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Murder accused who dismissed legal team and represented himself faces retrial after appeal
Summary
Tadgh Butler, 36, of Seafield, Tramore, was found guilty of murdering Michael O'Dwyer, 25, at Butler's home on 10 January 2014. During the trial he dismissed his legal team on day six and cross‑examined his nephew, Anthony O'Grady, presenting a new version of events that alleged Butler had accidentally stabbed O'Dwyer while trying to remove a knife from O'Grady. O'Grady denied this claim. The jury, after 2 h 26 min of deliberation, returned a unanimous guilty verdict and Butler received a mandatory life sentence on 15 May 2015. Butler appealed, arguing that the trial judge should have warned him that the new version could not be considered by the jury without sworn evidence. The Court of Appeal agreed, quashing the conviction and ordering a retrial, while noting that the trial judge had correctly instructed the jury that unsworn statements could not be treated as evidence. Butler was remanded in custody pending the retrial. Tadgh Butler pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Murder accused who dismissed legal team and represented himself faces retrial after appeal. Charges or matters: the murder of Michael O'Dwyer (25) at that address on January 10, 2014. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- January 10, 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 15, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2017-07-06 Publication
Why: He said the trial judge correctly told the jury that it could not consider as evidence Butler's suggestion that his stabbing of the deceased was accidental because Butler had not given that evidence under oath. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: the murder of Michael O'Dwyer (25) at that address on January 10, 2014 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: Butler was unanimously found guilty by a Central Criminal Court jury after two hours and 26 minutes of deliberations and he was given the mandatory life sentence by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy on May 15, 2015.; Butler was remanded in custody to appear before the Central Criminal Court on Monday next.
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