Courts / Kildare / Report

Several routes could lead to an acquittal of pub melee murder accused, defence tell jury

Summary

The trial of Calvin Dunne, 24, accused of the murder of Dylan McCarthy, is ongoing at the Central Criminal Court. Dunne, of Monasterevin, Co Kildare, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Mr McCarthy on or about August 22, 2022, and to violent disorder on August 21, 2022, at Dublin Road, Monasterevin. His co-accused, Sean Kavanagh, 26, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm on Eamon McCarthy, the deceased's father, on the same date and location; a charge of violent disorder was taken into consideration. The judge directed the jury to find Kavanagh not guilty of the murder charge he had denied. Defence counsel argued that Dunne acted in self-defence and that the jury must acquit if there is any doubt regarding whether Dunne kicked the deceased in the face or chest. The State alleges the kick to the head caused death, while the defence cites pathologist evidence that the cause of fatal injury is indistinguishable. The judge outlined three possible verdicts: guilty of murder, guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. The matter is currently at the trial stage, with the judge's legal charge to the jury continuing.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Several routes could lead to an acquittal of pub melee murder accused, defence tell jury. Charges or matters: the murder of Mr McCarthy on or about August 22, 2022; violent disorder on August 21, 2022, at Dublin Road, Monasterevin; 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 Other
• August 21, 2022 Incident
• 2025-01-30 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

Related court reports

• Limerick 'enforcer' and dealer to be sentenced over drug gang feud shooting
• Judge should have convicted drivers caught like 'fish in a barrel' in 'unjust speed zone'
• Limerick teen admits helping gang possess firearm with intent to endanger life
• Limerick pair to be tried at non-jury court
• 'Appalling degradation': on-bail sex offender who raped partner in woods is further jailed for 10 years
• 25-year-old gets six years for pub melee manslaughter

Read the original CNI report