Courts / Dublin / Report

Murder accused entitled to 'meet fire with fire', defence tells jury

Date
2021-04-22

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Anthony Paget, 46, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter for the July 19, 2019 killing of Aidan McMenamy. Paget's defence counsel argued that he was highly intoxicated, having smoked crack cocaine, and that he used a knife as a last resort when faced with serious injury. The defence also claimed self‑defence, intoxication and provocation. Prosecutor Bernard Condon countered that the evidence, including CCTV showing deliberate knife handling and six deep stab wounds to McMenamy's back, negated self‑defence and provocation. Paget's wife Candice testified that McMenamy had threatened to cut Paget's throat and that the fatal stabbing occurred after a confrontation. The jury was instructed to consider the facts and the defence arguments before delivering a verdict.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Murder accused entitled to 'meet fire with fire', defence tells jury. Charges or matters: murder but guilty to manslaughter for the killing of Mr McMenamy at Clinch's Court, North Strand Road, Dublin 3 in the early hours of July 19, 2019. Procedural stage: trial

When:

July 19, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
2021-04-22 Publication

Why: Mr Bowman told the jurors that maybe Mr Paget lied in his interviews because his life experience has taught him that he was not going to be believed if he was to tell the truth and he needed to be wary of a system that viewed him in a certain way because he is a compromised individual. CNI source report

Case subjects

Unnamed accused

Accused

Charges: murder but guilty to manslaughter for the killing of Mr McMenamy at Clinch's Court, North Strand Road, Dublin 3 in the early hours of July 19, 2019 (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty