Accused in murder trial has guilty plea to lesser charge accepted

A man who was accused of murdering gangland criminal Wayne Whelan has pleaded guilty to being the getaway driver for the fatal shooting.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) accepted the plea from Christopher Moran (51), who had been on trial for murder at the Central Criminal Court.

His co-accused, Anthony Casserly (25), then pleaded guilty to participating in or contributing to the murder of Wayne Whelan. Casserly’s plea was also accepted by the DPP.

Whelan was shot dead at Mount Andrew Rise in Lucan, Co Dublin on November 18th, 2019 and the car in which he was sitting was set on fire with his remains inside.

Whelan was well known to gardaí for his involvement in serious and organised crime over more than two decades and had been shot a number of times in a previous murder attempt two months before his death. Four men have been jailed for their roles in that attempted murder.

Moran and Casserly, both of Rowlagh Park, Clondalkin, went on trial this week having pleaded not guilty to Whelan’s murder.

Mr Justice David Keane discharged the jury after Shane Costelloe SC for the DPP indicated that pleas to lesser charges would be accepted by the State.

Moran pleaded guilty to an offence under Section 7(2) of the Criminal Law Act 1997 which relates to impeding the apprehension of an offender.

His indictment states that he acted as a getaway driver in the murder of Wayne Whelan.

Casserly pleaded guilty to an offence under Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, that he, with knowledge of the existence of a criminal organisation, participated in or contributed to the murder.

Mr Justice Keane will hear evidence relating to the offences, and statements from the family of the deceased at a sentencing hearing on November 11th.

Ronan Munro SC, for Moran, asked the judge to order a prison governor’s report, which counsel said would show that Moran is “getting on very well in prison”.