Jason “Jay” O’Connor, a 46-year-old resident of Whitestown Grove in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, has admitted to charges of murder conspiracy at the Special Criminal Court. He was previously alleged to have attempted to murder Charlie Cooper at his home in Parslickstown Green, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15, on December 5, 2016. The original charges were reduced to conspiracy to murder, to which O’Connor pled guilty.
Eight years ago, Mr Cooper was gravely injured after being shot numerous times at his residence. Subsequently, Mr. Cooper received medical treatment in a hospital and eventually recovered from his injuries.
Apart from the murder conspiracy charge, Mr O’Connor is accused of possessing a 9mm firearm and 12 rounds of 9mm ammunition with harmful intentions, on the same day and at the same address where the shooting took place.
In the previous month, an additional charge was imposed on Mr O’Connor for assisting a criminal organisation in committing two severe offences: murder and drug trafficking.
O’Connor, represented by Michael Bowman SC and Keith Spencer BL and instructed by solicitor Wayne Kenny, confessed to scheming to murder Charlie Cooper under Section 4 of the Offences against the Person Act 1861 at the Special Criminal Court.
He also admitted to involvement and contribution, between August 2nd, 2016 and December 7th, 2016, in criminal organisation activities within the state that could potentially facilitate serious offences such as murder.
O’Connor solely uttered “guilty” in response to the two charges read out to him by the registrar. Mr Justice Hunt decided to postpone the case until July 30th.