Courts / Cork / Report
Man has murder conviction quashed over jury's visit to rubbish chute in which homeless victim died
Summary
In 2015, David O'Loughlin (30) was convicted of murdering Liam Manley (59) after forcing him into a refuse chute at Garden City Apartments, Cork. The Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty and imposed a mandatory life sentence. In 2018, the Court of Appeal quashed the conviction because the jury had visited the chute during deliberations without permission from either the defence or prosecution, an action deemed technically unlawful under the Juries Act. During the visit, a juror threw a stone down the chute, an experiment that introduced new, unexamined evidence. The judge ruled that the jury should have been discharged under these circumstances. The case remains pending, with the court to decide whether a retrial will be ordered. The summary reflects only the facts presented in the article. David O'Loughlin pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man has murder conviction quashed over jury's visit to rubbish chute in which homeless victim died. Charges or matters: the murder of Liam Manley (59) at his apartment complex in the city on May 12th 2013. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- May 12th 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 31, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2018-02-09 Publication
Why: He felt sorry for the deceased because he himself had previously fallen on hard times, and took him back to his apartment. CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: the murder of Liam Manley (59) at his apartment complex in the city on May 12th 2013 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: A Central Criminal Court jury sitting in Cork unanimously found O'Loughlin guilty of murder and he was accordingly given the mandatory life sentence by Mr Justice Paul Carney on March 31, 2015.
Places mentioned
- North Main Street
- Cork
- Central Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
Topics
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