Courts / Kildare / Report
Not possible to determine which blow caused fatal injury, pub melee murder trial hears
Summary
In a Central Criminal Court jury hearing, State pathologist Dr Heidi Okkers confirmed that 29‑year‑old Dylan McCarthy died from a traumatic head and spinal injury caused by blunt force trauma, but she could not identify whether a punch or a kick caused the fatal blow. The State alleges McCarthy was assaulted outside a pub in Kildare by Sean Kavanagh (26) and Calvin Dunne (24), who claim self‑defence, and that McCarthy was also involved in the violence that night. Both men pleaded not guilty to murder, violent disorder and, in Kavanagh's case, assault causing harm to McCarthy's father. Dr Okkers described extensive haemorrhaging, brain swelling, and spinal cord damage, noting that CCTV made it impossible to determine the specific blow that caused the fatal injury. The trial will resume next Monday before Justice Caroline Biggs and a 12‑person jury.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Not possible to determine which blow caused fatal injury, pub melee murder trial hears. Charges or matters: the murder of Mr McCarthy on or about August 22, 2022; violent disorder on August 21, 2022, at Dublin Road, Monasterevin, while Mr Kavanagh has pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault causing harm on Eamon McCarthy, the father of the deceased, on the same date and at the same location. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- August 22, 2022 Incident
- August 21, 2022 Incident
- 2025-01-23 Publication
Why: She explained that there was bleeding in between the membrane covering the brain and the brain surface, while there was extensive bleeding at the base of the brain. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: the murder of Mr McCarthy on or about August 22, 2022; violent disorder on August 21, 2022, at Dublin Road, Monasterevin, while Mr Kavanagh has pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault causing harm on Eamon McCarthy, the father of the deceased, on the same date and at the same location (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Defendant
Charges: the murder of Mr McCarthy on or about August 22, 2022; violent disorder on August 21, 2022, at Dublin Road, Monasterevin, while Mr Kavanagh has pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault causing harm on Eamon McCarthy, the father of the deceased, on the same date and at the same location (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
- Kildare town
- Dublin
- Dublin Road
- Monasterevin
- St Mary's Lane
- Church Avenue
- Abbey View
Topics
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