Courts / Dublin / Report
Jury clears man of murdering former soldier
Summary
In a Dublin trial, Gary Watson, aged 35, was acquitted of murdering former soldier Warren O'Connor, aged 24, who died from a single stab wound to the neck on 16 January 2010. The jury, after four hours and eleven minutes, found Watson not guilty of the murder charge. However, they convicted him of assaulting Philip Woodcock, aged 34, and of producing a knife on the same occasion. Watson denied these charges. The case involved a fight between two groups of men at a noisy house party on Hole in the Wall Road, with witnesses describing a white‑hoodie wearer stabbing O'Connor. No forensic evidence linked Watson to the knife or to O'Connor's body. The trial concluded with Watson remanded in custody pending sentencing for the assault and knife charges, scheduled for 7 March. The judge thanked the jury and expressed condolences to O'Connor's family.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Jury clears man of murdering former soldier. Charges or matters: murdering Warren O'Connor (24) at Hole in the Wall Road, Donaghmede, Dublin 13 on January 16, 2010. Procedural stage: finding. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- January 16, 2010 Other
- March 7 Adjournment
- 2019-02-18 Publication
Why: Ms Lawlor said that in order to convict her client, the jury had to be sure that what Mr Foy said "was enough" as there was "nothing else" in the case. CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: murdering Warren O'Connor (24) at Hole in the Wall Road, Donaghmede, Dublin 13 on January 16, 2010 (Proven)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; The court adjourned sentencing on the two charges on which Watson was found guilty until March 7 and Mr Justice White remanded the defendant in custody until that date.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Donaghmede
- Newgrove Estate
- Central Criminal Court
- Millbrook Avenue
- Dublin
- Wall Road
- Wall Road
- Cloverhill Prison
Topics
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