Boys deny murder as prosecution closes its case

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Two boys denied murdering 14-year-old Ana Kriégel at an abandoned house in Lucan on 14 May 2018. Boy A also denied aggravated sexual assault.

The proceedings were reported on 7 June 2019. Prosecuting counsel Brendan Grehan had finished his closing speech to the jury at the Central Criminal Court.

Mr Grehan said the prosecution alleged there was an overwhelming forensic case against Boy A, linking him to the scene and connecting items from his house to it. He said there was no innocent explanation for the evidence.

He said there was no forensic evidence connecting Boy B to the scene and that the case against him relied on his statements. The prosecution alleged Boy B assisted the killer with advance knowledge of what would happen. Boy B claimed he had done nothing to Ana and did not think Boy A would carry out his stated intention to kill her.

Mr Grehan said both boys remained presumed innocent and the burden of proof rested with the prosecution. Defence counsel Patrick Gageby for Boy A and Damien Colgan for Boy B were due to address the jury on Monday. Mr Justice Paul McDermott warned jurors not to reach any determinations until they had heard from the defence and from him.