Courts / Kildare / Report

Murder accused told gardai he had no intention to kill and feared for his life

Summary

Ryan Kearney, aged 39, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Jeffrey Jackson, aged 50, at The Lamps, Kilcock, on 8 February 2024. He told Gardaí that after a scuffle with Jackson, he took a small black‑handled kitchen knife from a drawer and used it to jab Jackson, claiming he had no intention to kill and was in fear for his life. Kearney said Jackson had been drinking vodka with his aunt, and that Jackson had repeatedly lunged at him. He described the incident as a self‑defence situation, stating he only struck Jackson to stop the attacks. Forensic evidence included a kitchen knife with a serrated blade, 12 cm long, whose handle bore Kearney's DNA and blood from an open wound. The trial, before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury, is set to continue tomorrow.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Murder accused told gardai he had no intention to kill and feared for his life. Charges or matters: murdering Jeffrey Jackson (50) at The Lamps, School Street, Kilcock, Co Kildare on February 8, 2024. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• February 8, 2024 Other
• February 9 Other
• February 8 Other
• 2025-06-25 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report