Key Points:
- Three men from Greenwich jailed for a total of 104 years for conspiracy to murder.
- Daniel Kelly, Stewart Ahearne, and Louis Ahearne shot a 45-year-old man in Woodford Green in 2019.
- The shooting took place at 11:09 pm on Malvern Drive.
- The victim was permanently paralysed after being shot in the kitchen.
- The three men had planned the attack, tracking the victim using a hired car and a tracking device.
- The trio was involved in a separate heist in Geneva before the shooting.
- DNA evidence, CCTV, and phone data helped police solve the case.
- The three men were arrested between October 2019 and January 2020, and extradited for a museum robbery in Switzerland.
- Detective Superintendent Matt Webb praised the police investigation team for their work in securing convictions.
On the night of July 10, 2019, Daniel Kelly, along with brothers Stewart and Louis Ahearne, executed a well-planned attack on a 45-year-old man in his home on Malvern Drive, Woodford Green. The three men drove from Greenwich, in south-east London, to Woodford Green, where they fired six shots into the back of the house, injuring their target in the kitchen. The victim was taken to hospital for life-saving surgery but was left permanently paralysed from the attack.
How were the suspects caught?
The investigation began almost immediately after the shooting. A breakthrough came when DNA evidence was found on a fence near the shooting site. This matched both Kelly and Louis Ahearne. Bullet casings found at the scene confirmed the use of a Glock SLP handgun, and a search of Kelly’s property later uncovered a compatible laser sight. Additionally, the trio had been tracking the victim using a tracking device placed on his car. CCTV and phone records were instrumental in piecing together the suspects’ movements.
What was the connection to the Geneva museum heist?
Prior to the shooting, the three men were involved in a museum heist in Geneva, Switzerland, where they stole a Ming dynasty vase. The connection to the robbery was evident when a similar hire vehicle was used in both the shooting and the museum burglary. Both Stewart and Louis Ahearne were extradited to Switzerland and tried for the heist in January 2024, before being returned to the UK for their role in the shooting.
How were the suspects sentenced?
At the Old Bailey on April 25, 2023, the three men were sentenced for conspiracy to murder. They received a total of 104 years in prison. Detective Superintendent Matt Webb commended the investigative work and made it clear that the Metropolitan Police would not tolerate violence and firearm use in communities.
What does the conviction mean for organised crime?
The conviction of Daniel Kelly and the Ahearnes sends a clear message to those involved in organised crime: the police will pursue every lead and leave no stone unturned in bringing perpetrators to justice. Webb stated that this case demonstrated the “horrific criminality” of the offenders, and the substantial custodial sentences would offer them time to reflect on their actions.
