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Judge tells Patricia O'Connor murder trial jury that self-defence can be considered
Summary
In a 2020 trial, Judge Paul McDermott instructed the jury that self‑defence could be considered in the murder case of Kieran Greene, 35, accused of killing 61‑year‑old Patricia O'Connor, whose dismembered body was found across the Dublin and Wicklow mountains. Greene pleaded not guilty. The jury was told to focus on facts, not emotions, and to treat each accused's statements separately. The judge explained that Greene's defence hinged on whether he used only necessary force after being attacked with a hurley, which could reduce a murder charge to manslaughter. He also clarified that the separate offence of impeding the investigation, charged against Louise O'Connor, Stephanie O'Connor and Keith Johnston, had its own possible verdicts. The judge emphasized that the jury must decide on each charge independently, based on the evidence presented.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Judge tells Patricia O'Connor murder trial jury that self-defence can be considered. Charges or matters: murdering Patricia O'Connor (61) at her home in Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 on May 29, 2017; her murder, Mr Greene changed his account of killing and dismembering his partner's mother; reporting his wife Mrs O'Connor as a missing person to gardai at Rathfarnham Garda Station, Dublin 14 on June 1, 2017, when he knew 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; 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
When:
- May 29, 2017 Incident
- June 10 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 2017 Incident
- December 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
- October 2018 Incident
- June 1, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
- June 9, 2017 Other
- 2020-02-20 Publication
Why: Furthermore, the judge said the nature of this case could be described as "shocking" because of the manner in which Mrs O'Connor's body was desecrated and asked the jury to "park this" and "leave it outside the door". CNI source report
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: her murder, Mr Greene changed his account of killing and dismembering his partner's mother; reporting his wife Mrs O'Connor as a missing person to gardai at Rathfarnham Garda Station, Dublin 14 on June 1, 2017, when he knew 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; 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
Accused
Charges: murdering Patricia O'Connor (61) at her home in Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 on May 29, 2017; her murder, Mr Greene changed his account of killing and dismembering his partner's mother; reporting his wife Mrs O'Connor as a missing person to gardai at Rathfarnham Garda Station, Dublin 14 on June 1, 2017, when he knew 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; 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
Accused
Charges: her murder, Mr Greene changed his account of killing and dismembering his partner's mother; reporting his wife Mrs O'Connor as a missing person to gardai at Rathfarnham Garda Station, Dublin 14 on June 1, 2017, when he knew 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; 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
Accused
Charges: her murder, Mr Greene changed his account of killing and dismembering his partner's mother; reporting his wife Mrs O'Connor as a missing person to gardai at Rathfarnham Garda Station, Dublin 14 on June 1, 2017, when he knew 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; 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
- Central Criminal Court
- Mountainview Park
- Dundrum Road
- Dublin
- Avonbeg Gardens
- Tallaght
- to gardai at Rathfarnham Garda Station
- Rathfarnham
Topics
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