Courts / Dublin / Report

Murder accused insisted gardai spoke with him in Irish

Summary

During the Central Criminal Court hearing, Sgt Jim Quinn reported that the 36‑year‑old accused, Criostoir MacCarthaigh of An Gleann, Baile Phamar, insisted that all communication with the Gardaí be conducted in Irish. He stated that the suspect requested to speak in Irish in the hours and days after his arrest. The trial concerns the murder of David Whyte, 35, who was found dead on 26 September 2008 in an old graveyard in Mill Lane, Palmerstown. A post‑mortem revealed over 100 stab wounds, the most serious to the jugular. MacCarthaigh pleaded not guilty. Sgt David Russell presented a technical report detailing fingerprinting, photography and saliva sampling, noting that the accused would not sign any documents. The case is before Justice Patrick McCarthy with a jury of seven men and five women. The prosecution is led by Senior Counsel Paul Burns. The trial is ongoing.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Murder accused insisted gardai spoke with him in Irish. Charges or matters: murdering David Whyte between September 24 and 26 2008. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• September 24 Hearing Or Sentence
• September 26, 2008 Other
• 2013-12-12 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report