Courts / Wicklow / Report
Murder accused admits killing best friend with rock
Summary
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Thomas O'Connor, 29, admitted on the first day of proceedings that he killed his best friend, 22‑year‑old John O'Brien, with a rock more than four years earlier. O'Connor pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for an incident at Farrankelly Road, Delgany. The State's case, presented by Denis Vaughan Buckley SC, described the night of 4 June 2010: the pair were drinking in a supermarket carpark, had a quarrel, and O'Brien was struck repeatedly on the head by O'Connor. Witnesses, including a former girlfriend, were expected to testify about O'Connor's blood‑stained hands and claims of being attacked. The trial proceeded before Justice Margaret Heneghan and a jury of twelve. The article reports only the admission and the procedural details of the hearing.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Murder accused admits killing best friend with rock. Charges or matters: murdering 22-year-old John O'Brien, who was from Burnaby Lawns in Greystones on 4th June 2010; murdering Mr O'Brien, but guilty to his manslaughter at Farrankelly Road, Delgany, Co Wicklow; manslaughter," he said. "Thomas O'Connor admits that the deceased died from blunt force injuries to the head, that those injuries were inflicted by a person holding a rock and that the person inflicting the injuries was Thomas O'Connor," he said. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- 4th June 2010 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2017-02-21 Publication
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: murdering 22-year-old John O'Brien, who was from Burnaby Lawns in Greystones on 4th June 2010; murdering Mr O'Brien, but guilty to his manslaughter at Farrankelly Road, Delgany, Co Wicklow; manslaughter," he said. "Thomas O'Connor admits that the deceased died from blunt force injuries to the head, that those injuries were inflicted by a person holding a rock and that the person inflicting the injuries was Thomas O'Connor," he said (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Places mentioned
Topics
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