Courts / Sligo / Report
'New evidence' that man who murdered retired broker had mental illness
Summary
Simon McGinley (38) appeared before the Court of Appeal on 14 October seeking to have his murder conviction quashed on the basis of new psychiatric evidence. McGinley was convicted in April 2014 of murdering Eugene Gillespie (67) at a residence on Old Market Street, Sligo, on 19 September 2012. He had initially pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, a plea the State rejected. Evidence presented to the three-judge court indicated McGinley was displaying symptoms of schizophrenia at the time of the attack, a matter not considered during his trial. Defence counsel argued the defendant's mental state was directly relevant to the question of intent and that the jury should have been afforded the opportunity to consider this material. State counsel contended that mental disorder alone could not form the basis for overturning a conviction previously reaffirmed on appeal in 2016. Mr Justice George Birmingham reserved judgment. McGinley remains serving a life sentence.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'New evidence' that man who murdered retired broker had mental illness. Charges or matters: the murder of Eugene Gillespie (67) at a house in Old Market Street, Sligo, on September 19, 2012, and had admitted manslaughter instead. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- September 19, 2012 Incident
- April 2014 Other
- 2021-10-14 Publication
Why: A murderer has asked for his conviction to be quashed because of new evidence that he had an undisclosed mental condition when he attacked a retired broker in his home, the Court of Appeal heard today (Oct 14). CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: the murder of Eugene Gillespie (67) at a house in Old Market Street, Sligo, on September 19, 2012, and had admitted manslaughter instead (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: McGinley was sentenced to life imprisonment and later lost appeals against his sentence and conviction. At the trial, Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan also sentenced McGinley to 10-years for the false imprisonment and seven years for burglary.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Old Market Street
- Sligo
Topics
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