logo
He never showed remorse for brutal murder of my sister, says Veronica Guerin's brother as killer plots fresh freedom bid

He never showed remorse for brutal murder of my sister, says Veronica Guerin's brother as killer plots fresh freedom bid

The Irish Sun11-05-2025

KILLER Brian 'Tosser' ­Meehan will discover over the coming weeks if he's to be released from prison.
4
Brian Meehan has launched a fresh bid for freedom
Credit: RollingNews.ie
4
He is the only ­person convicted over the 1996 murder of journalist Veronica Guerin
Credit: RollingNews.ie
4
Veronica was shot and killed in her car on the Naas Road
Credit: Photocall Ireland
The killer — who was a key member of mob boss
Once he appears before the hearing, a decision will then be made on his request to be released from the
His latest appearance before the parole board comes after his last attempt for freedom in 2023 ended in failure.
Veronica's brother Jimmy has been notified of Meehan's hearing.
READ MORE IN IRISH NEWS
He told us: 'I can confirm I have received a phone call about Brian Meehan's parole hearing in the coming weeks.
"I am not aware of him ever showing any remorse for the brutal murder of my sister.
"The evidence is that he is of the same ilk as John Gilligan."
At present, Meehan, 57, is currently being held at Shelton Abbey Open Prison in Co
Most read in The Irish Sun
Fears over his release emerged over the weekend after he moved into a single-occupancy living unit in the jail.
He moved into the facility — used by inmates ahead of their full release — after we revealed last December how he had enjoyed secret meetings with his
CURRENT LOCATION
Since moving to the open prison in 2021, the callous killer, who was driving the motorbike when the brave journalist and mother was shot dead by hitman Patrick 'Dutchy' Holland on
As part of our latest revelations on one of Ireland's most notorious gangland criminals, we also spoke to a former
Speaking for the first time about his interactions with Meehan, retired Supt Fergus Treanor described the
"I am not aware of him ever showing any remorse for the brutal murder of my sister."
Jimmy Guerin
The former senior officer added: 'Brian Meehan is a career criminal who was a key figure in a very ­violent criminal organisation.
'He has contested the legal process at every stage and never accepted his role as the person who drove the motorbike when a journalist and mother was brutally murdered. I think his links to serious criminality will always be of concern because he doesn't know anything else.
'When we were interviewing him I remember him as being very cold with little regard for people.
'He still has connections to organised crime so it won't be difficult for him to enter this world again.'
'RUTHLESS CRIMINAL'
And Mr Treanor also spoke about Russell Warren, who testified against Meehan at his trial in 1999 and is now in the Witness Protection Programme.
Mr Treanor added: 'We still have people in the Witness Protection Programme connected to this case and they will no doubt be notified of any possible release.
'He continues to deny involvement in the murder to this day and will always be a ruthless criminal.'
Meehan is the last remaining member of Gilligan's despised gang who remains behind bars.
The pair fell out after Gilligan told a
4
Veronica's brother Jimmy has been notified of Meehan's hearing
Credit: Chris Doyle

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Man arrested after cash stolen during Dublin robbery & shop staff ‘threatened' by thief wielding knife with face covered
Man arrested after cash stolen during Dublin robbery & shop staff ‘threatened' by thief wielding knife with face covered

The Irish Sun

timea day ago

  • The Irish Sun

Man arrested after cash stolen during Dublin robbery & shop staff ‘threatened' by thief wielding knife with face covered

A MAN has been arrested in connection with a robbery earlier this week. At around 5.30pm on Monday, June 2, a man entered a filling station in the area with his face covered. According to Gardai, he was brandishing a knife. He threatened staff and took a sum of During the course of an operation that took place today, a male was arrested. READ MORE IN IRISH NEWS Gardai from the Shankill Detective Unit arrested him in the Shankill area of He was detained under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. He remains in custody at a Garda Station in the Dublin Region. In a statement this evening Gardai confirmed investigations were ongoing. Most read in Irish News A spokesperson said: "Gardai have arrested a male in connection with a robbery that occurred at a retail premises in Ballybrack Village earlier this week. "At approximately 5:30pm on Monday, 2nd June 2025, a male entered a filling station in Ballybrack Village with his face covered and brandishing a knife. Gardai roll out new tool in crackdown on e-scooters "He threatened staff and took a sum of cash before fleeing the scene. "In the course of an operation earlier today, Friday, 6th June 2025, Gardai from the Shankill Detective Unit arrested a male in the Shankill area of Dublin in connection with the investigation. "He was subsequently detained under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 and remains in custody at this time at a Garda Station in the Dublin Region. "Investigations are ongoing." 1 He remains in custody at a Garda Station in the Dublin Region Credit: Alamy

Boy, 12, who died after falling from Cliffs of Moher slipped in a puddle and lost balance inquest hears
Boy, 12, who died after falling from Cliffs of Moher slipped in a puddle and lost balance inquest hears

The Irish Sun

timea day ago

  • The Irish Sun

Boy, 12, who died after falling from Cliffs of Moher slipped in a puddle and lost balance inquest hears

A BOY, 12, lost his balance after slipping in a puddle close to the edge of the Cliffs of Moher before falling over the edge to his death, an inquest has heard. In eye-witness testimony at the Zhihan had set out on walking the Cliffs of Moher trail from Hag's Head on the Liscannor side or southern side of the Cliffs of Moher to the Cliffs of Moher visitor centre with his mother, Xianhong Huang and her friends. The two Last year, 1.49m people visited the Cliffs of Moher making it Ireland's most popular natural attraction. In her deposition, Ms Huang said that Zhihan was walking ahead of her on the Cliffs of Moher trail and she lost sight of him. READ MORE IN NEWS Speaking through an interpreter at the inquest in Kilrush, Co Clare, Ms Huang wiping away tears, asked: 'What exactly caused Zhihan to fall from the Cliffs?' Clare County Coroner, Isobel O'Dea told the distraught Ms Huang that the evidence of Ms Tourgon would help answer that question. In her deposition Ms Tourgon said that she was at the edge of the Cliffs of Moher with her husband and two children at around 1.45pm. She said that they were taking a selfie when she saw a young Asian boy, who was alone, come into view. Most read in Irish News She said: 'I saw him slipping in the puddle that appears in the photo that my husband sent to the police." Ms Tourgon said: 'His right foot slipped into the puddle with him trying to stop himself from falling with his left foot but his left foot ended up in the air.' She said: 'It was very quick - he found himself in an awkward position with his left foot in a void over the cliff and his right knee on the edge of the cliff.' Major search operation after young boy goes missing at Cliffs of Moher. Ms Tourgon said: 'His right knee eventually fell into the void over the cliff and he was trying to grasp the grass with his hands to pull himself up. He didn't shout and there was no noise.' She said that 'it is the only the few of us who saw him falling' and the Tourgons alerted the emergency services by phone. Speaking again through an interpreter, Ms Huang asked 'did he slip?' and in reply, Insp Helen Costello told her: 'It appears from the witness that he slipped into the void having stumbled in the puddle.' In her deposition, Ms Huang said that she started out from Nagle's car park in Liscannor to walk to the Cliffs of Moher with Zhihan and friends of hers. She said: 'My son walked very fast and was ahead of us by 50 metres' She said: 'As there was only one path I thought we would meet him along the way. "When I didn't I walked to the visitor centre and I checked the visitor centre." COASTGUARD OP When she couldn't find her son here, she walked back along the path to search for her son and after not finding him, she reported him missing. She said that she last saw Zhihan at 1pm that day. She said that Zhihan was a fluent English speaker and described the clothes that Zhihan was wearing that day including black shorts, Nike Air Jordans, an LA Lakers wristband and a kid's smart-watch. Sgt Claire McGuigan said that on the day, Ms Huang was able to provide a photo of Zhihan she had taken taken earlier on the Cliffs of Moher trail. He said that the Irish Coastguard had spotted a body floating in the water at the base of the Cliffs of Moher. Through the interpreter, the mother asked was the location the same spot where scenes from a Harry Potter movie were shot and Insp Costello said that they were not. Garda Collins said that a Zhihan's body would not be recovered from the sea for another five days and was recovered after fisherman, Matthew O'Halloran from Corofin, Co Clare spotted a body in the water between Doolin and the Aran Islands shortly after 10am on Sunday, July 28. 'INSTANTANEOUS' DEATH Mr O'Halloran alerted the Irish coastguard at Valentia and members of the Doolin unit of the Irish coastguard retrieved Zhihan's body from the waters and brought it ashore at Doolin. Ms O'Dea said that the post mortem found that Zhihan died from multiple traumatic injuries consistent with a fall from a height. Ms O'Dea said her verdict was one of 'accidental death'. She said: 'It is clear from evidence we heard that Zhihan slipped off the Cliffs rather than any other way. His death would have been very quick - instantaneous." Ms O'Dea told Ms HuangL 'I can't imagine how upsetting this is for you' and the two embraced as Ms Huang left the coroner's court in Kilrush. Ms O'Dea also extended her sympathies to Zhihan's father who was not present at the inquest. Addressing Ms Huang, Insp Costello said: 'The pain must be immeasurable for you all.' Ms Huang declined to comment on the record when approached for comment after the inquest. On August 22nd of last year, the Clare Local Development Company closed off large sections of part of the Cliffs of Moher trail and it remains closed off today due to continuing safety concerns. At the time, the Clare Local Development Company confirmed that it was taking the action following the two recent fatal accidents on the Cliffs of Moher trail. In May 2024, a young woman died after she fell from the Cliffs of Moher. She was in her early 20s and a college student from Belgium who was studying in 1 The boy died last year Credit: Getty Images

Inside family's ‘living nightmare' as Roscommon dad ‘completely unrecognisable' after 4 years' detention in Iraqi jail
Inside family's ‘living nightmare' as Roscommon dad ‘completely unrecognisable' after 4 years' detention in Iraqi jail

The Irish Sun

timea day ago

  • The Irish Sun

Inside family's ‘living nightmare' as Roscommon dad ‘completely unrecognisable' after 4 years' detention in Iraqi jail

THE distraught wife of an Irish-based man released on bail after being held in jail in Iraq for more than four years said her husband is 'completely unrecognisable' following his detention. Robert Pether was Advertisement 3 Robert has been trapped in an Iraqi jail for four years Credit: Facebook 3 Robert is a dad-of-three who lived in Roscommon Credit: Facebook The An Speaking on She told the programme: 'It was a shock. It was hard to be very happy to see him but also to see the state of him. Advertisement READ MORE IN IRISH NEWS 'He's completely unrecognisable. It's a shock to the system to see how far he has declined. 'I feel like a bus has hit me. It all happened so late last night.' Ms Pether added that despite the grim jail situation, her husband's cellmates were "very good to him". She explained that he fainted now and again from not eating enough, at which time those locked up with him would give him tea and honey. Advertisement MOST READ ON THE IRISH SUN Ms Pether called it "the best of a bad situation" and said she now hopes there is "light at the end of the tunnel". She added that her husband is still facing a travel ban in Iraq. The 'We don't know the exact stipulations on the travel ban but at least he's out of the prison, and in a comfortable bed.' Advertisement Ms Pether said trying to get her husband home has been 'beyond frustrating'. 'It has been a living nightmare every day. 18 hours a day, seven days a week,' she said, adding that this development was a small step in the right direction. HUGE CONCERN A mechanical engineer, Mr Pether had worked in the Towards the end of the project, a dispute arose between the Advertisement It landed Mr Pether and his In 2023, the International Chamber of Commerce's Court of Arbitration ruled that Iraq's central bank was at fault in the dispute with CME, and ordered it to pay $13m to the company. He told Advertisement 'This is welcome news, it's been a very long-running, and extraordinary distressing, time for Robert's wife, for his three children, for his wider circle of family and friends in Roscommon.' Mr Harris welcomed it as a first step to his being allowed to return to his wife and three 3 Robert's wife said he looks 'unrecognisable' after his detainment Credit: Facebook

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store