Courts / Kilkenny / Report
Murder accused banging on door of widow's home, witness tells cold case trial
Summary
During a cold‑case murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, a witness named Geraldine Brennan testified that she saw the accused, 53‑year‑old John Joseph Malone, banging on the door of widowed pensioner Ann 'Nancy' Smyth's house on Wolfe Tone Street in Kilkenny City on the night of 10 September 1987. Brennan, who was living three doors down with her baby and parents, claimed she heard a male voice shouting, "Let me into the f***ing house. I just want to f***ing talk to you," and that Malone was angry and agitated. She said the banging lasted about half an hour, with Malone kicking the door and slamming the gate. Brennan had not reported the incident to Gardaí in 1987 because her mother advised her not to get involved. She later gave a statement in 2012 after a television reconstruction prompted her to reconsider. John Joseph Malone pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Murder accused banging on door of widow's home, witness tells cold case trial. Charges or matters: murdering 69-year-old Ann 'Nancy' Smyth on 11th September 1987 at her home on Wolfe Tone Street in Kilkenny City. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- 11th September 1987 Hearing Or Sentence
- September 10th Other
- 2017-03-27 Publication
Why: She said she hadn't told gardai at the time because her mother told her not to get involved. CNI source report
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: murdering 69-year-old Ann 'Nancy' Smyth on 11th September 1987 at her home on Wolfe Tone Street in Kilkenny City (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
- Wolfe Tone Street
- Nancy Smyth's house
- Nancy's house
- Ms Smyth's house
- Smyth house
Topics
Related court reports
- Man who believed wife had cheated on him gets 10 years for stabbing brother-in-law to death
- 'He had it coming': man stabbed brother-in-law to death after wife affair row
- Man who believed wife cheated on him with brother-in-law cleared of murder, found guilty of manslaughter
- Jury begins deliberating in trial of man accused of murdering brother over alleged affair with wife
- Man tells trial he believed wife cheated on him with brother-in-law he's accused of murdering
- 'I'm after being stabbed by Andy Cash': man was able to point to alleged attacker, trial hears
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request