Courts / Tipperary / Report
Alleged confession should not have been admitted at trial, appeal court hears
Summary
In 2009, John Paul Buck, aged 34, was sentenced to life imprisonment by Mr Justice George Birmingham after a Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty of fatally stabbing 30‑year‑old Fergus Roche in a vacant house on 1 October 2005. Buck also set fire to the house and received a concurrent five‑year arson sentence. The appeal court heard that an alleged confession by Buck to Detective Garda Larry Bergin in August 2006 was admitted as evidence. Buck denied the confession, but the detective claimed Buck admitted stabbing Roche while he slept, describing Roche as his "best friend". The appeal argued the confession was improperly admitted, citing late cautioning, the lack of tape, and the influence of media coverage on the jury's deliberations. The court postponed further hearing to the next two to three weeks. Buck had seven prior convictions, including arson, robbery, and burglary.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Alleged confession should not have been admitted at trial, appeal court hears. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- February 2009 Hearing Or Sentence
- October 1, 2005 Hearing Or Sentence
- August 2006 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2014-05-12 Publication
Why: He said Buck told him he had stabbed Mr Roche in the chest once while he was sleeping because he "grassed him up" but went on to describe him as his "best friend". CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Outcome: He then set fire to the house and was also convicted of arson, for which a concurrent five-year sentence was imposed, after a two-week trial in the Central Criminal Court.
Convicted Person
Outcome: John Paul Buck (34), last of Heywood Close, Clonmel was jailed for life by Mr Justice George Birmingham having been found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury of fatally stabbing 30-year-old Fergus Roche at a vacant house in their estate on October 1, 2005. He then set fire to the house and was also convicted of arson, for which a concurrent five-year sentence was imposed, after a two-week trial in the Central Criminal Court.
Places mentioned
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