Courts / Cork / Report

"All over an argument about tv channels": man jailed for life for prison murder

Date
2016-11-07

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Cork

County
Cork

Summary

Brian Veale, 31, was sentenced to life imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Graham Johnson in the kitchen of Cork Prison on 16 May 2015. Veale stabbed Johnson through the heart with a carving knife after an argument over television channels. The jury found him guilty after deliberating for 1 hour 56 minutes. Victim impact statements were read by Johnson's sister, Vivienne, and his 13‑year‑old daughter, describing the loss and emotional toll. Veale, originally from Dungarvan, had 105 prior convictions and was already in custody on a robbery charge when the murder occurred. The judge imposed the mandatory life sentence, consecutive to a previous offence imposed on 28 February 2015. The court heard that the knife used was available to kitchen staff and that the incident followed a brief confrontation over a horse‑racing channel. The case concluded with the judge's sentencing and no further legal proceedings reported. Brian Veale pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: "All over an argument about tv channels": man jailed for life for prison murder. Charges or matters: murdering Mr Johnson at Cork Prison, Rathmore Road in Cork City on May 16, 2015; a robbery offence and remanded in Cork Prison in February 2015. "He was on remand solely on a robbery and an attempted robbery charge and that is why he was in Cork Prison at the time," said Insp O'Sullivan. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

May 16, 2015 Incident
October 26 Hearing Or Sentence
February 2015 Adjournment
February 28, 2015 Incident
2016-11-07 Publication

Case subjects

Brian Veale

Convicted Person

Charges: murdering Mr Johnson at Cork Prison, Rathmore Road in Cork City on May 16, 2015; a robbery offence and remanded in Cork Prison in February 2015. "He was on remand solely on a robbery and an attempted robbery charge and that is why he was in Cork Prison at the time," said Insp O'Sullivan (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Outcome: Brian Veale (31) was jailed for life at the Central Criminal Court for murdering Graham Johnson in the kitchen of Cork Prison by stabbing him through the heart with a carving knife. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy offered her condolences to Mr Johnson's family and then sentenced Veale to the mandatory sentence of life imprisonment. "I make that sentence consecutive to the offence imposed on February 28, 2015," she said.; The court heard Veale was in a relationship with a woman and living in Cork before he was charged with a robbery offence and remanded in Cork Prison in February 2015. "He was on remand solely on a robbery and an attempted robbery charge and that is why he was in Cork Prison at the time," said Insp O'Sullivan.