Courts / Waterford / Report

Murderer of 'oldest man in his village' loses conviction appeal

Date
2021-07-16

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Waterford

Summary

Ross Outram, aged 30, was convicted in 2019 by a Central Criminal Court jury of murdering 90‑year‑old Paddy Lyons, the oldest man in his village, at Loughleagh, Ballysaggart, Lismore, Co. Waterford. Lyons was found dead in his armchair with blood on his face; he had suffered multiple blows to head and neck, fractures of hip, jaw and ribs, with the hip fracture deemed the cause of death. Outram, previously convicted of burglary and assault, claimed self‑defence, arguing that Lyons' fatal fall was unrelated to the assault. The Court of Appeal rejected this appeal, stating that the prosecution had proven beyond reasonable doubt that the assault caused the fall and hip fracture. The appeal was dismissed, leaving Outram's life sentence intact.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Murderer of 'oldest man in his village' loses conviction appeal. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty

When:

February 23 Hearing Or Sentence
2021-07-16 Publication

Why: Mr Justice Coffey told the jury that in order to convict Outram of murder it must be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Mr Lyons' fall and the fracture of his hip was either directly caused by the multiple blows inflicted on him or it was reasonably foreseeable that it was a natural consequence of these blows. CNI source report