Crime World

Underworld banker Patrick Lawlor is beginning a jail term after a court heard he was caught with drug money belonging to a 'trans-global organisation'.The 56-year-old former builder claims he had fallen on hard times before he agreed to mind and move money linked to George 'The Penguin' Mitchell and his reclusive side kick Robbie Murphy.But his capture is a window into the secretive dealings of the Mitchell organisation, who have for decades remained one step ahead of the law.Today, Nicola Tallant talks with Niall Donald about The Penguin, the money man and Ireland's real Godfather of Crime.

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GERRY 'The Monk' Hutch defiantly pleaded not guilty today as he stood accused of the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in February 2016 - the killing that sparked Ireland's bloodiest gangland feud.The trial kicked-off shortly after 11am as the State put its case to the Special Criminal Court.According to the prosecution, Hutch told State Witness Jonathan Dowdall that he had been 'one of the team that shot David Byrne' when the pair met in a Dublin park in the days after the attack.The court also heard how 'The Monk' was 'particularly worked up and edgy' about a picture that had been published in the Sunday World.Hutch stands accused along with Paul Murphy and Jason Bonney, who both deny facilitating the murder by providing vehicles to the gang.Today, Nicola Tallant talks with Niall Donald about the opening day of the much-anticipated trial.

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Jonathan Dowdall and his father Patrick were given two weeks to prepare for custodial sentences yesterday after a court heard they were to be handed over to Portlaoise Prison authorities by An Garda Siochana.Patrick will serve less than one year in prison after he was handed down a two-year term for his role in the Regency Hotel murder of David Byrne, while son Jonathan was given a four-year sentence.So how did Justice Tony Hunt decide on the length of sentences and what were the factors that influenced the decision of the Special Criminal Court?

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The life of an undercover operative embedded deep in the world of drugs gangs and money launderers is far from ordinary. And it's rare we get an insight into the skills and personality traits required in such a high-risk situation.But, in his new book 'The Betrayer', elite undercover customs officer Guy Stanton tells author Peter Walsh just what it took to live under a mask while mixing with cartel bosses, drug lords and enforcers - and trapping them through their trust.Nicola Tallant chats with Walsh about the psychological tools needed to live as a 'deep fake', about the lengths the operatives go to to create a 'legend' and about some of the greatest achievements of ordinary people who take extraordinary risks to fight crime.

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THE secretive Witness Protection Programme has been thrust into the spotlight with the decision of Jonathan Dowdall to turn State witness against his former neighbour and friend Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch.But what is the Programme and when did it start? Is it a golden ticket out of trouble or a poison chalice for those who sign up?Nicola Tallant chats with Maynooth University lecturer Aaron Harte Hughes, who is undertaking a PhD in the Irish Witness Security Programme. He tells of the lack of legislation around the programme, about the European recommendations being ignored by Ireland and about the difficulties its set-up poses to judges, witnesses and the accused.

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The trial of Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch looks set to go ahead next week despite new witness statements and the dramatic turn around of his former co- accused Jonathan Dowdall.The Special Criminal Court has been told that the trial is ‘all systems go’ to start and that Hutch is anxious to proceed in his not guilty plea to the murder of David Byrne.But do documents leaked on social media purporting to relate to Dowdall’s statements give an indication of where this trial might go.Today I’m talking to Sunday World Deputy Editor Niall Donald about the on-going developments in the biggest trial of recent times.

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It took two gunmen just 21 seconds to murder drug dealer Sean Fox in a packed Belfast bar in an assassination which was meticulously planned, calm and ruthless.Captured on CCTV before and after the Sunday afternoon killing, the assassins wore distinctive clothes and escaped on foot, disappearing into a Belfast housing estate without trace.So what does the murder tell us about the killers and why was Sean Fox, a member of the so-called 'Marbella Crew', targeted?Nicola Tallant chats with Belfast Telegraph journalist Allison Morris about the shocking daylight shooting, Fox’s links to murdered drug dealer Jim 'JD' Donegan and about an assassin on a mission to rid Belfast of crime kingpins.

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IRISH gangster John Gilligan managed a smile for the cameras this week after appearing in a Spanish Court on drug charges.The trial of the 70-year-old mobster was put back until next April after his son Darren failed to show up in court, while Gilligan himself had failed to reach agreement on the sentence he will accept from State Prosecutors.Journalist Gerard Couzens was in court to witness the antics of the ageing criminal and his co-accused, which include his girlfriend Sharon Oliver and his long-term associate ‘Fat’ Tony Armstrong.He tells Nicola Tallant how Gilligan choreographed his court outing to look confident and carefree despite facing a possible lengthy jail term.

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The killing of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel in Liverpool on August 22 has left Merseyside's underworld reeling from a major crackdown on organised crime.The little girl, who was shot when her mother opened the door of their home after hearing commotion outside, will forever be remembered as the ultimate innocent victim of gangland crime.This week, Thomas Cashman was charged with her murder and a second man, Paul Russell, was brought before the courts for assisting an offender.But police have said their investigation is on-going and they are committed to finding anyone involved in the murder, while a record £200,000 reward has been put up for information.Nicola Tallant chats with Liverpool Echo Crime Reporter Jonathan Humphries, who discusses 'Operation Miller', the policing tsunami that has followed Olivia’s murder and the hundreds of criminals caught up in the searches, raids and seizures. He describes the history of Liverpool’s links to organised crime, its position as the UK’s most important city for drugs and weapons importation and the widespread grief and disbelief of its citizens for a lost child.

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A former Garda Superintendent has been jailed for six-and-a-half years after he was caught with more than €250,000 worth of cannabis.But the investigation into John ‘Spud’ Murphy began because of his suspected links to the Hutch Organised crime group and the passing of information to them.Before his arrest in Spain, Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch became aware of a European Arrest Warrant issued for him thanks to an anonymous Twitter site.And now the same social media channels are under investigation because of threats to State Witness Jonathan Dowdall and members of the Garda team working on the Regency probe.So what’s been going on behind the scenes? Nicola Tallant chats with Niall Donald about the jailing of one of Ireland’s most decorated former officers and the social media campaign against Dowdall and his family.

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