Courts / Waterford / Report

Prosecution urges jury to use "common sense" after murder accused makes case that he stabbed deceased by accident

Date
2015-05-13

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Tramore

Summary

In the Waterford murder trial, Tadhg Butler (34) is charged with killing 25‑year‑old Michael O'Dwyer on 10 January 2014. Butler, who also goes by Thomas O'Grady, pleaded not guilty and dismissed his legal team the day before the hearing. During cross‑examination, he claimed he had gone to the kitchen that night to get a knife, was attempting self‑harm, and that he grabbed the knife from his nephew, Anthony O'Grady, and swung it, inadvertently stabbing O'Dwyer. Butler said he had no intention to kill and that the act was accidental. The prosecution, led by Denis Vaughan Buckley SC, argued that Butler's statements and evidence—including a confession to his former partner and witness statements—indicated intent. The judge instructed the jury to consider the evidence and use "common sense" in deciding whether Butler's claim of accidental stabbing was credible. The trial was scheduled to continue the following morning.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Prosecution urges jury to use "common sense" after murder accused makes case that he stabbed deceased by accident. Charges or matters: murdering Michael O'Dwyer at that address on 10th January, 2014; murdering his fellow Kilkenny man. Procedural stage: trial

When:

10th January Other
January 10 2014 Incident
January 10, 2014 Incident
2015-05-13 Publication

Why: "The explanation I can give you for not owning up and telling it like it was and what happened in Seafield was because I didn't want any more suffering on my sister's doorstep. CNI source report