Paul Drew, accused of Robbie Lawlor murder, changes solicitors; bail bid adjourned a week
Paul Drew, 41, charged over the 2020 killing of Robbie Lawlor in Belfast, has hired Belfast firm Phoenix Law, and his bail application was adjourned for a week.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Paul Drew, 41, a Dublin man accused of involvement in the murder of Robbie Lawlor, has switched legal teams and is now represented by the Belfast firm Phoenix Law. The Irish TimesLC “Belfast firm Phoenix Law is now defending Paul Drew (41) on charges of involvement in the assassination more than six years ago.” Read at The Irish Times ↗ Irish IndependentRC “Belfast firm Phoenix Law are now defending Paul Drew, 41, on charges of involvement in the assassination more than six years ago” Read at Irish Independent ↗ Left · 1His planned bail application was adjourned because of the change in representation, to give his newly instructed lawyers more time to prepare. The Irish TimesLC “The Dublin man’s planned application for bail was adjourned due to the change in representation.”“the application was put on hold to give his newly instructed lawyers more time to prepare the case.” Read at The Irish Times ↗ Left · 1Solicitor Gavin Booth of Phoenix Law told Belfast Magistrates' Court, "We have only come on record"; district judge Anne Marshall adjourned proceedings for a week and directed Drew to appear by video-link. The Irish TimesLC “Solicitor Gavin Booth, of Phoenix Law, told the court: “We have only come on record.””“Adjourning proceedings for a week, district judge Anne Marshall directed Drew to appear via video-link at that stage.” Read at The Irish Times ↗
Left · 1Drew, of Whitebrook Park in Tallaght, was arrested in Liverpool last month and is remanded in custody on charges of murdering Lawlor and possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life. The Irish TimesLC “Drew, of Whitebrook Park in Tallaght, Dublin, was arrested in Liverpool last month as part of the continuing investigation.”“He is currently remanded in custody on charges of murdering Lawlor and possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life.” Read at The Irish Times ↗ Left · 1Lawlor, 36, was shot dead in daylight in the Ardoyne area of north Belfast on 4 April 2020; detectives believe he had gone to a pre-arranged meeting at a house on Etna Drive when a gunman came out and opened fire. The Irish TimesLC “Lawlor (36) was shot dead in broad daylight in the Ardoyne area of north Belfast on April 4th, 2020.”“Detectives believe he had attended a pre-arranged meeting at a house on Etna Drive when a gunman emerged from the property and opened fire.” Read at The Irish Times ↗ Left · 1The killing happened during a violent drugs feud between rival factions in the Republic; Lawlor was then a suspect in the abduction and murder of Drogheda teenager Keane Mulready-Woods in January 2020 and is believed to have travelled north fearing for his life. The Irish TimesLC “The killing took place during a violent drugs feud between rival factions in the Republic.”“The gangland figure is believed to have travelled to Northern Ireland because he feared an attempt on his own life.” Read at The Irish Times ↗
Left · 1Police have said the evidence against Drew involves EncroChat data, CCTV and text communications; up to a dozen other suspects have been interviewed but not charged, and two other men await trial over the murder. The Irish TimesLC “Police revealed previously that the evidence against Drew involves data obtained from the EncroChat network, CCTV surveillance and text communications.”“Up to a dozen other suspects have also been interviewed but not yet charged based on the same material.”“Two other men are awaiting trial charged with involvement in his murder.” Read at The Irish Times ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Court report led by the change of solicitors and the adjourned bail application, with background on the killing and the evidence.
- Emphasis
- Court proceedings, the gangland feud context and the police evidence (EncroChat, CCTV, texts).
- Leaves out or plays down
- Nothing notable beyond what the Independent's headline and lede carry.
- Charged language
- “assassination”“gangland figure”
- For example
-
“Man accused of Robbie Lawlor murder switches solicitors as bail application put on hold” — The Irish Times
“The gangland figure is believed to have travelled to Northern Ireland because he feared an attempt on his own life.” — The Irish Times
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Leads with the switch to Belfast firm Phoenix Law ahead of a bail bid, describing the killing as an assassination.
- Emphasis
- The change of legal team and Drew's age and Dublin origin.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Court details, evidence and background on the feud are not visible in the headline and lede.
- Charged language
- “assassination”
- For example
-
“Dublin man accused of Robbie Lawlor murder switches legal team ahead of bail bid” — Irish Independent
“Belfast firm Phoenix Law are now defending Paul Drew, 41, on charges of involvement in the assassination more than six years ago” — Irish Independent
What every side reports
- Paul Drew, 41, is now represented by Belfast firm Phoenix Law.
- He is charged over involvement in the Robbie Lawlor killing more than six years ago.
- His bail bid was held up by the change of legal team.
Left1 article
-
Man accused of Robbie Lawlor murder switches solicitors as bail application put on hold
Neutral Detailed court report on the solicitor change and adjournment, with background on the killing and evidence.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right1 article
-
Dublin man accused of Robbie Lawlor murder switches legal team ahead of bail bid
Neutral Short report leading with the new legal team ahead of the bail bid.
- 7 Oct 13:57 First Irish IndependentRC Dublin man accused of Robbie Lawlor murder switches legal team ahead of bail bid
- 7 Oct 20:00 +6h 3m The Irish TimesLC Man accused of Robbie Lawlor murder switches solicitors as bail application put on hold
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.