Courts / Clare / Report

Jury takes just two hours to find man guilty of murdering ex's new partner

Date
2022-06-27

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Ennis

County
Clare

Summary

In a Central Criminal Court trial, Nassar Ahmed, aged 41, was found guilty of murder by a unanimous jury after stabbing Eoin Boylan, 32, three times in a "sneak attack" at Gordon Drive, Cloughleigh, Ennis. Ahmed had invited Boylan to a fist fight while concealing a knife, then stabbed him as Boylan was retreating. CCTV footage showed the attack, and Ahmed claimed self‑defence, but the jury rejected this, concluding he was the aggressor. The judge remanded Ahmed in custody pending sentencing on 26 July, when Boylan's family may address the court. Ahmed faces the mandatory life sentence for murder. The trial also noted Ahmed's prior plea of not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of Boylan in 2020, and his history of a failed marriage to Susan O'Doherty, who later dated Boylan. The case highlighted the jury's swift two‑hour deliberation and the prosecution's emphasis on Ahmed's lies to Gardaí about the weapon used.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jury takes just two hours to find man guilty of murdering ex's new partner. Charges or matters: murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Eoin Boylan (32) at Gordon Drive, Cloughleigh, Ennis, on April 14, 2020. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

July 26 Adjournment
April 14, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
November 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
Christmas 2019 Incident
2022-06-27 Publication

Why: Closing the prosecution case, Mr Staines told the jury that the issue of self-defence does not arise because Ahmed had carried out an "intentional, deliberate and repeated stabbing". Prosecution account reported by CNI

Case subjects

Nassar Ahmed

Applicant

Charges: murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Eoin Boylan (32) at Gordon Drive, Cloughleigh, Ennis, on April 14, 2020 (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Outcome: Ahmed faces the mandatory sentence for murder of life imprisonment.; Ms Justice Eileen Creedon thanked the jury for their service and remanded Ahmed in custody until a sentencing hearing on July 26, when Mr Boylan's family will have an opportunity to make a statement to the court.