Courts / Kildare / Report

Gunman who claimed legal team failed him has murder conviction upheld

Date
2021-12-21
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
Athy
County
Kildare

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:

Case subjects

James Lammon

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

Court Venue
  • Central Criminal Court
  • Court of Appeal
Residence
Facility
  • Portlaise Prison

Topics

Stage Appeal Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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