Courts / Tipperary / Report

Jury to begin deliberating in Tipperary murder trial

Date
2014-02-27

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Clonmel

Summary

In a Tipperary murder trial, John Hannigan, aged 46, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Anthony Fallon and to assault causing harm. The trial, held in the Central Criminal Court, began on Friday with a jury of seven men and four women. Hannigan, who lives in River House, New Quay, Clonmel, claimed he had lost his temper when Fallon would not stop talking and punched him "hard and fast" like Bruce Lee. He said they had been drinking with another man, Joseph O'Riordan, who had also beaten Fallon earlier that night. O'Riordan is now in jail after pleading guilty to assault. A post‑mortem found 31 rib fractures and blunt force trauma to Fallon's head and trunk as the cause of death. Hannigan later told gardai he was "just panicking" when he attacked Fallon on a walk through town.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Jury to begin deliberating in Tipperary murder 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
2014-02-27 Publication

Case subjects

John Hannigan

Defendant

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