Gardai hunt Kinahan shooter’s helper in murder of ‘completely innocent’ grandad as victim’s daughter issues plea

Gardai hunt Kinahan shooter’s helper in murder of ‘completely innocent’ grandad as victim’s daughter issues plea
Gardai hunt Kinahan shooter’s helper in murder of ‘completely innocent’ grandad as victim’s daughter issues plea

GARDAI are still hunting one other man who was involved in the Kinahan murder of Noel Kirwan, The Irish Sun on Sunday can reveal.

A European Arrest warrant has been issued for cartel chief Sean McGovern over the 2016 killing.

Noel Kirwan with his daughter DonnaCredit: Collect
Noel Kirwan with his son Kristopher

But investigators are also working to ID another man believed to have helped the unidentified shooter on the night of the grandfather’s murder.

He was shot dead as he sat in a car with partner Bernadette Roe outside their home in Clondalkin, Dublin, just three days before Christmas in 2016.

The Special Criminal Court later heard how innocent Mr Kirwan was shot simply because he was photographed standing beside Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch at the funeral of his brother Eddie.

The Garda hunt for the other gang member follows the conviction of four other men — including cartel quartermaster Declan ‘Mr Nobody’ Brady — for their roles in the 11th murder of the Kinahan and Hutch feud.

And speaking to us after fitness fanatic Michael Crotty, 42, from Aras na Ri, Cashel, Co Tipperary, appeared at the Special Criminal Court last week, Mr Kirwan’s daughter Donna told of her ongoing pain.

Crotty is due to be sentenced on May 13 after he previously pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder.

Donna told The Irish Sun on Sunday: “It’s very reassuring to know individuals are still being pursued over my father’s murder.

“I know that the investigation has an international dimension to it and this is also important.

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“Despite the passage of time, I would still encourage anyone with the slightest bit of information on the murder of a completely innocent man to come forward.

“Four people have already been convicted for the different roles they played but I know the pursuit of justice will continue.”

Noel’s son, Kristopher, previously told us of the killing: “This whole nightmare has destroyed us.”

The Special Criminal Court heard Crotty bought a €20 phone credit for wanted McGovern.

During her latest appearance in court last Monday, Donna also addressed the cartel facilitator in her victim impact statement.

She said: “I hope the judges take into account that you and your friends did not only take our father’s life — you also robbed us of ours. We are the ones who will serve this sentence not you.

“Hopefully you will all never see the light of day again.”

‘PAIN WILL NEVER LEAVE ME’

DONNA told the court in 2018 that December 22 started off as a normal day for the family but it turned into their “worst nightmare.”

Noel’s partner, Bernadette Roe, was in the passenger seat of Mr Kirwan’s car at the time of the attack.

They had just returned from a Christmas lunch in a restaurant in Crumlin with Ms Roe’s daughter.

Ms Kirwan said she was expecting a call from her father that day but instead she received a call from Bernadette’s daughter, Carolyn, who sounded in a state of panic and told her she had to come straight out to Clondalkin as Noel had been shot.

She said: “I just remember screaming for someone to help and a man who works on my floor came running towards me, he grabbed his keys and we ran to his car.

“I felt like we were in traffic for hours because everyone was out doing their Christmas shopping. I rang Carolyn on the way and said they were working on him in the ambulance.

Ms Kirwan said she jumped from the car when they arrived at the scene and began screaming asking people to tell her dad that she was there.

She said: “I asked them where my dad was and Carolyn said ‘I’m so sorry Donna he didn’t make it’. I couldn’t take in what she was saying to me.

“I begged the police men to let me see him but they said they were sorry that they couldn’t.”

The court heard: “I remember standing there later on watching his body being removed from the scene.

“The pain I felt that night will never leave me. I kept asking people over and over is this really happening, is this real.”

She added: “You chose to go and buy the credit for the phone that would be used in a murder and that was your decision. How could you sleep that night knowing they had just taken the life of an innocent grandfather?”

And she asked: “Did they pay you well? Was it worth it? Would you like to apologize to us Mr Crotty? Judging by your actions I don’t think you would be man enough.”

Jason Keating, 32, became the first member of the cartel hit team to be jailed over the murder when he received a ten-year sentence for playing a role of “real significance” in the killing.

Read more on the Irish Sun

Cartel enabler Martin Aylmer, 36, received an eight-year term for buying trackers used in the hit and also for his role in the plot to kill James ‘Mago’ Gately in 2017.

‘Mr Nobody’ Brady — who was running a cartel arms depot before it was raided by cops — was convicted for providing logistics to the gang and is due to be sentenced this week.

A European Arrest warrant has been issued for cartel chief Sean McGovernCredit: Crispin Rodwell – The Sun Dublin
Michael Crotty bought a €20 phone credit for wanted McGovernCredit: Collins Photo Agency
 
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