Courts / Dublin / Report

Stabbing victim's parents brand justice system "a joke"

Summary

At the Central Criminal Court, December Connors (42) was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, with the last two suspended, for the manslaughter of Peter Conroy (25) during a brawl at Palmerstown Lodge B&B in Dublin 20 on June 9, 2015. Connors was also sentenced to two months' jail for assaulting Elaine Blunt during the same incident, though this sentence was fully suspended. The case was at the sentence stage, with Connors having pleaded guilty to manslaughter and not guilty to murder. The jury found Connors guilty of manslaughter but not guilty of murder. The victim's parents, Frank and Marion Conroy, expressed their anger and frustration with the sentence, calling the justice system a 'joke'. Connors had previously been charged with murder but was convicted of manslaughter after a one-week trial. The judge noted that Connors had returned to the scene of the brawl with a knife and had made a downwards motion towards the deceased on CCTV, but ruled that the killing lacked the intention required for a murder conviction. Connors expressed remorse during the trial and in court, and the judge acknowledged his background and expressed remorse. The sentence was backdated to October 1, 2015. The court had to adjourn the hearing due to emotional outbursts from the victim's family and others present.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Stabbing victim's parents brand justice system "a joke". Charges or matters: manslaughter from the outset; assault for this. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted

When:

• June 9, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
• October 1, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
• February 6 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2017-02-20 Publication

Why: Detective O'Malley agreed that the reason for the fracas is unknown but two men who did not live at the B&B had sneaked in and were involved in a brawl. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report