Christopher McNamara appeals murder conviction

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

Christopher McNamara opened an appeal against his murder conviction before a three-judge court on 27 January 2017. He had pleaded not guilty to murdering James Boyce, and the Central Criminal Court jury later found him unanimously guilty.

McNamara received the mandatory life sentence from Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan on 24 January 2014. The defence had asked for a manslaughter verdict, while Michael Bowman SC argued that the jury needed fuller directions on issues including recklessness, subjectivity and intent. Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, Micheál P O'Higgins SC, said the jury had been carefully instructed. Judgment was reserved. The proceedings were reported on 27 January 2017.