Courts / Dublin / Report

Impeding investigation verdict open to murder trial jury, judge charges

Summary

In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, Judge Paul McDermott explained that a jury could find 22‑year‑old Warren Nolan guilty of impeding an investigation even if they are not convinced he was the gunman. Nolan pleaded not guilty to the murder of Alan O'Neill, 35, on 27 May 2015, and to the arson of a car at Belfry Square. The judge outlined that the jury has three options for the murder charge: guilty, not guilty, or not guilty of murder but guilty of impeding an investigation under Section 7(2) of the Criminal Law Act 1997. He noted that if the jury is not satisfied that Nolan fired the shots, they may consider whether he burned the car to aid the getaway or destroy evidence. The prosecution's case relies on circumstantial evidence and alleged lies told by Nolan in Garda interviews, which the judge said must be proven beyond reasonable doubt.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Impeding investigation verdict open to murder trial jury, judge charges. Charges or matters: the murder of Alan O'Neill (35) at Kiltalown Road, Tallaght on May 27, 2015; damaging a car by fire at Belfry Square in Tallaght on the same date. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• May 27, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2018-12-06 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report