Courts / Cork / Report

'I can't let go': witness describes holding on to murdered friend Cameron Blair

Date
2021-06-03

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Cork City

County
Cork

Summary

A witness, Darren O'Leary, testified that he held his friend Cameron Blair as Blair bled from a fatal neck stab. O'Leary described applying pressure to the neck and calling for an ambulance, but the paramedics arrived only after ten minutes. He said Blair was intoxicated and unaware of the wound. O'Leary also recounted that Blair had invited three teenagers to a house party on Bandon Road, one of whom later stabbed Blair. The witness claimed Blair told him the teens were "sound or tome" and that he was unaware of the knife. O'Leary's testimony was given in the trial of a 16‑year‑old accused of producing a knife capable of serious injury. The accused, 14 at the time, pleaded not guilty to that charge. The case is before the Central Criminal Court. The witness also described the party's escalation and the presence of other weapons. The trial continues.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'I can't let go': witness describes holding on to murdered friend Cameron Blair. Charges or matters: his murder; the production of a knife at a house on Bandon Road in Cork city on January 16, 2020; producing an article capable of inflicting serious injury in the course of a dispute, to wit a knife, in a manner likely to unlawfully intimidate another person. Procedural stage: trial

When:

January 16, 2020 Incident
January 16 Other
2021-06-03 Publication

Why: The accused, who was 14 at the time of the incident and cannot be named because he is a minor, has pleaded not guilty to producing an article capable of inflicting serious injury in the course of a dispute, to wit a knife, in a manner likely to unlawfully intimidate another person. CNI source report

Case subjects

Unnamed 20-year-old

Defendant

Charges: his murder; the production of a knife at a house on Bandon Road in Cork city on January 16, 2020; producing an article capable of inflicting serious injury in the course of a dispute, to wit a knife, in a manner likely to unlawfully intimidate another person (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty