Courts / Sligo / Report

Burglar who murdered "well respected" Sligo retiree fails in conviction appeal

Date
2016-11-21

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Sligo

County
Sligo

Summary

Simon McGinley, aged 32 from Connaughton Road Car Park in Sligo, has had his appeals against conviction and sentence dismissed by the Court of Appeal. McGinley was convicted of the murder of Eugene Gillespie, a 67-year-old retired telecoms broker, who died following an assault at his home on Old Market Street on 19 September 2012. McGinley had admitted killing Mr Gillespie but denied the charge was murder. A jury found him guilty of murder in April 2014, and he received a mandatory life sentence along with concurrent sentences for false imprisonment and burglary. The three-judge court, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham, found no grounds of substance in McGinley's appeals. The court noted the seriousness of the offences and McGinley's significant criminal history of 21 previous convictions. McGinley was returned to prison to continue serving his sentences.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Burglar who murdered "well respected" Sligo retiree fails in conviction appeal. Charges or matters: the false imprisonment of Mr Gillespie as well as trespass to commit robbery on the same occasion. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

September 19, 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
April 3, 2014 Incident
2016-11-21 Publication

Why: "Very understandably so," he said, because the judge's charge was clear, concise and had accurately stated the law. CNI source report

Case subjects

Simon McGinley

Defendant

Charges: the false imprisonment of Mr Gillespie as well as trespass to commit robbery on the same occasion (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: McGinley was found unanimously guilty of murder and he was given the mandatory life sentence by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan on April 3, 2014. McGinley brought appeals against his conviction and sentence, which were heard in the Court of Appeal today.