Courts / Kilkenny / Report
Jury reject intoxication defence and find man guilty of murdering friend
Summary
A homeless man, Damien Singleton, 31, was found guilty of murder by a unanimous jury at the Central Criminal Court after stabbing his friend Peter Donnelly, 39, on Dublin's O'Connell Street on 11 June 2019. Singleton had pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The prosecution argued that Singleton, who was under the influence of a cocktail of drugs and alcohol, was capable of forming the intent to kill. The jury rejected the intoxication defence, concluding that Singleton could understand his actions and their consequences. The case was the second trial for Singleton; the first collapsed after a juror claimed to have overheard Gardaí discussing witness statements. The judge adjourned the case for a mandatory life sentence to be imposed on 3 December, when a victim impact statement will be heard. The trial highlighted the presence of alcohol, morphine, benzodiazepine and cocaine in Singleton's system and the prosecution's insistence that intoxication does not excuse intent.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Jury reject intoxication defence and find man guilty of murdering friend. Charges or matters: murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Peter Donnelly (39), who was originally from Kilkenny, on O'Connell Street on June 11, 2019; the manslaughter of father-of-one Mr Singleton. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- June 11, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- December 3 Adjournment
- June 10 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2021-11-25 Publication
Why: In his closing speech to the jury on Tuesday, Mr Staines said that there was no issue that Singleton killed Mr Donnelly because a guilty plea had been entered. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Peter Donnelly (39), who was originally from Kilkenny, on O'Connell Street on June 11, 2019; the manslaughter of father-of-one Mr Singleton (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: Ms Justice Murphy adjourned the case for the mandatory life sentencing to December 3, when a victim impact statement will be heard by the court.
Places mentioned
- Dublin's O'Connell Street
- O'Connell Street
- Central Criminal Court
Topics
Drugs Stage Sentence Violent Crime
Related court reports
- Former Christian Brothers accused of breach of duty to be named in national newspaper
- High Court to consider publishing names of 340 former Christian Brothers
- Judge should have convicted drivers caught like 'fish in a barrel' in 'unjust speed zone'
- Disabled snooker player acquitted of assaulting Carlow gardaí
- Mayo jury returns insanity verdict in telecoms damage case
- Musician gets 16.5 years for repeatedly raping then-wife and her sister
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request