Courts / Cavan / Report

Cavan man found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter of his wife

Date
2015-02-27

Stage
Finding

Primary locality
Bailieborough

County
Cavan

Summary

A 57-year-old man from Bailieborough in Cavan has been found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter following a trial at the Central Criminal Court. Oliver Kierans was charged with the death of his wife, Patricia Kierans, at their family home on September 5th, 2013. The jury returned majority verdicts finding him guilty of manslaughter by ten to two, and guilty of unlawful possession of a shotgun and possession with intent to endanger life. Evidence presented during the two-and-a-half week trial indicated that Patricia Kierans had separated from the accused and begun a new relationship. The court heard that on the date in question, Patricia Kierans sustained a fatal shotgun wound to the chest at close range. State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy confirmed the cause of death was a shotgun injury. Kierans was remanded in custody for sentencing on March 26th. Oliver Kierans was found guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Cavan man found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter of his wife. Charges or matters: murdering Patricia Kierans (54) on September 5th, 2013 at the same address; unlawful possession of a 12 gauge double barrel shotgun but was found guilty of that charge earlier this week by a Central Criminal Court jury. Procedural stage: finding. Findings: Found guilty

When:

September 5th, 2013 Incident
June 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
September 5th Hearing Or Sentence
March 26th Adjournment
2015-02-27 Publication

Why: When questioned about shortening the barrels of a shotgun by defending counsel, Anthony Sammon SC, the accused said that the reason he did that was because his only child who had remained in Ireland was moving to Australia. Defence account reported by CNI

Case subjects

Oliver Kierans

Convicted Person

Charges: murdering Patricia Kierans (54) on September 5th, 2013 at the same address; unlawful possession of a 12 gauge double barrel shotgun but was found guilty of that charge earlier this week by a Central Criminal Court jury (Proven)

Plea: Not guilty

Finding: Found guilty

Outcome: Found guilty; Ms Justice Donnelly remanded Oliver Kierans in custody for sentencing on March 26th.