Courts / Dublin / Report

Murder accused wouldn't recognise own family when on cocaine, trial hears

Summary

The daughter of a cocaine addict who admits to killing but denies murdering his brother-in-law when he opened fire on him with a submachine gun in his front garden has told the trial that her father would think there were people in the walls who were 'coming to get him' when he took the drug and wouldn't recognise his own family. The prosecution's case is that the accused man was not suffering from a mental disorder at the time but met the criteria for cocaine intoxication. The accused, Christopher Devine, has pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Michael Tormey. Jodie Devine, the daughter, testified that her father had a cocaine issue and that he began taking the drug when she was eight or nine years old. She said that after September 2021, the accused would take cocaine four times a week. She described how her father would avoid his children and become paranoid.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Murder accused wouldn't recognise own family when on cocaine, trial hears. Charges or matters: murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Michael Tormey (49) at Thomond Road in Ballyfermot on January 9, 2022. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• January 9, 2022 Other
• January 2022 Other
• September 2021 Incident
• January 8 Other
• January 9 Other
• Christmas Other
• new year Other
• 2025-11-28 Publication

Why: She said she had fallen out with him after St Stephen's Day that year because of his cocaine issue. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report