Breakthrough as Garda cold case unit brings first prosecution

THE Garda cold-case unit brought its first prosecution yesterday when a man was charged in connection with a murder almost five years ago.

It marks a breakthrough for the Garda Serious Crime Review Team (SCRT), which is tasked with re-examining unsolved homicides.

The unit, in conjunction with local gardaí in Co Offaly, charged a man before Cloverhill District Court in Dublin yesterday morning in relation to the murder of Paul Ryan near Birr in 2003.

His body was found at Coolderry, outside Birr, on April 12, 2003.

The 27-year-old from Grangemore Lawns, Donaghmede, north Dublin, had been shot and his body dumped in Offaly.

John O’Hanlon, 43, from Millwood, Kilbarrack, north Dublin, was charged with assisting another person in connection with the murder of Mr Ryan.

Detective Sergeant Dermot Drea of Birr Garda Station gave details of arrest, charge and caution.

He said O’Hanlon was charged with Section 7.2 of the Criminal Law Act 1997. Under this section it is an offence for someone to impede the apprehension or prosecution of another person who he or she knows to be guilty of an arrestable offence.

The court heard the accused did not say anything when charged.

Justice Brian Sheridan remanded the defendant in custody to appear back before Cloverhill District Court on 23 January.

O’Hanlon was arrested by the SCRT last year after the unit set up a review in 2007 into the unsolved case.

A file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions after his arrest. Following additional work by the SCRT, additional evidence was submitted to the DPP.

A couple of weeks ago, the DPP directed that O’Hanlon be prosecuted.

He was arrested and charged yesterday morning.

The SCRT handed over the formal charging to local gardaí.

The cold case unit was formally established in March 2007 and is tasked with review unsolved murders in the state since 1980.

It is headed by Detective Superintendent Christy Mangan and has a staff of eight experienced detectives.