Courts / Wicklow / Report

Murder accused said he 'went for' victim's brain

Summary

In a Central Criminal Court hearing, 44‑year‑old Darren Houlden pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter in the death of 37‑year‑old Stephen "Apples" Kavanagh. Houlden told detectives he stabbed Kavanagh after the victim threatened him that "gangsters" would shoot him over missing cocaine. He claimed the devil "took him over" and that he was a "lunatic" when he attacked. Houlden drove to Arklow Garda Station at 12.35 am on 6 May, handed a blood‑stained knife to a guard and admitted responsibility. He said he had taken a knife from his kitchen, stabbed Kavanagh in the neck, face, head and back at least seven times, and that he had "went for" the victim's brain. The trial continues before Justice Carmel Stewart and a jury.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Murder accused said he 'went for' victim's brain. Charges or matters: murdering Stephen "Apples" Kavanagh (37) in the early hours of Monday, May 6, 2019; murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Mr Kavanagh at the same location. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• May 6 Incident
• Monday, May 6, 2019 Incident
• May 7 Other
• 2020-11-27 Publication

Why: Then we started to search the house everywhere, he kept saying we are going to get shot, we are going to get brought up the mountains and shot because of this. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report