Courts / Kildare / Report
Gunman who claimed legal team failed him has murder conviction upheld
Summary
In a 2016 murder trial, James Lammon, aged 48, was found guilty by a unanimous jury of the brutal, pre‑meditated killing of Jason Doogue in Athy, Co. Kildare, and sentenced to life imprisonment. Lammon appealed, arguing that his counsel failed to challenge a disputed Garda Daniel O'Shea memo that he had allegedly recorded a conversation in an exercise yard after his arrest. The memo, which Lammon denied ever occurred, was admitted in edited form. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Justice George Birmingham, rejected the appeal, concluding that Lammon had been informed of the prosecution's proposal regarding the memo, had understood it, and had instructed his legal team to accept it. The court found no evidence that his counsel acted contrary to his instructions and dismissed the appeal, leaving the life sentence in place.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Gunman who claimed legal team failed him has murder conviction upheld. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted
When:
- October 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
- August 21, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
- August 2015 Other
- 2021-12-21 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; Trial judge Mr Justice Paul Butler described the killing as "brutal and pre-meditated" and said "there is only one sentence" before handing down the mandatory life imprisonment.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
- Portlaise Prison
Topics
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