Man charged with helping criminal gang murder dad-of-four Noel ‘Duck Egg’ Kirwan

Christopher 'Noel' Kirwan (62) was shot six times as he sat in his car on December 22, 2016, at St Ronan's Drive, Clondalkin, Dublin 22.

Today at the Special Criminal Court, Michael Crotty (40), of Slí Aonghusa, Aras na Rí, Cashel, Co Tipperary, was charged with involvement in the murder.

Mr Crotty is charged under the Criminal Justice Act.

Detective Sergeant Ronan Dunne told the three-judge court that he charged Mr Crotty at 7am in the precincts of the court.

He said he outlined to the accused that he was to be charged in front of the non-jury court and read over the charge to him in full.

Det Sgt Dunne then identified Mr Crotty to the court and then served him with the Book of Evidence.

State Solicitor Ciara Vibien successfully applied for Mr Crotty to be tried at the Special Criminal Court in circumstances where the DPP has deemed the normal courts inadequate to secure the effective administration of justice under the Offences Against the State Act.

Defence solicitor Claire Finnegan asked for a six-week adjournment in the matter which was granted by presiding judge Mr Justice Alex Owens, sitting with Judge Martin Nolan and Judge Frank Griffin. Mr Justice Owens remanded Mr Crotty in custody and adjourned the matter to May 23.