Courts / Kildare / Report

Stephen Penrose told gardai he saw friend being attacked

Date
2021-11-08

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Kildare

County
Kildare

Summary

Stephen Penrose, 38, of Coolock, Dublin, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Philip Finnegan, 24, who was found decapitated in a shallow grave in Rahin Woods, Kildare, on 2 September 2016. Penrose testified that he witnessed Finnegan being stabbed in the back by a group of men on 10 August 2016. He claimed he had no involvement in Finnegan's death and that he had been attacked in a black car, sustaining a stab wound to his left arm. Penrose's DNA was found on a left‑handed gardening glove near the grave, and a bloodied glove was recovered from the site. He has repeatedly denied any role in the murder, stating he was not in the woods and that he only witnessed the attack. The trial is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Stephen Penrose told gardai he saw friend being attacked. Charges or matters: murdering Philip Finnegan (24) at Rahin Woods, Rahin, Edenderry, Co Kildare on August 10, 2016. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

August 10, 2016 Incident
September 2, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
September 2 Incident
September 3 Other
November 17, 2016 Other
November 16 Other
August 10 Other
August 31, 2016 Incident
November 17 Other
2021-11-08 Publication

Case subjects

Stephen Penrose

Defendant

Charges: murdering Philip Finnegan (24) at Rahin Woods, Rahin, Edenderry, Co Kildare on August 10, 2016 (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Outcome: Mr Penrose was released from his detention after the tenth interview took place on September 2, when Mr Finnegan was still considered a missing person.