Courts / Dublin / Report

Murder trial jury watch CCTV footage of family's movements

Date
2020-02-04
Stage
Trial
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

The trial of Kieran Greene, Louise O'Connor, Stephanie O'Connor, and Keith Johnston is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Paul McDermott. Greene, 34, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Patricia O'Connor, 61, at her home in Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, on May 29, 2017. The other three accused have also pleaded not guilty to charges including impeding the apprehension of Greene, disguising themselves to conceal the victim's death, and assisting in the purchase of implements to conceal remains. The jury reviewed 343 hours of CCTV footage captured by a neighbour, which showed family movements on the day of the alleged killing. Prosecution evidence suggests Stephanie O'Connor disguised herself as her grandmother to create a ruse that the victim had left the house. Former Depute State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis testified that the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head. The trial heard that the victim's remains were dismembered and found at nine locations in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains. The matter was adjourned and continues tomorrow.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Murder trial jury watch CCTV footage of family's movements. Charges or matters: murdering Mrs O'Connor (61) at her home in Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 on May 29, 2017; her murder; agreeing to or acquiescing in her daughter Stephanie O'Connor disguising herself as Patricia O'Connor at Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 on May 29, 2017 in order to conceal the fact that Patricia O'Connor was dead; disguising herself as Mrs O'Connor at Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 at a point in time after her murder on May 29, 2017 in order to conceal the fact that she was already dead; assisting Mr Greene in the purchase of various implements at Woodie's, Mr Price, B&Q and Shoe Zone, Tallaght, Dublin 24 on June 9, 2017, which were to be used in the concealment of the remains of Mrs O'Connor. Procedural stage: trial

When:

Why: It is the prosecution's case that at no point in time in CCTV footage can Stephanie O'Connor be seen as herself leaving Mountainview Park on the night of May 29 and that, in order to cover up the alleged murder, she dressed up as her grandmother as "a ruse" to pretend that Mrs O'Connor had stormed out of the house. Prosecution account reported by CNI

Case subjects

Keith Johnston

Accused

Charges: her murder; agreeing to or acquiescing in her daughter Stephanie O'Connor disguising herself as Patricia O'Connor at Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 on May 29, 2017 in order to conceal the fact that Patricia O'Connor was dead; disguising herself as Mrs O'Connor at Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 at a point in time after her murder on May 29, 2017 in order to conceal the fact that she was already dead; assisting Mr Greene in the purchase of various implements at Woodie's, Mr Price, B&Q and Shoe Zone, Tallaght, Dublin 24 on June 9, 2017, which were to be used in the concealment of the remains of Mrs O'Connor (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Kieran Greene

Accused

Charges: murdering Mrs O'Connor (61) at her home in Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 on May 29, 2017; her murder; agreeing to or acquiescing in her daughter Stephanie O'Connor disguising herself as Patricia O'Connor at Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 on May 29, 2017 in order to conceal the fact that Patricia O'Connor was dead; disguising herself as Mrs O'Connor at Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 at a point in time after her murder on May 29, 2017 in order to conceal the fact that she was already dead; assisting Mr Greene in the purchase of various implements at Woodie's, Mr Price, B&Q and Shoe Zone, Tallaght, Dublin 24 on June 9, 2017, which were to be used in the concealment of the remains of Mrs O'Connor (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Louise O'Connor

Accused

Charges: her murder; agreeing to or acquiescing in her daughter Stephanie O'Connor disguising herself as Patricia O'Connor at Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 on May 29, 2017 in order to conceal the fact that Patricia O'Connor was dead; disguising herself as Mrs O'Connor at Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 at a point in time after her murder on May 29, 2017 in order to conceal the fact that she was already dead; assisting Mr Greene in the purchase of various implements at Woodie's, Mr Price, B&Q and Shoe Zone, Tallaght, Dublin 24 on June 9, 2017, which were to be used in the concealment of the remains of Mrs O'Connor (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Stephanie O'Connor

Accused

Charges: murdering Mrs O'Connor (61) at her home in Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 on May 29, 2017; her murder; agreeing to or acquiescing in her daughter Stephanie O'Connor disguising herself as Patricia O'Connor at Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 on May 29, 2017 in order to conceal the fact that Patricia O'Connor was dead; disguising herself as Mrs O'Connor at Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 at a point in time after her murder on May 29, 2017 in order to conceal the fact that she was already dead; assisting Mr Greene in the purchase of various implements at Woodie's, Mr Price, B&Q and Shoe Zone, Tallaght, Dublin 24 on June 9, 2017, which were to be used in the concealment of the remains of Mrs O'Connor (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Places mentioned

Facility
  • Rathfarnham
  • Rathfarnham house
  • Sam Lin's house
  • Mrs O'Connor's house
Court Venue
  • Central Criminal Court
Address Area
  • Mountainview Park
Residence
Garda Station
  • Greene walked into Rathfarnham Garda Station
  • Rathfarnham

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

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