Courts / Dublin / Report
Notorious serial killer Mark Nash opens appeal against conviction for Grangegorman murders
Summary
A man convicted of two murders in Dublin two decades ago has initiated an appeal against his conviction at the Court of Appeal. The defendant was found guilty in 2015 of the killings, which occurred in 1997 at sheltered accommodation in Grangegorman, and received a mandatory life sentence. He had previously been convicted of two further murders committed in Roscommon in the same year. His legal team contended that the case presented extraordinary difficulties, particularly as another individual had previously confessed to the same Dublin offences before his death. Senior counsel for the appellant raised concerns regarding forensic procedures, including potential contamination of evidence and late disclosure of material to the defence. Questions were also raised regarding the lawfulness of his detention and the circumstances surrounding a search of his premises. The prosecution's case relied principally on the defendant's admissions and forensic findings. The three-judge panel heard arguments over three days at the Court of Appeal.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Notorious serial killer Mark Nash opens appeal against conviction for Grangegorman murders. Charges or matters: the murder of Sylvia Sheils (59) and Mary Callanan (61) between March 6 and March 7, 1997. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- March 6 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 7, 1997 Hearing Or Sentence
- April 20, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- October 1998 Hearing Or Sentence
- August 1997 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2017-11-06 Publication
Why: Opening an appeal against his conviction for the Grangegorman murders today, his lead senior counsel, Hugh Hartnett SC, told the Court of Appeal that it was an "extraordinary and unusual case" because another man, the late Dean Lyons, had "confessed" to the murder not only while in custody but to his parents and various other people. CNI source report
Case subjects
Background Person
Charges: the murder of Sylvia Sheils (59) and Mary Callanan (61) between March 6 and March 7, 1997 (Proven)
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; A Central Criminal Court jury found Nash unanimously guilty after deliberating for four hours following a 48-day trial and he was accordingly given the mandatory life sentence by Mr Justice Carroll Moran on April 20, 2015. A short time later, Mr Hartnett said Nash, who was in detention on foot the Roscommon double killing, admitted to having carried out the Grangegorman murders five months earlier.
Places mentioned
- Prussia Street
- Clonliffe Road
- Central Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
- Strangeways Prison
Topics
Related court reports
- Man charged with having 56k child abuse images and videos remanded on bail
- Ex-Dáil hopeful's allegations against former employer 'complete fantasy', WRC told
- Mater must pay €10k to worker who said he was wrongly accused of abusing patient
- 'I think we know I won't be getting bail' - Daniel Kinahan charged with directing criminal organisation
- Letting agent who claimed alleged domestic violence victim abandoned tenancy by fleeing to refuge must pay €14.7k
- 77-year-old with 470 convictions told Luas staff to 'f**k off'
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request