Courts / Louth / Report
Firemen tell double murder trial of seeing human skull in burning car
Summary
In the Central Criminal Court trial of Jason O'Driscoll, a 34‑year‑old Dublin man charged with the double murder of Anthony Burnett and Joseph Redmond, firefighters Stephen Hoey and Vincent McGuinness gave evidence about a burning car in Ravensdale Forest car park on 7 March 2012. Hoey described extinguishing the flames at the rear of the vehicle, then seeing a badly cracked skull and a ribcage on the driver's seat. He reported that McGuinness called the crew back, declared the scene a crime scene, and notified the Gardaí. A Garda ballistics officer, Shane Curran, later observed the burnt remains of two bodies in a Volkswagen Golf, noting that the bodies were fused together and that bullet fragments were recovered from both skulls. Curran testified that the fragments suggested a single firearm had discharged two bullets, but he could not confirm this without examining the weapon. The pathologist confirmed both men died from two head wounds before the fire. Jason O'Driscoll pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Firemen tell double murder trial of seeing human skull in burning car. Charges or matters: murdering car thieves Anthony Burnett and Joseph Redmond, who were found shot dead in the burnt car on March 7th, 2012. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- March 7th, 2012 Other
- 2017-10-20 Publication
Why: Mr McGuinness told Ms Rowland that he called all his men back once he saw the skull, because it was now a crime scene. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: murdering car thieves Anthony Burnett and Joseph Redmond, who were found shot dead in the burnt car on March 7th, 2012 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Places mentioned
Topics
Related court reports
- Letting agent who claimed alleged domestic violence victim abandoned tenancy by fleeing to refuge must pay €14.7k
- Legal first sees miscarriage of justice certificate for IRA membership conviction quashed
- Garda murderer Brady's 'contempt' for trial with secret recording lands him with increased sentence
- Lorry driver who imported €1m in cannabis jailed for five years
- Lithuanian man admits engaging in terrorist plot to attack mosque
- Aaron Connolly gets date for retrial on Cameron Reilly murder
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request