Courts / Dublin / Report

Gunman who shot father in front of daughter (7) has murder conviction upheld

Summary

In 2012, Keith O'Neill, aged 47, shot John Wilson, 35, dead in Wilson's Ballyfermot home, killing him in the front hallway with a shotgun. O'Neill was convicted of murder by a jury and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2015, with 116 prior convictions. He appealed to the Court of Appeal, arguing the conviction was unsafe because forensic evidence of gunshot residue on his clothing, found in a skip, had been improperly admitted. He also claimed the trial judge's commentary during cross‑examination was excessive and that the forensic evidence was contaminated by Garda handling. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, rejected both grounds, stating the judge had acted appropriately and the evidence was admissible. O'Neill remains in custody at Wheatfield Prison. The appeal was dismissed, upholding the murder conviction. Keith O'Neill pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Gunman who shot father in front of daughter (7) has murder conviction upheld. Charges or matters: murdering John Wilson (35) on September 28, 2012, at Mr Wilson's home on Cloverhill Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10; Ms Dando's murder following a trial in 2001 but he successfully appealed against the conviction and was acquitted in 2008. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

• September 28, 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
• May 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
• April 1999 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2022-07-27 Publication

Why: Counsel for O'Neill had argued that firearm residue found on the clothing could have been contaminated by the garda who seized the bags because he carried a gun. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Appeal Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report