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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
Emma McMenamy

Veronica Guerin killer Brian Meehan developing golfing green for fellow inmates to play on

Brian Meehan has been PUTTING in his time in an open jail by developing a golfing green for inmates to play on.

Veronica Guerin’s killer was recently given the go-ahead to design a putting green on a designated plot at low security Shelton Abbey in Co Wicklow.

The 55-year-old, who already spends his evenings perfecting his golf swing on the prison grounds, has spent the last few weeks flattening out the area.

Read More: Veronica Guerin's killer to stay in jail after her heartbroken family object to release

He even jokingly asked prison bosses to buy the same grass seed which is used at the world renowned Augusta Golf Club in the US.

A source said: “Meehan loves swinging a golf club and spends his spare time perfecting his game.

“Himself and a few other inmates spend a couple of hours in the evening before dinner playing.

“He recently came up with the idea of developing a putting green and asked prison bosses if it was possible.

“Prison bosses designated a small piece of land for him to develop and he has been busy preparing it.

“He has worked hard trying to flatten it out.

“He even joked with jail bosses about getting the best grass seed for it from Augusta.”

Brian Meehan on the pitch and putt course in Shelton Abbey, an open prison in Arklow, Co Wicklow (Mick O'Neill)

Meehan, who has spent 22 years behind bars, was moved to the open facility on August 30, 2021 after a parole board approved the transfer in order to “progress” his sentence.

The thug was handed a life sentence for the murder of Ms Guerin and a further five to 25 years for drugs and firearms charges, to run concurrently.

Meehan was driving the motorbike while pillion passenger Patrick ‘Dutchy’ Holland, now deceased, fired six shots at the journalist at traffic lights on June 26, 1996.

Murdered Irish journalist Veronica Guerin (Photocall Ireland)
Veronica Guerin was shot dead as she drove on a dual carriageway in County Dublin (Irish Times/REUTERS)

Holland was never charged with her murder due to lack of evidence but gardai named him in a subsequent drugs court case as the trigger man.

Crime boss John Gilligan was later acquitted of ordering the killing which shocked the nation and prompted the setting up of the Criminal Assets Bureau.

Meehan was convicted on the evidence of Russell Warren, a member of John Gilligan’s drugs gang who turned State evidence.

During the convicted drug dealer’s 1999 trial, the three judges at the Special Criminal Court did not recommend how many years he should serve.

Meehan was at high security Portlaoise Prison before being moved to Wheatfield in 2019.

A spokeswoman for the Irish Prison Service said there are plans for a putting green to be developed at the jail.

She added: “Shelton Abbey has the space to provide a pitch and putt course which has proved popular during recreational times and makes a valuable contribution around the rehabilitation function within Shelton Abbey.”

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