Courts / Dublin / Report

Body-cam footage captured moment man beat brother to death with claw hammer

Date
2022-06-27

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

Body‑cam footage showed 48‑year‑old Gary Murtagh beat his 42‑year‑old brother Paul to death with a claw hammer at their family home in north Dublin on 6 November 2020. The Central Criminal Court heard that the brothers had a "strange relationship" and had been living alone in the house since 2016, communicating by notes to avoid each other. During the Covid‑19 lockdown, Gary was "lost" without work or gym access, leading to close quarters in the house. Prosecutors said Gary had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and had a prior conviction for grievous bodily harm. He pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment, back‑dated to 27 August 2021. The court noted over 50 hammer blows, including 16 to the head, caused Paul's death. The siblings described the event as a "living nightmare" and expressed remorse from Gary. The judge imposed the mandatory life sentence. Gary Murtagh pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Body-cam footage captured moment man beat brother to death with claw hammer. Charges or matters: murder but guilty to his manslaughter at that address; the charge of murdering his brother. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

November 6, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
August 27, 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
2022-06-27 Publication

Case subjects

Gary Murtagh

Convicted Person

Charges: murder but guilty to his manslaughter at that address; the charge of murdering his brother (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Outcome: Gary Murtagh of Broadstone in Dublin 7 was today jailed for life after pleading guilty last week to the murder of Paul Murtagh (42) at their family home at Auburn Street, Phibsborough, Dublin 7, on November 6, 2020. Mr Justice McDermott said he had no choice but to impose the mandatory life sentence and backdated it to August 27, 2021, when Gary Murtagh was taken into custody.; They said they spoke to Gary on the phone after he was remanded in custody and that he was "full of remorse" and that he apologised "profusely" to them for an act that "cannot be undone".