Courts / Sligo / Report
Trial of man accused of murdering pensioner hears 999 call
Summary
Simon McGinley, 30, of Sligo, is standing trial at the Central Criminal Court for the death of Eugene Gillespie, 67. McGinley pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The State did not accept the manslaughter plea, and a jury was sworn in for the two-week trial. He also pleaded guilty to the false imprisonment of Mr Gillespie and trespass to commit robbery at his home in Old Market Street on September 19, 2012. The prosecution alleges McGinley made a 999 call from an acquaintance's phone, stating a man was tied up in a house across from the Garda station. Garda Sergeant Terry Coleman received the brief call, which was disconnected before details could be clarified. Garda Michael Twyford checked the described property but found nothing untoward. Detective Garda Seamus O'Donnell testified that Mr Gillespie's home was ransacked, with broken furniture and a large blood stain. Paramedic Aidan Duggan found Mr Gillespie unconscious on the floor. The court heard evidence that McGinley placed a bet at 1:35 pm on September 20, 2012, and was seen in a Sligo newsagent on September 23. CCTV footage showed a man believed to be McGinley discarding a SIM card on September 19. The trial continues.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Trial of man accused of murdering pensioner hears 999 call. Charges or matters: murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Eugene Gillespie (67) in Co. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- September 22, 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
- September 19, 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
- September 20, 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
- September 20, 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
- September 20 Hearing Or Sentence
- September 23 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2014-03-26 Publication
Why: It did not, the garda said, because it wasn't possible to see those gates from the Garda station. CNI source report
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Eugene Gillespie (67) in Co (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Places mentioned
- Connaughton Road
- Sligo
- Bridge Street
- Old Market Street
- John Street
- Thomas Street
- The Central Criminal Court
- communications room of Sligo Garda Station
- Sligo
- Sligo Garda Station
- window of the garda station
- was visible from the garda station
- those gates from the Garda station
- the road from the garda station
- Mr Gillespie's house
- Sligo Regional Hospital
Topics
Stage Sentence Theft Violent Crime
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