Man jailed for trying to hire hitman to kill couple

Ms Justice Biggs said the man "hatched the plan" to kill his wife's online friends with a man he knew to be "unhinged" and who had previous convictions

The judge set the headline sentence at eight years but having considered all mitigating factors she reduced it to five years with the final six months suspended for one year.

A man who tried to hire a hitman to kill a couple that were exchanging intimate online messages with his now ex-wife has been jailed for four-and-a-half years by the Central Criminal Court.

Bryan Kennedy (35) will not begin his sentence immediately because Ms Justice Caroline Biggs said she wants to allow time for the child and family agency Tusla to put in place supports for his children. She adjourned the matter until April 17 next when Kennedy is expected to be taken into custody once the court has been satisfied that his children will not be disadvantaged by his prison sentence.