Courts / Kildare / Report

Evidence of 16 knife injuries doesn't fit with murder accused's account of self-defence, State tells jury

Date
2025-06-19
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Kildare
County
Kildare

Summary

During a murder trial in the Central Criminal Court, the State presented evidence that a 50‑year‑old man, Jeffrey Jackson, suffered 16 knife wounds in a Co Kildare apartment, a pattern the prosecution said could not be explained by the accused, Ryan Kearney's, claim of self‑defence. Kearney, 39, had told the first garda that men in balaclavas had attacked the scene and later said he had stabbed Jackson but not killed him. The prosecution argued that the injuries were distributed around the body, including head, face, chest and legs, and that Kearney had only a small cut on a finger. The jury was told Kearney had been arrested at 4.30pm, charged with murder, and that his statements to the garda and to the emergency call taker were inconsistent with the evidence. The trial was scheduled to continue for two weeks before Mr Justice Paul Burns. The unnamed 50-year-old pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Evidence of 16 knife injuries doesn't fit with murder accused's account of self-defence, State tells jury. Charges or matters: murdering Jeffrey Jackson (50) at The Lamps, School Street, Kilcock, Co Kildare on February 8, 2024. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Case subjects

Unnamed 50-year-old

Accused

Charges: murdering Jeffrey Jackson (50) at The Lamps, School Street, Kilcock, Co Kildare on February 8, 2024 (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Outcome: When the accused was released from detention, Det Sgt Moore charged him with the murder of Mr Jackson.

Places mentioned

Secondary Mention
Residence
Address Area
  • School Street
Court Venue
  • Central Criminal Court

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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