Courts / Dublin / Report
Victim's fiancee tells court of changing wedding bouquet into wreath as murderer is jailed for life
Summary
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Thomas O'Connor, 29, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of John O'Brien, 22, who was bludgeoned to death with a rock on 4 June 2010. O'Connor had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The victim impact statement, read by Detective Sergeant Eamon O'Neill, described how O'Brien's fiancée, Alice O'Brien, had to replace her wedding bouquet with a wreath after the fatal attack. The statement also recounted the couple's wedding plans, the couple's drinking together before the incident, and O'Connor's attempts to destroy evidence by scrubbing his hands and burning his hoodie. O'Connor's counsel, Feargal Kavanagh SC, acknowledged his client's remorse. The sentence was back‑dated to 5 June 2010. The hearing highlighted the personal loss suffered by O'Brien's family and the impact of the crime on the community. Thomas O'Connor was convicted.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Victim's fiancee tells court of changing wedding bouquet into wreath as murderer is jailed for life. Charges or matters: murder, but guilty to the 22-year-old's manslaughter at Farrankelly Road, Delgany, Co Wicklow; Mr O'Brien's murder. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted
When:
- June 4th, 2010 Hearing Or Sentence
- September 2010 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 2010 Incident
- November 2014 Incident
- June 5th, 2010 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 5, 2010 Incident
- 2017-03-23 Publication
Why: "He said he'd never leave Greystones because he felt safe here. CNI source report
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: murder, but guilty to the 22-year-old's manslaughter at Farrankelly Road, Delgany, Co Wicklow; Mr O'Brien's murder (Proven)
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; She sentenced O'Connor to life in prison.
Places mentioned
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