Courts / Dublin / Report

Daniel McAnaspie murderer granted more time to appeal conviction

Date
2017-06-30

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Blanchardstown

County
Dublin

Summary

In a case that set a legal precedent, Richard Dekker, aged 30, was found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court in March of murdering 17‑year‑old Daniel McAnaspie in February 2010. The body of McAnaspie, who had been under HSE care, was discovered by a farmer in a seven‑foot ditch in Rathfeigh, County Meath, 30 km from the murder site. Dekker's conviction followed a week‑long trial and more than eight hours of jury deliberation. The verdict was unanimous, and the court remanded Dekker in custody pending a sentencing hearing on 3 April. The case is notable because it is the first time the Criminal Justice Procedure Act 2010 was used to retry a person after an earlier acquittal. Dekker's lawyers applied for, and were granted, an extension of time to appeal the conviction, which had been lodged three weeks late, by Justice George Birmingham during case‑management procedures in the Court of Appeal.