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Lifer appeals conviction for cartel murder

Summary

Eamonn Cumberton, a 32-year-old man from Mountjoy Street, Dublin 7, has had his appeal against a life sentence for the 2016 murder of Michael Barr adjourned. Cumberton was convicted by the Special Criminal Court of the deliberate and planned execution of Mr Barr at the Sunset House pub, where he was shot seven times by a masked gunman. The court found Cumberton's DNA on a baseball cap and rubber mask recovered from a getaway car, and relied on circumstantial evidence regarding his unusual travel attempts to Thailand and his failure to answer police questions. Although Cumberton denied the murder, he was jailed for life on January 29, 2018. In his current appeal, his counsel argued that the trial court erred in drawing inferences from his silence and mishandled DNA evidence, suggesting cross-contamination. The prosecution countered that the evidence strongly linked Cumberton to the crime scene and that his travel behavior indicated an intent to flee. The Court of Criminal Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice John Edwards with Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, reserved its judgment. Consequently, the matter was adjourned, and Cumberton must wait to hear the outcome of his appeal against his conviction.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Lifer appeals conviction for cartel murder. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• April 25th 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
• January 29, 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2020-03-03 Publication

Why: The court also relied on the circumstantial evidence of Cumberton's "highly unusual" trip to Thailand around the time of the killing, when he had gone to the airport with no luggage, but was prevented from boarding the flight because his passport was due to expire within three months. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report