Courts / Tipperary / Report

Murder accused gives evidence at his trial

Date
2014-02-26

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Clonmel

Summary

In a 2014 trial at the Central Criminal Court, 46‑year‑old John Hannigan of Clonmel pleaded not guilty to murder and assault charges over the death of Anthony Fallon on 18 January 2012. Hannigan testified that he had no role in the killing and that he had been panicking when he told Gardaí he had given Fallon 'Bruce Lee' punches. He described a night of heavy drinking with Joseph O'Riordan, who he said was the one who struck Fallon repeatedly, including with a chair and a kettle. Hannigan claimed he only struck Fallon's shoulder to break up the fight and that he helped Fallon to his apartment and called 999. The prosecution read excerpts from Hannigan's earlier Garda interviews, where he admitted to punching Fallon 'hard and fast', which he denied. The post‑mortem found 31 fractures to Fallon's ribs, and O'Riordan is in jail after pleading guilty to assault.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Murder accused gives evidence at his trial. Charges or matters: murdering Anthony Fallon in Clonmel on January 18 2012; assault causing harm to the 46 year-old on the same date at Mr Fallon's flat on Abbey Street in the town; assaulting him. Procedural stage: trial

When:

January 18 2012 Incident
2014-02-26 Publication

Why: He said they left the flat because O'Riordan wanted more alcohol. CNI source report

Case subjects

John Hannigan

Accused

Charges: murdering Anthony Fallon in Clonmel on January 18 2012; assault causing harm to the 46 year-old on the same date at Mr Fallon's flat on Abbey Street in the town; assaulting him (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty