Courts / Dublin / Report
Man serving life for murdering teenager Melanie McCarthy has "psychiatric illness"
Summary
The Court of Appeal was informed that Daniel McDonnell, aged 22, who is serving a mandatory life sentence for the murder of 16‑year‑old Melanie McCarthy, is medically unfit to attend court due to a psychiatric illness. McDonnell, who was 19 at the time of the offence, had pleaded not guilty and was found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court on 24 January 2014, receiving a life sentence. He was due to appeal his conviction on the day the appeal hearing was scheduled, but the court was told he could not attend. Counsel Bernard Condon requested a new date to obtain an up‑to‑date psychiatric report. The appeal hearing was postponed to 18 December, when a new date will be set. The case remains at the appeal stage, with no further outcome reported in the article.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man serving life for murdering teenager Melanie McCarthy has "psychiatric illness". Charges or matters: murdering the innocent 16-year-old on February 8th 2012 at nearby Brookview Way in Tallaght. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- February 8th 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
- January 24, 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
- December 18 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2017-11-28 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: murdering the innocent 16-year-old on February 8th 2012 at nearby Brookview Way in Tallaght (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: McDonnell, then aged 19, was unanimously found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court and given the mandatory life sentence by Mr Justice Paul Carney on January 24, 2014. Mr Justice Paul Carney then imposed the mandatory penalty for murder on the accused, imprisonment for life.; It was put back to December 18 next when a new date is expected to be fixed for hearing.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Central Criminal Court
- The Central Criminal Court
- Brookview Way
- was detained at Tallaght Garda Station
- Tallaght
Topics
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