Courts / Dublin / Report
Dublin man makes "breath-taking" application to withdraw guilty murder plea as sister is sentenced to life
Summary
In a Dublin murder case, Sabrina Cummins (37) pleaded not guilty to the killing of Thomas Horan (63) on 6 January 2014 but was found guilty by a jury of six men and six women at the Central Criminal Court. The judge imposed a life sentence, backdated to 8 January 2014. Kenneth Cummins (28), Sabrina's brother, initially pleaded not guilty but changed to guilty after four weeks of trial. He has applied to have his guilty plea vacated, arguing he was not in a fit state to plead on 11 November. The court will consider the application on 7 December. Two victim impact statements were read, detailing Horan's relationship with his wife and the emotional loss felt by family members. The judge noted the case was difficult and the sentence was imposed as a result of the jury's unanimous verdict.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Dublin man makes "breath-taking" application to withdraw guilty murder plea as sister is sentenced to life. Charges or matters: murdering Thomas Horan (63) at Cambridge Court, Ringsend on January 6 last year but last Tuesday, after a period of five hours deliberating, a jury of six men and six women brought in a unanimous verdict of guilty at the Central Criminal Court; the charge but, four weeks into the trial, he changed his plea to guilty. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- January 6 Hearing Or Sentence
- November 11 Hearing Or Sentence
- January 8 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
- Monday, December 7 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2015-11-20 Publication
Why: The court heard Marge said she would not be in a nursing home if Tom was still alive because he would not have allowed it and he would have looked after her. Court evidence reported by CNI
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: the charge but, four weeks into the trial, he changed his plea to guilty (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: Mr Justice Hunt says it was a "remarkable application" in the circumstances and Mr Cummins will be "pushing a rock up a hill but we will see where it goes." The court then proceeded with the sentence of Sabrina Cummins and she was handed a life sentence for the murder of Thomas Horan, which was backdated to January 8 2014. Detective Inspector Sean Campbell also agreed with the barrister that this was "completely without foundation." Upon handing down sentence, the judge said it was "slander of the vilest kind and entirely false." Mr Justice Hunt also said Sabrina Cummins had a difficult childhood but certainly not one that explained her callous and brutal treatment of Mr Horan. "If she was a friend or cared she would have called gardai or told the truth.
Defendant
Charges: murdering Thomas Horan (63) at Cambridge Court, Ringsend on January 6 last year but last Tuesday, after a period of five hours deliberating, a jury of six men and six women brought in a unanimous verdict of guilty at the Central Criminal Court; the charge but, four weeks into the trial, he changed his plea to guilty (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: Mr Justice Hunt says it was a "remarkable application" in the circumstances and Mr Cummins will be "pushing a rock up a hill but we will see where it goes." The court then proceeded with the sentence of Sabrina Cummins and she was handed a life sentence for the murder of Thomas Horan, which was backdated to January 8 2014. Detective Inspector Sean Campbell also agreed with the barrister that this was "completely without foundation." Upon handing down sentence, the judge said it was "slander of the vilest kind and entirely false." Mr Justice Hunt also said Sabrina Cummins had a difficult childhood but certainly not one that explained her callous and brutal treatment of Mr Horan. "If she was a friend or cared she would have called gardai or told the truth.
Places mentioned
- Ringsend Park
- Dublin
- Central Criminal Court
- Clover Hill prison
Topics
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