soon as the first pangs of hunger hit. 'When inmates go on hunger strike, there are food refusal protocols that kick in after 24 hours. 'They didn't make it long enough for those to kick in.' Hennessy was in court around that time after admitting to dangerously driving a scrambler bike in west Dublin. He drove at high speed along footpaths in the busy Blanchardstown area, causing pedestrians to jump out of his way, and across a green area where young children were playing. He was given a four month sentence, €500 fine and two year driving ban. He has been remanded in custody to October 7 this year for a sentencing date to be fixed. Devon Hennessy has been warned of a threat to his life News in 90 Seconds - Tuesday, August 5th
Sunday World
05-08-2025
- Sunday World
Mr Flashy's brother avoids more jail time for drug offences
Eric O'Driscoll (23) was caught with cannabis and MDMA Eric O'Driscoll was already serving a lengthy sentence A brother of well-known gangster 'Mr Flashy' has avoided more jail time for drug offences. Eric O'Driscoll (23) was given a six-month sentence, effective immediately, when he appeared before Blanchardstown District Court. O'Driscoll is the brother of Glen Ward (32), who was named by gardaí in a Cab case earlier this year as the crime boss known as Mr Flashy. Glen Ward and Eric O'Driscoll O'Driscoll is currently serving a five-year sentence imposed by the Special Criminal Court in April for firing a semi-automatic rifle from a house, while Ward is serving a five-and-a-half year sentence for possession of the same weapon. Earlier this week, before Blanchardstown court, O'Driscoll admitted possession of cannabis. Garda Dwayne O'Brien said gardaí obtained a warrant and searched a house at Deanstown Green in Finglas on April 28, 2023. The value of the cannabis was €20, Gda O'Brien told the court. O'Driscoll also admitted possession of MDMA and having the drug for sale or supply, at Ratoath Avenue in Finglas on November 26, 2020. The value of the MDMA was €264. The court heard that O'Driscoll had 11 previous convictions. Defence lawyer Ciaran MacLoughlin said O'Driscoll was serving a lengthy sentence and was not due for release until February 2028. Judge David McHugh convicted and sentenced O'Driscoll to six months in prison.
