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Jury hears murder accused recorded telling alleged victim: 'I'll stab you right straight into your neck'

Summary

During the trial, a jury heard a recorded conversation in which Joseph Lawlor, aged 39, referred to his friend as a "supergrass" and a "rat" and threatened the deceased, Michael Ryan, 51, saying, "I'll stab you straight into your neck." Lawlor denied the murder charge and claimed he would not stab Ryan, adding, "I love you too fucking much." The recording, taken by a neighbour at 9:38 pm, was part of evidence that also included CCTV footage of two earlier fights and a Ring doorbell clip of the fatal encounter after midnight. The footage captured the moment Ryan suffered a fatal stab wound to the neck. Detective Garda Shane Gallagher spent 14 hours reviewing the audio and produced a transcript identifying both voices. The case is proceeding before Justice Karen O'Connor with a jury of five women and seven men.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jury hears murder accused recorded telling alleged victim: 'I'll stab you right straight into your neck'. Charges or matters: the murder of Michael Ryan outside Mr Lawlor's home in Hampton Wood Way, St Margaret's Road, Finglas, Dublin 11 on June 20, 2024. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• June 20, 2024 Other
• 2025-06-26 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report