Courts / Ireland / Report
RTE's application to lift ban on naming child murderer is adjourned
Summary
An application by RTE to lift a court order preventing the public identification of a convicted child murderer and his victim has been adjourned. The order remains in place despite the recent commencement of an amendment to Section 252 of the Children Act. Mr Justice Paul Coffey stated that although the matter appeared "irresistible" given the legislative change, he would adjourn the hearing until Monday "out of an abundance of caution." This allows the Director of Public Prosecutions to be represented by counsel and the accused's lawyers to take instructions. The 28-year-old appellant, who admitted murdering his 11-year-old nephew in 2019, was sentenced to a mandatory term of life imprisonment. His identity was anonymised at the Central Criminal Court following a Court of Appeal ruling on the interpretation of Section 252. The Children (Amendment) Act 2021, signed into law last week, rectified a loophole that previously prohibited the identification of child victims in unlawful killing cases. RTE's counsel, Tom Murphy BL, sought leave to lift the restriction, noting the law no longer applies to such proceedings. The accused's lawyer, Yvonne Quinn BL, indicated no legal objection but lacked formal instructions from her client in custody. A State solicitor requested the adjournment to ensure proper DPP representation. The matter was adjourned and is not concluded.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: RTE's application to lift ban on naming child murderer is adjourned. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- November 3, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2021-05-07 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Outcome: Speaking outside the court after the accused was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment, the grieving mother called on the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee to change Section 252 of the Children Act which prevented child murder victims from being identified.; by Alison O'Riordan An application by RTE to lift a court order which prevents a convicted child murderer and his victim from being publicly identified has been adjourned.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
Topics
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