Courts / Kilkenny / Report

"Ample evidence" to convict father-of-five of murder, prosecution tell jury

Date
2018-04-17

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Kilkenny

Summary

The Central Criminal Court trial of Tadhg Butler, formerly known as Thomas O'Grady, is at the stage of the judge's charge to the jury. Butler, 37, of Tramore, Co Waterford, is charged with the murder of Michael O'Dwyer, who died in January 2014 after sustaining a stab wound at a party in Butler's home. Butler has pleaded not guilty, alleging he accidentally stabbed O'Dwyer while attempting to disarm his nephew, Anthony (Tony) O'Grady, to prevent self-harm. Tony O'Grady, who suffers from personality disorders, initially told gardai that Butler deliberately stabbed O'Dwyer with a butcher's knife but later claimed he could not remember the incident. Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC argued the death was a tragic accident in a confined space, urging the jury to return a verdict of not guilty or, alternatively, manslaughter if they found the actions reckless. Prosecution counsel Denis Vaughan Buckley countered that there was ample evidence to convict, highlighting that Butler did not provide his accidental stabbing account to gardai during his interview. The judge has begun his charge, and the jury is expected to begin deliberations on Wednesday.