Courts / Kilkenny / Report

81-year-old tells trial that cold case accused confessed to killing in 1980s

Summary

During a cold‑case murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, an 81‑year‑old woman named Eileen Kelly testified that the accused, John Joseph Malone, had confessed to her that he had killed a widowed pensioner, Ann 'Nancy' Smyth, in 1987. Kelly, who lived near Smyth, said she had known Malone and that he had called into her home a few months after the murder. According to Kelly, Malone told her that the killing was an accident and that he had gone to Smyth's house over a pigeon or pigeon trophy that her husband had won. She recounted that Malone had claimed he had shoved Smyth into a door and strangled her before setting fire to her house. Malone, 53, pleaded not guilty. The trial is ongoing.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 81-year-old tells trial that cold case accused confessed to killing in 1980s. Charges or matters: murdering 69-year-old Ann 'Nancy' Smyth on 11th September 1987 at her home on Wolfe Tone Street in the city. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• 11th September 1987 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2017-04-06 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

Related court reports

• Former Christian Brothers accused of breach of duty to be named in national newspaper
• High Court to consider publishing names of 340 former Christian Brothers
• Judge should have convicted drivers caught like 'fish in a barrel' in 'unjust speed zone'
• Disabled snooker player acquitted of assaulting Carlow gardaí
• Mayo jury returns insanity verdict in telecoms damage case
• Musician gets 16.5 years for repeatedly raping then-wife and her sister

Read the original CNI report