Courts / Dublin / Report

Court dismisses miscarriage of justice bid by man who murdered Dublin grandmother

Date
2016-02-15

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Tallaght

County
Dublin

Summary

In 2016 the Court of Appeal dismissed Timothy Rattigan's application to have his 2005 conviction for the murder of 65‑year‑old Joan Casey declared a miscarriage of justice. Rattigan, 36, had been found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court and sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment by Mr Justice Paul Carney. He argued that evidence obtained from a search of his house and his arrest would be inadmissible under the 2012 Supreme Court decision 'Damache', which declared section 29 search warrants unconstitutional. His counsel, Ken Fogarty SC, claimed the new ruling should render the evidence inadmissible. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Tara Burns SC, said the application was bound to fail. Mr Justice George Birmingham, sitting with Mr Justice Alan Mahon and Mr Justice John Edwards, agreed with the DPP, citing the 2014 McKevitt case and the 2014 'JC' judgment, and ruled that the appeal should be dismissed. Timothy Rattigan pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Court dismisses miscarriage of justice bid by man who murdered Dublin grandmother. Charges or matters: the murder of mother-of-five Joan Casey at Avonbeg Park, in Tallaght on April 3rd, 2004. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty

When:

April 3rd, 2004 Hearing Or Sentence
July 8, 2005 Hearing Or Sentence
2016-02-15 Publication

Case subjects

Timothy Rattigan

Convicted Person

Charges: the murder of mother-of-five Joan Casey at Avonbeg Park, in Tallaght on April 3rd, 2004 (Proven)

Plea: Not guilty

Finding: Found guilty

Outcome: Found guilty; He was found guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court and was given the mandatory life sentence by Mr Justice Paul Carney on July 8, 2005.