Courts / Dublin / Report
Murderer with "cognitive difficulties" should attend appeal in person
Summary
The Court of Appeal adjourned a murder‑conviction appeal until 30 October to allow the appellant, Warren Nolan, to attend in person rather than remotely because of his cognitive difficulties. Nolan, 23, had been convicted of shooting Alan O'Neill, 35, dead in the victim's front garden on 27 May 2015. He was sentenced to life imprisonment. His barrister requested the adjournment after it was discovered that Nolan had not been physically brought from prison to the Criminal Courts of Justice but had been connected remotely. The court noted that it had ordered Nolan's physical appearance despite Covid‑19 restrictions, citing the exceptional circumstances. Justice Birmingham, presiding, directed that Nolan be brought to court to facilitate access to his lawyers and postponed the hearing to the end of the month, with the possibility of further delay into the next year.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Murderer with "cognitive difficulties" should attend appeal in person. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted
When:
- May 27, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- 30th October Adjournment
- 2020-10-19 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; Nolan (23) of Rowlagh Park in Clondalkin had denied the crime but was convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court and sentenced to life in prison.; Mr Justice Birmingham (presiding) later adjourned the matter until 30th October. "We would ask, direct that Mr Nolan would be brought to court to facilitate access to his lawyers," he said. "None of us knows quite what regime the country will be in then," he acknowledged. "That may have implications for the ability or willingness of the prison service to bring people to court." He said that it cou
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Central Criminal Court
- Kiltalown Road
- Rowlagh Park
Topics
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