Courts / Louth / Report

Stabbed taxi driver did not keep knife in car, wife tells murder trial

Summary

In the murder trial of Joseph Hillen, the wife of the stabbed taxi driver, Grainne Mulligan, denied that her husband kept a kitchen knife in his car. She stated that Hillen, a 24‑year‑old coal delivery man turned taxi driver, kept a bar on the floor of the taxi for protection and a small Swiss Army knife. She also admitted that she had previously claimed he kept a kitchen knife in the taxi, but later corrected that the knife was in his coal lorry. Mulligan described Hillen as a formidable man who would not back down in a confrontation. She said he kept the bar as a weapon if needed. The trial continues before a jury and Justice Eileen Creedon. Joseph Hillen pleaded not guilty. Grainne Mulligan pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Stabbed taxi driver did not keep knife in car, wife tells murder trial. Charges or matters: the murder of Martin Mulligan (53) at Carnmore, Balriggan, Dundalk, Co Louth on September 28, 2015. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• September 28, 2015 Other
• 2018-10-04 Publication

Why: Mr Grehan asked her if she changed her statement because she realised it would be helpful to the accused man as it supported his claim that it was the deceased who produced the knife. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

Related court reports

• Worker sacked over punch-up with takeaway driver wins job back
• Legal first sees miscarriage of justice certificate for IRA membership conviction quashed
• Lorry driver who imported €1m in cannabis jailed for five years
• Explosive device allegedly stored in National Museum at Collins' Barracks
• On-bail home invader who dragged car owner along ground has sentence cut
• Amateur fighter who 'brutally killed' allegedly abusive mother - kicking her to death and stepping on her 'lifeless body' as he left her to die - gets 6.5 years

Read the original CNI report