Courts / Dublin / Report

Former British Army soldier guilty of murdering man outside chipper

Date
2017-11-08
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

A former British Army soldier, Donal Colgan, aged 66, was found guilty of murder after stabbing 44‑year‑old David Sheridan to death outside Luigi's takeaway on Dublin's North Strand Road on 17 August 2014. Colgan had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. He claimed he lost self‑control after Sheridan struck him on the head with a bag of cans, and that the prosecution's claim of an earlier altercation was false. The jury, after five days of evidence and 6 hours 44 minutes of deliberation, returned a unanimous guilty verdict for murder. Justice Tony Hunt thanked the jury, excused them from further service for ten years, and sentenced Colgan to life imprisonment. The case was the second trial for the murder; the first collapsed due to a gap in CCTV footage.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Former British Army soldier guilty of murdering man outside chipper. Charges or matters: murder but guilty to the manslaughter of 44-year-old David Sheridan who died after Mr Colgan stabbed him outside Luigi's takeaway on Dublin's North Strand Road on August 17 2014. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Why: The accused said he went back because he was angry at what had happened to him. CNI source report

Case subjects

Donal Colgan

Convicted Person

Charges: murder but guilty to the manslaughter of 44-year-old David Sheridan who died after Mr Colgan stabbed him outside Luigi's takeaway on Dublin's North Strand Road on August 17 2014 (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Outcome: After speaking with and hugging members of his family, Colgan was lead away to begin his life sentence.

Former British Army

Convicted Person

Charges: murder but guilty to the manslaughter of 44-year-old David Sheridan who died after Mr Colgan stabbed him outside Luigi's takeaway on Dublin's North Strand Road on August 17 2014 (Alleged Or Contested)

Places mentioned

Address Area
  • Dublin's North Strand Road
Facility
  • Sunset House

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

Correction or retraction request

If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.

Email a correction request