Courts / Dublin / Report
Former soldier wanted to "teach people a lesson", prosecution tell murder trial jury
Summary
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Donal Colgan, 66, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for stabbing David Sheridan, 44, outside Luigi's chip shop on Dublin's North Strand Road on 17/18 August 2014. Colgan claimed he was provoked after Sheridan struck him with a bag of cans, but the prosecution argued that provocation requires an immediate loss of control and that Colgan had time to cool his anger. They highlighted that Colgan had returned to the shop armed with a large knife, showing he was in control of his mind. The defence presented Colgan's history of assault, humiliation, and personal hardships, arguing he acted in a state of mind that could not be judged by the jury's own standards. The jury, composed of eight women and three men, was instructed to consider whether all elements of provocation were reasonably possible and to decide if Colgan was guilty of manslaughter rather than murder.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Former soldier wanted to "teach people a lesson", prosecution tell murder trial jury. Charges or matters: murder but guilty to the manslaughter of 44-year-old David Sheridan outside Luigi's chip shop on Dublin's North Strand Road on August 17/18, 2014. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- August 17 Incident
- 2017-11-06 Publication
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: murder but guilty to the manslaughter of 44-year-old David Sheridan outside Luigi's chip shop on Dublin's North Strand Road on August 17/18, 2014 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Places mentioned
Topics
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