Court reports mentioning Barefield, Clare

2015-12-21 · Clare

Clare farmer jailed for life for murder of student Eoin Ryan loses appeal

Joe Heffernan, a 35‑year‑old farmer from Cappagh Beg, Barefield, Ennis, was convicted of murdering 21‑year‑old student Eoin Ryan in 2011 and sentenced to life imprisonment by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy on 3 July 2013. The murder was discovered when Ryan's body was found in a barrel on Heffernan's farm on 7 June 2011. During the trial, two 999 calls were played to the jury, with transcripts provided. Heffernan had pleaded not guilty and later appealed, arguing that the prosecution should have proved he was not suffering from a mental disorder and did not have diminished responsibility. Mr Justice John Edwards, sitting with Mr Justice Seán Ryan and Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan, dismissed the appeal, holding that the burden of proof for the partial defence of diminished responsibility lies with the defence and is the same as for the insanity defence, i.e., proof on the balance of probabilities.

2015-03-25 · Clare

Farmer who murdered student appeals conviction claiming prosecution ought to have proved he did not have diminished responsibility

Joe Heffernan, a 35‑year‑old farmer from Cappagh Beg, was convicted of murdering 21‑year‑old student Eoin Ryan in 2011 and sentenced to life imprisonment by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy in 2013. Heffernan now appeals, arguing that the prosecution should have proved he did not suffer from diminished responsibility at the time of the offence. His counsel, Padraig Dwyer SC, contended that the burden of proof for the absence of a mental disorder lies with the prosecution, citing the Criminal Law Insanity Act 2006. Dwyer argued that the defence must obtain a direction from the judge that mental issues are present, after which the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused was not mentally disordered. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Bernard Condon SC, maintained that the statute places the burden on the defence. The Court of Appeal will reserve its decision. Joe Heffernan pleaded not guilty.