Courts / Dublin / Report

Patricia O'Connor's son says 'brutality' of murder and 'disgusting' cover-up will stay with him forever

Date
2020-06-22

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In a Central Criminal Court sentencing hearing on 22 June 2020, Kieran Greene was given a mandatory life sentence for the murder of 61‑year‑old Patricia O'Connor, who was bludgeoned to death with a hurley in her Rathfarnham home on 29 May 2017. The sentence was back‑dated to the date of her death. Four other defendants – Louise O'Connor (41), Stephanie O'Connor (22), Keith Johnston (43) and Augustine 'Gus' O'Connor (76) – were remanded on continuing bail pending their own sentencing. The court heard victim impact statements from Patricia's son Richard and sister Collette Barry, who expressed disbelief at the brutality of the murder and the alleged cover‑up by family members. The hearing also included evidence that Patricia's body was dismembered into 15 parts found at nine sites across the Dublin and Wicklow mountains. Louise O'Connor pleaded guilty and was found guilty. Gus' O'Connor pleaded guilty. Kieran Greene pleaded not guilty and was found guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Patricia O'Connor's son says 'brutality' of murder and 'disgusting' cover-up will stay with him forever. Charges or matters: 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 Patricia 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 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; her murder, Greene changed his account of killing and dismembering his partner's mother; reporting his wife as a missing person to gard

When:

April 20 Adjournment
May 29, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
June 1, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
29th May 2017 Other
June 15 2017 Adjournment
May 29 2017 Adjournment
June 10 Hearing Or Sentence
June 9, 2017 Other
June 2017 Incident
December 2017 Adjournment
September 2 Hearing Or Sentence
May 29 Incident
2020-06-22 Publication

Why: Mother-of-five Louise O'Connor, of Millmount Court, Dundrum Road, Dublin 14 was found guilty of 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. CNI source report

Case subjects

Gus' O'Connor

Applicant

Charges: reporting his wife as a missing person to gardai at Rathfarnham Garda Station, Dublin 14 on June 1, 2017, knowing she was already dead; murdering the retired hospital worker at her home in Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14 on May 29 2017 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Gus' O'Connor (76) – were also present in court today for their sentence hearings after also having them adjourned last April.; Gus' O'Connor (76) – were also present in court today for their sentence hearings after also having them adjourned last April.

Keith Johnston

Convicted Person

Outcome: Keith Johnston (43) and Augustine 'Gus' O'Connor (76) – were also present in court today for their sentence hearings after also having them adjourned last April.; Keith Johnston (43) and Augustine 'Gus' O'Connor (76) – were also present in court today for their sentence hearings after also having them adjourned last April.

Kieran Greene

Convicted Person

Plea: Not guilty

Finding: Found guilty

Outcome: Found guilty; Greene had his sentence adjourned on April 20 until today in light of the Covid-19 restrictions. After hearing the two statements this afternoon, Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced Greene to the mandatory term of life imprisonment for murder.; Greene had his sentence adjourned on April 20 until today in light of the Covid-19 restrictions.

Louise O'Connor

Convicted Person

Charges: 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 Patricia 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 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; her murder, Greene changed his account of killing and dismembering his partner's mother (Proven)

Plea: Guilty

Finding: Found guilty

Outcome: Found guilty; Co-workers comments outside court: Patricia O'Connor's former work colleague said convicted murderer Kieran Greene "deserves every bit he was given" after he was given the mandatory life sentence today.

Stephanie O'Connor

Convicted Person

Outcome: Stephanie O'Connor (22), Keith Johnston (43) and Augustine 'Gus' O'Connor (76) – were also present in court today for their sentence hearings after also having them adjourned last April.; Stephanie O'Connor (22), Keith Johnston (43) and Augustine 'Gus' O'Connor (76) – were also present in court today for their sentence hearings after also having them adjourned last April.