Pubdate: Wed, 28 Apr 1999 Source: Examiner, The (Ireland) Copyright: Examiner Publications Ltd, 1999 Contact: http://www.examiner.ie/ GANG BOSS GETS LIFE FOR MURDER MOST SAVAGE Legal history was made when the country's first ever convicted gangland murderer was jailed for life yesterday. Self-confessed drugs dealer and gang boss Joseph Delaney was said by the judge to have committed an evil and foul murder of unspeakable savagery. Delaney, 54, who recruited his son among others to abduct Mark Dwyer, 23, in December 1996, received an additional 15-year jail sentence for falsely imprisoning his victim. Addressing Delaney, who stood passive and emotionless, Mr Justice Quirke told him he had destroyed the lives of countless young people, directing his business from the sewers of our society. He said Delaney had shown no mercy and no remorse and was entitled to no mercy and sentenced him to life imprisonment on the first count of murder. During the trial the jurors requested and were given Garda protection after complaining of intimidation and amid fears for their safety. Delaney, with an address near Naas in County Kildare, denied the murder and false imprisonment of Mark Dwyer. The murderer was described by the prosecution in the trial as a senior figure in what they called a gangland killing. Drugs, they said, were the motive and Mark Dwyer was shot dead after being tortured for a number of hours in a revenge killing, after 40,000 ecstasy tablets, ordered by Joe Delaney, went missing. Delaney was the boss who ordered Mark Dwyer's kidnapping and murder. During the course of the trial, one juror was excused and all but those involved in the trial were excluded from the courtroom. The convicted man's son Scott Delaney testified against his father, saying he witnessed him agree a fee with a gunman to have Mr Dwyer shot and when he protested, his father punched him in the face. Another witness, Adrienne McGuinness, told how she turned up the stereo and cowered beside the speakers to drown out the dead man's screams as he was tortured for hours in Delaney's home. The prosecution said Delaney left his son with the corpse of the dead man, in the field where Mr Dwyer was taken and shot, to throw off the scent and make Mr Dwyer's murder look like a revenge killing for the murder of drugs baron Jock Corbally, said to have been carried out by the dead man. Mr Christopher Curry gave evidence for the prosecution, saying that Delaney had told him later that "the hardest thing he had to do was leave Scott in the field". Telephone call evidence had also been submitted during the trial that showed that numerous calls had been made on Delaney's mobile phone to Amsterdam shortly before the drugs haul and other calls were made to and from gunmen, allegedly involved in the murder, on the night of Mr. Dwyer's death. State Pathologist, Dr John Harbison previously gave evidence to say that Mr Dwyer died from a laceration of the brain due to a single gun shot wound to the back of the head, fired at "virtual contact range." Addressing the jury, who took one hour 47 minutes to reach unanimous decisions on both counts, the judge thanked them "on behalf of the community for the great care and attention given" to the trial. Saying he was sorry they could not be thanked in a more tangible way, he said the community greatly appreciates the role they played and he relieved them from jury service for the rest of their lives. As the verdicts were passed, there were emotional scenes in the court from the deceased's mother who silently wept and another family member who patted the shoulder of one of the main gardai in charge of the case. Before sentencing for the false imprisonment was passed, Detective Sergeant Gerard McDonnell, from Fitzgibbon Street Garda Station gave background on Delaney, stating that he had a history of convictions, including running a brothel, common assault and dangerous and drunken driving. Delaney is a separated man with three children, who worked for 23 years as a production manager with a well-known chocolate manufacturer before getting involved in the taxi business, the Detective Sergeant said. He said the convicted man's son, Scott Delaney was serving a life sentence for Dwyer's murder and for falsely imprisoning him prior to his death. Outside the court, Detective Sergeant McDonnell later said it was a "major trial. It's the first ever gangland murder." "I want to thank all the gardai at Fitzgibbon Street and members of the jury. As the judge said it was one of the most gruesome cases ever to come before the courts and that's the truth," he said. Delaney was tried for the murder last year but the jury failed to reach a verdict. Delaney's conviction came on the anniversary of the first day of last year's trial. Mr Justice John Quirke refused leave to appeal and stated that the sentences were to run concurrently, backdated from 22 December 1996 when Delaney was remanded in custody. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D