Courts / Westmeath / Report
Retired soldier jailed for eight years for killing prostitute whose body was found in bog
Summary
In November 2015, Jimmy Devaney, a 67‑year‑old retired soldier, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for the manslaughter of Marie Greene, a prostitute whose body was found in Anagorta Bog nine days after she disappeared. The Central Criminal Court had earlier acquitted him of murder but found him guilty of manslaughter after a jury deliberated for four hours and 23 minutes. Justice Margaret Heneghan, who had considered an eleven‑year custodial sentence, imposed eight years, back‑dating it to the day the jury returned its verdict. The judge noted aggravating factors such as the use of a knife, multiple wounds, attempts to destroy evidence and lack of cooperation with Gardaí, and mitigating factors including an early plea, an apology, cooperation and Devaney's prior good character. The sentence was announced after evidence of six stab wounds to Greene's trunk and several incised wounds to her head and neck was presented.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Retired soldier jailed for eight years for killing prostitute whose body was found in bog. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- July 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- February 13, 2011 Hearing Or Sentence
- July 30 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- November 02 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2015-11-16 Publication
Why: It was the State's case that Devaney murdered Marie Greene because she had been blackmailing him for money or she would tell his wife. CNI source report
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