Courts / Waterford / Report

Kilkenny man died of single stab wound, murder trial hears

Summary

A 37‑year‑old Waterford man, Tadhg Butler, is on trial for the murder of 25‑year‑old Michael O'Dwyer, who died of a single stab wound to the chest on 10 January 2014. Butler, originally known as Thomas O'Grady, changed his name by deed poll. The prosecution, led by Denis Vaughan Buckley SC, argued that the knife used was held by Butler and that the wound was a single forward thrust, with no defensive injuries on O'Dwyer's hands or arms. Butler pleaded not guilty. Witness Tony Walsh, a caretaker, testified that he saw Butler "scampering" back into his home as Gardaí arrived and that a body lay on the ground. The trial, held before the Central Criminal Court, will continue the following day before Mr Justice Paul Butler and a jury of five women and seven men, and is expected to last two weeks.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Kilkenny man died of single stab wound, murder trial hears. Charges or matters: murdering the 25-year-old, who died of a single stab wound to his chest. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• 10th January 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2018-04-09 Publication

Why: He explained that the blade had injured the heart and left lung and that an autopsy had found the wound to be consistent with a single forward thrust into the body. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report