Courts / Wicklow / Report

Murder accused said he wanted to kill man once he started stabbing

Summary

During the Central Criminal Court hearing, Darren Houlden, aged 44, admitted to a violent confrontation with Stephen "Apples" Kavanagh, 37, on the morning of 6 May 2019. Houlden told detectives that he had been threatened by Kavanagh over missing cocaine and that he feared retaliation from others. He claimed he had a knife and an axe for protection and that he stabbed Kavanagh after a scuffle, stating he did not intend to kill him but was forced to stop. Houlden described himself as a "functioning addict" with a history of drug use and treatment. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea rejected by the DPP. The trial continues before Justice Carmel Stewart and a jury.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Murder accused said he wanted to kill man once he started stabbing. Charges or matters: murdering Stephen "Apples" Kavanagh 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
• 2020-11-30 Publication

Why: The defendant explained that he eventually got Mr Kavanagh on the ground and stabbed him around the ear, telling gardai: "I didn't want to kill him". CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report