Courts / Dublin / Report

Tallaght Familicide: Andy Cash gets three separate life sentences after pleading guilty to murdering sister and eight-year-old twins

Date
2024-05-07
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Tallaght
County
Dublin

Summary

Andy Cash, 26, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court to three mandatory terms of life imprisonment for the murders of his siblings, 18-year-old Lisa Cash and eight-year-old twins Christy and Chelsea Cawley. Cash pleaded guilty to all three counts of murder, which occurred at their family home in Rossfield Avenue, Tallaght, Dublin 24, in the early hours of September 4, 2022. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a life sentence for each count, with the sentences to run concurrently. The sentences were backdated to September 4, 2022, when Cash entered custody. During the hearing, Detective Garda Robert Whitty testified that the scene was one of "carnage," with post-mortem examinations revealing 71 injuries to Lisa Cash, 107 to Christy Cawley, and 65 to Chelsea Cawley. A victim impact statement from the family described the loss as devastating. Defense counsel Brendan Grehan SC conveyed Cash's apology for his actions. The judge noted the evidence was deeply traumatising and stated that his function was to impose the only applicable sentence for such appalling circumstances. The matter was concluded with the imposition of these concurrent life sentences.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Tallaght Familicide: Andy Cash gets three separate life sentences after pleading guilty to murdering sister and eight-year-old twins. Charges or matters: the murders of 18-year-old Lisa Cash and her eight-year-old twin brother and sister, Christy and Chelsea Cawley, at their family home in Rossfield Avenue, Tallaght, Dublin 24, in the early hours of September 4, 2022. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Case subjects

Andy Cash

Background Person

Charges: the murders of 18-year-old Lisa Cash and her eight-year-old twin brother and sister, Christy and Chelsea Cawley, at their family home in Rossfield Avenue, Tallaght, Dublin 24, in the early hours of September 4, 2022 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: The testimony was heard as part of an emotional and powerful victim impact statement, before Cash was sentenced to three mandatory terms of life imprisonment for murdering his three siblings. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a life sentence on Cash in respect of each count of murder, the sentences to run concurrently.

Lisa Cash

Convicted Person

Outcome: The testimony was heard as part of an emotional and powerful victim impact statement, before Cash was sentenced to three mandatory terms of life imprisonment for murdering his three siblings. Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a life sentence on Cash in respect of each count of murder, the sentences to run concurrently.

Places mentioned

Secondary Mention
Court Venue
  • Central Criminal Court
Address Area
  • Rossfield Avenue
Residence
  • Rossfield Avenue

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

Correction or retraction request

If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.

Email a correction request