Courts / Cork / Report

Teen to go on trial for violent disorder in connection with Cameron Blair murder

Date
2021-05-26

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Cork City

County
Cork

Summary

A 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named due to his age, has been arraigned at the Central Criminal Court and is set to go on trial for violent disorder and the production of a knife in connection with the murder of Cameron Blair. The defendant pleaded not guilty to both charges. He is accused of committing violent disorder with two named males on Bandon Road in Cork city on January 16, 2020, using or threatening unlawful violence that would cause a person of reasonable firmness to fear for their safety. He is also charged with producing a knife, an article capable of inflicting serious injury, in a manner likely to unlawfully intimidate another person during the same incident. Mr Justice Michael White addressed the jury panel, noting the accused is a juvenile and the case relates to a tragic situation where Blair, a second-year chemical engineering student at Cork Institute of Technology, died after being stabbed in the neck. The judge confirmed that another juvenile had already pleaded guilty to Blair's murder, violent disorder, and possession of a knife in accordance with that incident. A jury of eight men and four women was sworn in. The trial is scheduled to begin on Friday morning at Croke Park before Mr Justice David Keane and is expected to last three weeks. Witnesses and gardai are based in Cork city.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Teen to go on trial for violent disorder in connection with Cameron Blair murder. Charges or matters: his murder; violent disorder and possession of a knife in accordance with that incident; committing violent disorder with other persons present together, namely two named males, using or threatening to use unlawful violence, and such conduct taken together, was such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at Bandon Road in Cork city to fear for his or another person's safety at the said place on January 16, 2020. Procedural stage: trial

When:

January 16, 2020 Other
2021-05-26 Publication

Why: The 16-year-old, who cannot be named because he is a minor, is charged with committing violent disorder with other persons present together, namely two named males, using or threatening to use unlawful violence, and such conduct taken together, was such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at Bandon Road in Cork city to fear for his or another person's safety at the said place on January 16, 2020. CNI source report

Case subjects

Cameron Blair

Accused

Charges: committing violent disorder with other persons present together, namely two named males, using or threatening to use unlawful violence, and such conduct taken together, was such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness present at Bandon Road in Cork city to fear for his or another person's safety at the said place on January 16, 2020; his murder; violent disorder and possession of a knife in accordance with that incident (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Cork Institute

Accused

Charges: his murder; violent disorder and possession of a knife in accordance with that incident (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty