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Cork man has conviction for murdering mum-of-three overturned on appeal
Summary
Darren Murphy, 38, of Passage West, Cork, was convicted of murdering Olivia Dunlea, a mother of three, in her Pembroke Crescent home on 17 February 2013, and of arson. He had pleaded not guilty to the murder but admitted killing her and setting the house on fire, claiming he did not want the children to find her. The Central Criminal Court jury found him guilty after four hours of deliberation and he received a mandatory life sentence on 29 May 2014. Murphy appealed on the basis that the trial judge's definition of provocation was incorrectly directed to the jury. The Court of Appeal allowed the appeal, remanded him in custody, and ordered a retrial. The Director of Public Prosecutions will seek a new trial. The case involved allegations that Dunlea had provoked Murphy by suggesting a former intimate would call, which he claimed enraged him.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Cork man has conviction for murdering mum-of-three overturned on appeal. Charges or matters: murdering Olivia Dunlea at Pembroke Crescent in Passage West on February 17 2013 but admitted killing her; a second charge of arson; her murder by a Central Criminal Court jury following four hours of deliberations and was given the mandatory life sentence by Mr Justice Paul Carney on May 29, 2014. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- February 17 2013 Other
- May 29, 2014 Adjournment
- February 16, 2013 Other
- 2015-12-15 Publication
Why: Murphy had also admitted setting fire to Ms Dunlea's home because, he claimed, he "didn't want the kids to find her" and pleaded guilty to a second charge of arson. CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: murdering Olivia Dunlea at Pembroke Crescent in Passage West on February 17 2013 but admitted killing her; a second charge of arson; her murder by a Central Criminal Court jury following four hours of deliberations and was given the mandatory life sentence by Mr Justice Paul Carney on May 29, 2014 (Proven)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; He was found guilty of her murder by a Central Criminal Court jury following four hours of deliberations and was given the mandatory life sentence by Mr Justice Paul Carney on May 29, 2014.; The Court of Appeal allowed his appeal today and remanded him in custody to appear before the Central Criminal Court at its next list to fix dates.
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
Topics
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