Courts / Waterford / Report
Tattooist jailed for killing "naked heroin addict" he found in bed with mother of his child loses appeal against sentence
Summary
John Flaherty, 29, of Ferrybank, Waterford, was convicted of manslaughter for killing Patrick Murphy, 27, on 20 June 2010. The Central Criminal Court found him not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter, sentencing him to 10 years' imprisonment with the final 2½ years suspended. The Court of Appeal heard that Flaherty had entered the house of his former girlfriend, the mother of his child, at 5 am, found her in bed with a naked heroin addict, and that a child and €500 worth of heroin were present. He had recently been released from custody for slitting another man's face. Flaherty's appeal, arguing that the judge failed to credit 17 months spent in custody, was dismissed by Mr Justice Alan Mahon, who upheld the 10‑year sentence and the suspended portion. The appeal was heard by a three‑judge panel.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Tattooist jailed for killing "naked heroin addict" he found in bed with mother of his child loses appeal against sentence. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- June 20 2010 Hearing Or Sentence
- November 25 2011 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2015-07-21 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Outcome: The court heard Flaherty was under a suspended sentence at the time having only recently been released from custody for slitting the face of another man with a piece of glass. The suspended sentence was activated, it was treated as an aggravating factor and the manslaughter sentence was made consecutive to it, counsel said.
Places mentioned
Topics
Drugs Stage Appeal Violent Crime
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