Courts / Dublin / Report
'Travesty' to convict accused of murdering drug dealer, defence tell jury
Summary
At the Central Criminal Court, defence counsel for Dean Caffrey has urged the jury to acquit his client of murdering Sean McCarthy, arguing that the prosecution case lacks foundation. Lorcan Staines SC submitted that conviction would constitute a travesty, contending there is no evidence Mr Caffrey lured the deceased to his apartment for execution. Mr Staines criticised the Director of Public Prosecutions for partisan presentation and breach of disclosure obligations, noting that material supporting the defence was withheld until six weeks into the trial. Mr Caffrey, aged 38 of Beaucourt, Achill Road, Drumcondra, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to murder. The prosecution alleges Mr McCarthy was executed; the defence maintains he was shot during a struggle after arriving armed at Mr Caffrey's home in August 2022. Mr Staines emphasised Mr McCarthy's background as a drug dealer with known firearm access, contrasting this with his client's lack of violence history. The jury will hear Mr Justice Paul McDermott's charge on Friday before retiring to consider their verdict.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Travesty' to convict accused of murdering drug dealer, defence tell jury. Charges or matters: the murder of 28-year-old Sean McCarthy, whose body was found in a suitcase in a wardrobe at the accused's home four days after he had gone missing on August 2, 2022; murder, Mr Staines said murder in this case is "simply out of the picture". Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- August 2, 2022 Other
- 2024-12-04 Publication
Why: " Mr Staines said that while the intelligence report supports Mr Caffrey's case, nobody, including the DPP, can know how much weight to attach to it because the source is withheld due to a potential threat to life. CNI source report
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: the murder of 28-year-old Sean McCarthy, whose body was found in a suitcase in a wardrobe at the accused's home four days after he had gone missing on August 2, 2022; murder, Mr Staines said murder in this case is "simply out of the picture" (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: He said Mr Caffrey faces a "real-world death sentence" and is not safe even in prison, where he is on 23-hour lockup in circumstances where two days before this trial began, another prisoner was killed.
Places mentioned
Topics
Drugs Stage Sentence Violent Crime
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