Courts / Cork / Report

Teen who punched girl and threatened others at Cameron Blair murder scene is sentenced

Date
2021-07-23

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Cork City

County
Cork

Summary

At the Central Criminal Court, a 16-year-old juvenile was sentenced for violent disorder committed on Bandon Road, Cork, on January 16, 2020, the night Cameron Blair was murdered. The boy, who was 14 at the time, pleaded guilty to committing violent disorder and producing a knife to intimidate others. Although the DPP entered a nolle prosequi regarding the knife charge, Mr Justice Keane considered the trial evidence, noting the boy armed himself with a butter knife and struck a young woman in the face. The judge described the conduct as deliberate and calculated, contributing to the febrile atmosphere surrounding the murder. In mitigation, the court accepted his age, guilty plea, and lack of prior convictions, reducing a headline sentence of six years to four. He was ordered to serve two years in detention and two years under Probation Service supervision. The finalisation of the sentence was adjourned until next week to determine placement at Oberstown Children Detention Campus. Separately, Scott O'Connor, 19, of Churchfield, Cork, who brandished a knife at the scene, was jailed for two years. Another juvenile pleaded guilty to Blair's murder and received a life sentence.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Teen who punched girl and threatened others at Cameron Blair murder scene is sentenced. Charges or matters: committing violent disorder at Bandon Road in Cork on January 16; producing an article capable of inflicting serious injury in the course of a dispute, to wit a knife, in a manner likely unlawfully to intimidate another person on the same occasion. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

January 16, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
May 28 Hearing Or Sentence
June 16 Incident
April 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
January 16 Other
2021-07-23 Publication

Why: Sentencing the now 16-year-old accused, who cannot be named because he is a minor, at the Central Criminal Court today, Mr Justice David Keane said the boy "deliberately armed" himself with a butter knife and "deliberately threatened" others at the party that night. CNI source report

Case subjects

Scott O'Connor

Convicted Person

Charges: committing violent disorder at Bandon Road in Cork on January 16; producing an article capable of inflicting serious injury in the course of a dispute, to wit a knife, in a manner likely unlawfully to intimidate another person on the same occasion (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty