Courts / Dublin / Report

Tallaght murder accused pleads guilty to violent disorder

Date
2016-10-12
Stage
Trial
Primary locality
Tallaght
County
Dublin

Summary

The trial of seven Dubliners accused of murdering 20-year-old Dale Creighton is ongoing before the Central Criminal Court. Creighton died on January 2, 2014, following an incident at the footbridge over the Tallaght bypass on New Year's Day. While all seven defendants initially pleaded not guilty to murder and violent disorder, Jason Beresford (23) pleaded guilty to violent disorder on January 1, 2014, during the trial. The remaining six accused—Aisling Burke, David Burke, Graham Palmer, Ross Callery, James Reid, and Gerard Stevens—maintain their not guilty pleas to both murder and violent disorder. The matter was not adjourned; the trial proceeded as normal. Witness Carl O'Leary testified that he saw Creighton holding a knife on the footbridge after hearing a commotion about a phone robbery. His girlfriend, Shannon Downes, identified a white jacket belonging to a woman who claimed she was assaulted and robbed. Another witness, Sophie Percy, described seeing men at the bottom of the bridge, with footage showing one passenger punching a man not before the court. The trial continues with the jury hearing further evidence.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Tallaght murder accused pleads guilty to violent disorder. Charges or matters: violent disorder; violent disorder on the footbridge, where the deceased was assaulted; murder when arraigned before the Central Criminal Court last week; violent disorder at the footbridge that New Year's Day; violent disorder on January 1st, 2014; murder. Procedural stage: trial

When:

Why: He said in court that he hadn't seen the knife when he backed away from the man, but had done so because he had run at him. CNI source report

Case subjects

Aisling Burke

Accused

Charges: murder; violent disorder (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Dale Creighton

Defendant

Charges: violent disorder on the footbridge, where the deceased was assaulted; murder when arraigned before the Central Criminal Court last week; violent disorder at the footbridge that New Year's Day; violent disorder on January 1st, 2014 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

David Burke

Accused

Charges: murder; violent disorder (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Gerard Stevens

Accused

Charges: murder; violent disorder (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Graham Palmer

Accused

Charges: murder; violent disorder (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

James Reid

Accused

Charges: murder; violent disorder (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Jason Beresford

Accused

Charges: violent disorder (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Ross Callery

Accused

Charges: murder; violent disorder (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Places mentioned

Incident
  • Tallaght
  • Saint Dominic's Road
  • Greenhills Road
Court Venue
  • Central Criminal Court
Journey Or Route

Topics

Stage Trial Theft Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

Correction or retraction request

If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.

Email a correction request