Courts / Dublin / Report

Stabbed more than 100 times: Dublin man guilty of murdering David Whyte

Date
2013-12-19
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

In a Central Criminal Court hearing, Criostoir MacCarthaigh, aged 36, was found guilty of murdering 35‑year‑old David Whyte. The jury, after two days of deliberation, sentenced him to life imprisonment. The prosecution alleged that MacCarthaigh, after drinking in Phibsborough, left his flat around 11 pm, encountered Whyte on Ulster Street, and drove him to Mill Lane in Palmerstown. There, he stabbed Whyte more than 100 times in the ruin of an old church. The court heard that Whyte was a gentle, happy man who had never harmed anyone. His sisters, Lesley and Paula, were visibly upset after the verdict. Jonathan Spollen, Whyte's brother‑in‑law, delivered a victim impact statement describing Whyte as an innocent man who was attacked and murdered in a brutal, unprovoked assault. Criostoir MacCarthaigh pleaded not guilty. David Whyte pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Stabbed more than 100 times: Dublin man guilty of murdering David Whyte. Charges or matters: murdering Mr Whyte by stabbing him more than 100 times between September 24 and 26, 2008. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Why: "There is no motive – it was an absolute attack on an innocent man who found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. CNI source report

Case subjects

Criostoir MacCarthaigh

Accused

Charges: murdering Mr Whyte by stabbing him more than 100 times between September 24 and 26, 2008 (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

David Whyte

Convicted Person

Charges: murdering Mr Whyte by stabbing him more than 100 times between September 24 and 26, 2008 (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Places mentioned

Secondary Mention
Court Venue
  • Central Criminal Court
Journey Or Route
  • Ulster Street
  • Mill Lane

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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