A 25-year-old man has pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to helping facilitate the murder of David 'Daithi' Douglas.
Mr Douglas, 55, was shot six times as he took a meal break at the counter in his partner's shop, Shoestown, on Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 8 on 1 July 2016.
Last year, Gareth Brophy was charged with the murder of Mr Douglas at Dublin District Court, and in January of this year he was returned for trial at the Special Criminal Court.
This trial was scheduled to begin on 13 January 2020.
However, this afternoon Brophy, with an address at Reuben Walk, Dublin 8, appeared before the Special Criminal Court and pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of helping to facilitate Mr Douglas's murder.
The charge is that on 1 July 2016, within the county of Dublin, with knowledge of the existence of a criminal organisation, he participated in activities with intent to facilitate the commission by that criminal organisation of a serious offence, to wit: the murder of David Douglas.
When arraigned for this charge, Brophy was asked how he wished to plead and he replied: "Guilty".
The court heard Brophy will now be sentenced on 13 January 2020 and all matters will be dealt with on the same date.
Earlier, Detective Garda Niall Godfrey gave evidence of meeting Brophy at 12.51pm this afternoon, in the confines of the Criminal Courts of Justice, on Parkgate Street in Dublin 8.
He said he showed Brophy a copy of the original charge sheet and handed him a true copy of the charge sheet.
Det Gda Godfrey said he explained the charge in ordinary language to Brophy and cautioned him.
The guard told Ms Justice Tara Burns, presiding alongside Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Michael Walsh, that Brophy made no reply when he cautioned him.
Asked to identify Brophy, Det Gda Godfrey pointed to Brophy in the courtroom.
A book of evidence was then served on Brophy.
