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Gardaí had "agenda" to obtain confession from murder convict "no matter what", appeal court told
Summary
Bryan Ryan, aged 31, originally from Blanchardstown but with an address in Louisburgh, County Mayo, is serving a life sentence for the murder of Ian Tobin in May 2007. Ryan was convicted by majority verdict at the Central Criminal Court in 2013 after initially being convicted in 2008, a conviction later quashed. He pleaded not guilty to the charge. At the Court of Appeal on Thursday, Ryan's counsel argued that gardaí pursued an agenda to secure a confession by improper means, including misrepresenting the law on manslaughter and overstating evidence. Counsel submitted the confession was unreliable, particularly as Ryan confessed to burning motorcycle parts and clothing that forensic evidence did not support. The defence further contended that alleged constitutional breaches during interviews could not be remedied by a brief conversation with his solicitor. The Director of Public Prosecutions' counsel maintained the core evidence came from a protected witness and that the confession was properly obtained. The Court of Appeal reserved judgment.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Gardaí had "agenda" to obtain confession from murder convict "no matter what", appeal court told. Charges or matters: the murder of Ian Tobin (25) at Fortlawn Park, Blanchardstown, on May 27, 2007. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- May 27, 2007 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 22, 2013 Incident
- 2015-12-10 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: the murder of Ian Tobin (25) at Fortlawn Park, Blanchardstown, on May 27, 2007 (Alleged Or Contested)
Outcome: A jury at the Central Criminal Court returned a 10-2 majority verdict of guilty after 6 hours and 27 minutes of deliberation and Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy gave him the mandatory life sentence on March 22, 2013.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Central Criminal Court
- Fortlawn Park
- Fortlawn Park
Topics
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