Two men have been jailed for helping a gang to murder Vinnie Ryan, a brother of slain Real IRA leader Alan Ryan.
Jeffrey Morrow, 37, received an 11-year term after the judge detailed his history of crimes including conspiracy to rob a cash-in-transit van carrying €1million.
Paul O’Beirne, 36, was sentenced to nine years with Mr Justice Michael White saying he finds it difficult to understand why a man with no history of criminal activity got involved in such a serious offence.
Outside court, Kelly Smyth, Mr Ryan’s partner and the mother of his only child, said: “I’m happy that it’s all over. For myself and my daughter’s sake I just want to get on with the rest of my life.”
She described the dissident as a “great father and a great man”, adding: “We were looking forward to the rest of our lives together but sadly that was cut short.”
Mr Ryan was gunned down outside his partner’s home on McKee Road in Finglas, North Dublin, on February 19, 2016, when a gunman pulled up alongside his car and fired at least 13 rounds.
One bullet went through the victim’s head, causing death.
Ms Smyth had taken their then five-week-old daughter from the car only moments before the shooting.
O’Beirne, from Colepark Drive, Ballyfermot, and Morrow, from Burnell Court, Coolock, both Dublin, went on trial on June 24 when they pleaded not guilty to murder.
Following a lengthy legal argument the charge was dropped and the men admitted facilitating a serious offence contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006.
The court heard they provided and destroyed a stolen Volkswagen Golf used by gunmen in the “drive-by” shooting.
The car was found burnt out on a laneway near Naas, Co Kildare.
The judge said although he was not dealing with a murder sentence, “there was a proximity to this callous crime which the court considers a very serious aggravating factor”.
He noted O’Beirne had 25 previous convictions, 24 for minor road traffic matters, but added an assault conviction was for “going too far” when he was trying to stop someone breaking into cars on his street.
The judge said: “Considering his record I’m surprised he has got himself involved in this. He doesn’t seem to be involved in criminal activity before.”
He added Morrow is “completely different” and had 120 previous convictions.
The judge said he had shown a “reckless disregard for law and order from when he was a young man”.
He noted the accused’s convictions for possession of a firearm, threatening to kill or cause serious injury and conspiracy to rob a cash-in-transit van of €1million.
He added: “At the time of this offence Mr Morrow was inextricably linked up to a criminal organisation and had made choices in relation to that and that is a very serious aggravating factor.”
He said a mitigating factor for both men was their guilty pleas and close connections with their children.
Outside court, Det Supt Colm Murphy told reporters the convictions “show An Garda Siochana’s determination in combating organised crime gangs”.
He added: “Vincent Ryan’s murder was brutal, callous and shocking, carried out in broad daylight. I would like to thank the many people who gave evidence.”
