Courts / Wicklow / Report
Man who bludgeoned friend to death with rock found guilty of murder
Summary
Thomas O'Connor, aged 29, was found guilty of murder after he struck John O'Brien, aged 22, with a 1.6‑kilogram rock on 4 June 2010. O'Connor claimed he acted in self‑defence, saying he hit O'Brien "two or three times" after O'Brien attacked him. A post‑mortem showed O'Brien died from catastrophic blunt‑force injuries to the head. The jury, after less than four hours of deliberation, returned a guilty verdict and O'Connor was remanded for sentencing, facing a mandatory life sentence. The trial highlighted O'Connor's admission of striking O'Brien, his subsequent attempts to clean his hands and burn his hoodie, and the prosecution's assertion of overwhelming evidence of murder. The case had previously been overturned in 2014, leading to this retrial. The court noted O'Connor's prior conviction for O'Brien's manslaughter in 2010. The verdict was delivered by Justice Margaret Heneghan.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man who bludgeoned friend to death with rock found guilty of murder. Charges or matters: murder, but guilty to the 22-year-old's manslaughter at Farrankelly Road, Delgany, Co Wicklow. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted
When:
- June 4, 2010 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 23 Adjournment
- June 5, 2010 Incident
- June 2010 Hearing Or Sentence
- November 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2017-03-08 Publication
Why: But Mr Kavanagh his client had panicked because he was "abhorred at what he has done, he's aghast at the sight of blood". CNI source report
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: murder, but guilty to the 22-year-old's manslaughter at Farrankelly Road, Delgany, Co Wicklow (Proven)
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; O'Connor now faces a mandatory life sentence.; Trial judge Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan remanded the accused in custody for sentencing on March 23 and exempt the jury from service for 10 years.
Places mentioned
Topics
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