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Limerick man whose murder conviction was quashed is sentenced to 11 years for manslaughter

Date
2015-10-12
Stage
Appeal
Court
Central Criminal Court
Primary locality
Limerick
County
Limerick

Summary

Kevin Coughlan, aged 33, was sentenced to eleven years' imprisonment with three years suspended for manslaughter after a murder conviction was quashed. The case involved the death of Francis Greene, who was forced by Coughlan to the River Shannon on 28–29 November 2009. A jury had found Coughlan guilty of murder in 2011, but the Court of Appeal overturned the conviction in June 2015, citing unsatisfactory evidence from the Deputy State Pathologist, Dr Khalid Jaber, who had not disclosed that Greene had been strangled before drowning. The appeal substituted a manslaughter verdict. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy imposed the sentence, crediting Coughlan for a guilty plea and for time already served, and noted his prior criminal record of robbery and burglary. The sentence will run from 10 June 2010, with the suspended portion effective after the term ends. Kevin Coughlan pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Limerick man whose murder conviction was quashed is sentenced to 11 years for manslaughter. Charges or matters: murdering Francis Greene at Steamboat Quay in Limerick between November 28 and 29 2009; murder at the Central Criminal Court in December 2011 after a trial that lasted fourteen days but this was later quashed. "Mr Anthony Sammon SC for Coughlan said in the course of the hearing that the appropriate conviction was manslaughter and accordingly a verdict of manslaughter was substituted by the Court of Appeal," said the judge. "Then the matter was referred to me for sentencing but difficulty arose in the case because of Dr Jaber's evidence, as a reference was made by him to strangulation; three robberies and four burglaries. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty

When:

Why: "Then the matter was referred to me for sentencing but difficulty arose in the case because of Dr Jaber's evidence, as a reference was made by him to strangulation. CNI source report

Case subjects

Kevin Coughlan

Appellant

Charges: murdering Francis Greene at Steamboat Quay in Limerick between November 28 and 29 2009; murder at the Central Criminal Court in December 2011 after a trial that lasted fourteen days but this was later quashed. "Mr Anthony Sammon SC for Coughlan said in the course of the hearing that the appropriate conviction was manslaughter and accordingly a verdict of manslaughter was substituted by the Court of Appeal," said the judge. "Then the matter was referred to me for sentencing but difficulty arose in the case because of Dr Jaber's evidence, as a reference was made by him to strangulation; three robberies and four burglaries (Proven)

Plea: Not guilty

Finding: Found guilty

Outcome: Found guilty; Today the matter was brought before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy for sentence, where he said the case had "exceptional circumstances" as the accused was convicted of murder at the Central Criminal Court in December 2011 after a trial that lasted fourteen days but this was later quashed. "Mr Anthony Sammon SC for Coughlan said in the course of the hearing that the appropriate conviction was manslaughter and accordingly a verdict of manslaughter was substituted by the Court of Appeal," said the judge. "Then the matter was referred to me for sentencing but difficulty arose in the case because of D The judge then gave Coughlan credit for his period of custody saying: "The sentence will date from June 10 2010 and the last three years will be suspended." EVIDENCE IN CASE: Last week prosecution counsel Mr McCarthy said the deceased was living in the basement of a house and was working as a general operative in the building trade at the time of his death. "He was a gentle man but he had a drink

Places mentioned

Secondary Mention
Residence
Court Venue
  • Central Criminal Court
  • Court of Appeal
Garda Station
  • and went to the garda station
  • to return to the garda station

Topics

Burglary Stage Appeal Theft Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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