Courts / Galway / Report
Bench warrant issued for killer who's 'fallen by the wayside'
Summary
In October 2020, a bench warrant was issued for Maura Thornton, 38, of Inverin, Connemara, following her failure to comply with the conditions of her suspended sentence. Thornton had been convicted of manslaughter in 2013 for the July 2011 killing of her former partner Kevin Joyce, 59, outside her Salthill apartment. She received a ten‑year sentence with the final three years suspended. The Central Criminal Court had scheduled her appearance to address her breach of the suspended sentence, specifically her violation of a no‑alcohol clause. Thornton did not attend, prompting Judge Paul McDermott to issue the warrant. Her defence lawyer, Blaise O'Carroll SC, reported no contact and could not locate her. The State's counsel, Paul Carroll SC, noted that Thornton had fallen into drug and alcohol abuse, and the judge urged her to reengage with probation and addiction services to stabilize her chaotic life.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Bench warrant issued for killer who's 'fallen by the wayside'. Charges or matters: the manslaughter of her former partner Kevin Joyce (59) outside her apartment in Salthill in Galway on July 3, 2011. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- July 3, 2011 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2020-10-07 Publication
Case subjects
Background Person
Charges: the manslaughter of her former partner Kevin Joyce (59) outside her apartment in Salthill in Galway on July 3, 2011 (Proven)
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; She was due to appear at the Central Criminal Court this morning where Mr Justice Paul McDermott wished to deal with her failure to adhere to the conditions of her suspended sentence. Since her release from prison, the Central Criminal Court has heard that she has broken the terms of the suspended sentence that required her not to drink alcohol.
Places mentioned
Topics
Drugs Stage Sentence Violent Crime
Related court reports
- Appearance of tips machine in cafe that pulled in €5k unexplained, tribunal notes
- Judge speaks out about toxic masculinity while jailing young man for rape
- 'You ruined my life,' rape victim tells older brother
- Retired Franciscan brother jailed for 11 years for raping boy
- Lab had to decontaminate first aid room after technician found to have been napping, wearing lead-exposed work gear, tribunal told
- Lithuanian man admits engaging in terrorist plot to attack mosque
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request