A young man has been jailed for six years for trying to help a hit-man get away with murder.
Eric Shortall, of Muskerry Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin, was supposed to drive the gunman to safety but was caught by some quick-thinking Gardaí.
On May 27th, 2015, Warren Nolan of Rowlagh Park in Clondalkin shot Alan O’Neill outside his home in Tallaght.
He was convicted of murder three years later and is serving a life sentence.
Today, Eric Shortall was jailed for his role in impeding the apprehension of Nolan.
He was supposed to drive him away from an apartment complex where Nolan set the getaway car on fire.
However, some Gardaí on patrol stopped Shortall just before he went to the pickup point.
They became suspicious when they saw such a young man driving around the area.
Soon afterwards, they received reports of a shooting, and both Shortall and Nolan were arrested.
At his sentencing today, Mr Justice Paul McDermott said it was clear that he “knowingly assumed an essential role” in a carefully planned operation.
He sentenced him to six years and nine months in prison with the final nine months suspended.
Reporting from Frank Greaney
