Courts / Kildare / Report
Murder accused swung at deceased, witness tells trial
Summary
In a murder trial in Athy, a witness, Nathan Robinson, testified that he saw the accused, Seamus Morgan, swing an object about 12 inches long at the victim, Laurence Keane, three times on the night of the killing. Robinson, who was cycling with friends around 10 pm on 18 July 2013, described a scuffle at the top of the hill on St John's Lane where Morgan and Keane were fighting. He claimed to have seen Morgan swinging the object and heard the victim being struck on the head. The defense argued that Robinson could not have seen the act because he had not reached the corner of the lane. A second witness, Ricky Moriarty, also on his bike that night, reported hearing noises and seeing Keane struck by a bar. The trial is ongoing. Seamus Morgan pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Murder accused swung at deceased, witness tells trial. Charges or matters: murdering Laurence Keane (56) on July 19 2013; murdering Mr Keane. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- July 19 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
- July 18 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2016-01-13 Publication
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: murdering Laurence Keane (56) on July 19 2013; murdering Mr Keane (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Places mentioned
- Central Criminal Court
- St John's Lane
Topics
Related court reports
- Cannabis defendant weeps over jail sentence as original suspended term found too lenient
- 'Chop his hand off': littering incident sparked savage attack
- Carlow man jailed over family petrol attack
- Child sex offender argues trial was unfair
- Jury rejects insanity defence and convicts 23-year-old of murdering 'gentleman' (65)
- 'Kind' man 'terrified' of teen he'd taken into his home, witnesses tell murder trial
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request