Courts / Galway / Report

Canal killer McArdle formally surrendered to Dutch

Date
2020-12-18
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
Galway
County
Galway

Summary

Barry McArdle, 34, was formally surrendered to Dutch authorities at the High Court following the lifting of a postponement order. The surrender relates to his conviction for the stabbing and dismemberment of Keith Ennis in 2009. Although McArdle was initially acquitted of the stabbing in 2017, the Dutch public prosecutor successfully appealed that verdict. In 2020, after a Supreme Court ruling upheld the appeal, McArdle was found guilty of the stabbing and sentenced to 13 years. The High Court heard that the balance of his sentence left to serve is 4,514 days. McArdle had previously been convicted of removing or disposing of Mr Ennis' body to conceal the cause of death, a charge for which he had already served his sentence. He was arrested in Galway on July 1 under a European Arrest Warrant issued in April and endorsed by the High Court in June. His legal representative, Ms Leanora Frawley BL, stated that McArdle was no longer seeking a postponement for a medical procedure, having previously requested time for a colostomy consultation. The Minister for Justice's counsel, Ms Caroline Cummings SC, confirmed the warrant details. Detective Garda Eoin Kane noted that McArdle is considered a flight risk with 19 previous convictions, including drug supply offenses. The court proceedings concluded with the formal surrender to the Netherlands.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Canal killer McArdle formally surrendered to Dutch. Charges or matters: the stabbing and sentenced to 13 years; "murder/manslaughter and of removing or disposing Mr Ennis' body in order to conceal the cause of death". Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Acquitted

When:

Why: A previous sitting of the court, Ms Cummings said that McArdle was found guilty of "murder/manslaughter and of removing or disposing Mr Ennis' body in order to conceal the cause of death". CNI source report

Case subjects

Barry McArdle

Convicted Person

Charges: the stabbing and sentenced to 13 years; "murder/manslaughter and of removing or disposing Mr Ennis' body in order to conceal the cause of death" (Alleged Or Contested)

Finding: Acquitted

Outcome: Acquitted; The public prosecutor in the Netherlands successfully appealed the not-guilty verdict and in 2020, after a Supreme Court ruling upheld that decision, McArdle was found guilty of the stabbing and sentenced to 13 years. The balance of McArdle's sentence left to serve was 4,514 days, the High Court heard.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • High Court
  • Court of Appeal
  • Supreme Court
Secondary Mention
Residence
Incident

Topics

Drugs Stage Appeal

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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