Courts / Dublin / Report

Serial offender who left businessman to die during car theft was involved in earlier crime spree, court hears

Date
2024-11-20

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In an appeal hearing, the case of Keith McCormick (23) of La Touche Drive, Bluebell, Dublin 12 and Riverview, Church Road, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15, who pleaded guilty to possession of drugs for sale or supply on May 12, 2020, and other charges including burglary, unlawful use of a vehicle, possession of stolen property and driving without a licence or insurance between September 2020 and May 2021, was adjourned for finalisation on November 27. McCormick, also known as McCormick-Smith, has 44 previous convictions. In February, he was handed a three-year and two-month prison sentence with the final 12 months suspended for his role in a series of offences on January 23, 2022, during which a man died. Co-accused Adam Murphy (23) of Cherry Orchard Crescent, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was handed a 12-year sentence with the final two-and-a-half years suspended on strict conditions. The matter was adjourned for finalisation on November 27. The court heard that McCormick's earliest current release date is June 2027. Probation and psychological reports were handed to the court, and the defence asked the court to consider the principles of proportionality and totality when imposing sentence.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Serial offender who left businessman to die during car theft was involved in earlier crime spree, court hears. Charges or matters: possession of drugs for sale or supply on May 12, 2020; manslaughter and was handed a 12-year sentence with the final two-and-a-half years suspended on strict conditions. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

May 12, 2020 Incident
September 2020 Incident
May 2021 Incident
January 23, 2022 Incident
January 28, 2022 Other
June 2027 Hearing Or Sentence
September 30, 2020 Other
December 27, 2020 Other
January 10, 2021 Incident
January 2021 Incident
May 21, 2022 Other
November 27 Adjournment
2024-11-20 Publication

Case subjects

Adam Murphy

Co Accused

Charges: manslaughter and was handed a 12-year sentence with the final two-and-a-half years suspended on strict conditions (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Murphy of Cherry Orchard Crescent, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was handed a 12-year sentence with the final two-and-a-half years suspended on strict conditions.; Having heard the facts, Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the case for finalisation on November 27.

Keith McCormick

Defendant

Charges: possession of drugs for sale or supply on May 12, 2020; manslaughter and was handed a 12-year sentence with the final two-and-a-half years suspended on strict conditions (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: In February, McCormick was handed a three-year and two month prison sentence with the final 12 months suspended for his role in a series of offences on January 23, 2022 during which a man died. Imposing sentence in February, Judge Dara Hayes said McCormick had been "involved in a chain of events that led to the death of an innocent man".; Having heard the facts, Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the case for finalisation on November 27.