Courts / Dublin / Report
Murtagh guilty of murder for beating beautician Nadine Lott 'to a pulp'
Summary
Daniel Murtagh, aged 34, was found guilty of murdering his former partner Nadine Lott, a 30‑year‑old beautician, after a brutal assault on 14 December 2019 that left her with severe head, neck and chest injuries. The jury, after five hours and forty‑six minutes over two days, rejected Murtagh's defence that intoxication negated intent, concluding that despite his consumption of alcohol, drugs and methadone, he had formed the intent to kill. Murtagh had admitted to smoking a joint, taking pills and drinking rum before the attack, and to having been on methadone for three months. He was sentenced to life imprisonment, with the judge ordering a mandatory sentence and remand until the sentencing date. The case highlighted the extreme violence inflicted, with witnesses describing him as "like a wild animal" and the victim as "completely unrecognisable" after the assault. Daniel Murtagh pleaded not guilty. Nadine Lott pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Murtagh guilty of murder for beating beautician Nadine Lott 'to a pulp'. Charges or matters: murder but guilty to the manslaughter of his 30-year-old ex-partner Ms Lott at her apartment in St Mary's Court, Arklow, Co Wicklow on December 17, 2019. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- December 17, 2019 Incident
- December 14 Incident
- October 4 Adjournment
- 2021-08-05 Publication
Why: The now convicted murderer told a motorist who stopped to help him that he had "killed my wife because she was with my friend". CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: murder but guilty to the manslaughter of his 30-year-old ex-partner Ms Lott at her apartment in St Mary's Court, Arklow, Co Wicklow on December 17, 2019 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: Mr Grehan, for Murtagh, said he agreed and there was "only one sentence" to be handed down so the date did not really matter from "the accused's point of view". The judge will hand down the mandatory sentence of life imprisonment to Murtagh on October 4 and remanded the accused in custody until that date.; Mr Justice MacGrath adjourned sentencing after Mr O'Kelly asked the court for a short period of time, saying: "This is a case in which the family wish to make a victim impact statement; the statement was not prepared prior to the verdict." Counsel asked that the court put the matter back to a suitable date for sentence.
Convicted Person
Charges: murder but guilty to the manslaughter of his 30-year-old ex-partner Ms Lott at her apartment in St Mary's Court, Arklow, Co Wicklow on December 17, 2019 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: Mr Justice MacGrath adjourned sentencing after Mr O'Kelly asked the court for a short period of time, saying: "This is a case in which the family wish to make a victim impact statement; the statement was not prepared prior to the verdict." Counsel asked that the court put the matter back to a suitable date for sentence.
Places mentioned
- St Vincent's Hospital
- Nadine's house
Topics
Drugs Stage Sentence Violent Crime
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