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"Love triangle" witness denies changing account over love for accused

Summary

Claire McGrath, 30, gave evidence in the murder trial of Keith Connorton, 40, at the Central Criminal Court. She admitted that parts of her original statements to the Gardaí after the February 18, 2017 stabbing of Graham McKeever, 32, were not true. McGrath said she had not remembered giving a second statement that the Gardaí recorded as taken that afternoon. She clarified that she had not described Connorton as cutting cannabis, nor had she said he was rolling a cigarette to avoid police suspicion. McGrath denied that she had said he grabbed her and pushed her onto the couch, that he threatened her with "I'll kill you", or that she had called him a "dirty tramp". She also denied that she had seen him stab McKeever three times or that he used the knife defensively. McGrath stated that she loves Connorton, that their relationship was on and off, and that she was trying to be fair in her testimony. Keith Connorton pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: "Love triangle" witness denies changing account over love for accused. Charges or matters: the murder of Graham McKeever (32) at the accused man's home on February 18, 2017. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• February 18, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2018-12-14 Publication

Why: But she denied that she changed her account, given in front of a jury last Tuesday, because she loves him. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report