'Travesty' to convict accused of murdering drug dealer, defence tell jury

At the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, defence counsel for Dean Caffrey has urged a jury to acquit his client of murdering Sean McCarthy, contending the prosecution case is fundamentally flawed. Lorcan Staines SC argued that a conviction would amount to a travesty of justice, submitting there is insufficient evidence that Mr Caffrey lured the deceased to his apartment with intent to kill him. The barrister also criticised disclosure practices, asserting that material beneficial to the defence was withheld until six weeks into the trial and that the Director of Public Prosecutions presented the case in a manner that breached fair procedures. Mr Caffrey, aged 38 and resident of Beaucourt, Achill Road, Drumcondra, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr McCarthy, then aged 28, who died on 2 August 2022. Prosecution counsel alleged Mr McCarthy was executed at Mr Caffrey's apartment. The defence maintains Mr McCarthy was fatally shot during a physical struggle after arriving at the property armed and making threats relating to a heroin-related debt. A key element of the defence case centres on Mr McCarthy's background as a drug dealer with documented access to firearms, distinguishing him from Mr Caffrey, who the defence characterises as a person without a history of violence. The prosecution has outlined that Mr Caffrey attended gardaí voluntarily two days after Mr McCarthy was reported missing, disclosing the deceased's whereabouts. A firearm was recovered from the Tolka River near Mr Caffrey's residence. Mr McCarthy's body was found concealed in a wardrobe at the apartment four days after he disappeared. The trial has been heard before Mr Justice Paul McDermott, sitting with a jury. The judge was expected to charge the jury on the legal requirements before they retired to deliberate on Friday.