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State's case against handyman 'clutching at straws', defence say

Summary

The State's case against Keith Johnston, accused of assisting Kieran Greene in the purchase of items used in the concealment of the remains of Patricia O'Connor, has been described by defence counsel as 'clutching at straws' with no evidence of 'concealment, lies or secrecy'. The trial has heard that the body of Mrs O'Connor was dismembered into 15 parts found at nine different locations in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains between June 10 and 14, 2017. Keith Johnston has pleaded not guilty to assisting Kieran Greene in the purchase of various implements on June 9, 2017, which were to be used in the concealment of the remains of Mrs O'Connor. Louise O'Connor and Stephanie O'Connor have both pleaded not guilty to charges of disguising themselves as Mrs O'Connor and agreeing to or acquiescing in the disguise to conceal the fact that Patricia O'Connor was dead. Keith Johnston has been acquitted on some charges. The trial is ongoing with the jury to be charged by Mr Justice Paul McDermott tomorrow.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: State's case against handyman 'clutching at straws', defence say. Charges or matters: murdering Mrs O'Connor at her home in Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 on May 29, 2017; 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; 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; assisting Kieran 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: finding. Findings: Acquitted

When:

• June 9, 2017 Other
• May 29, 2017 Incident
• June 10 Hearing Or Sentence
• December 9 Adjournment
• June 9 Hearing Or Sentence
• June 12, 2017 Other
• June 1 Other
• 2020-02-19 Publication

Why: He noted that the prosecution case against Mr Johnston was "full of speculation" and in order to convict his client, the jury must be satisfied that he knew or believed that Mr Greene had unlawfully killed Mrs O'Connor and that this state of mind existed before or at the time he went on the "shopping spree". Prosecution account reported by CNI

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Read the original CNI report