Courts / Dublin / Report

Supreme Court judgement delays attempted murder sentencing

Date
2014-03-07

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin City

County
Dublin

Summary

In a case heard at the Central Criminal Court, 18‑year‑old Tadhg Costello of Richmond Hill, Monkstown, pleaded guilty to attempted murder of 17‑year‑old Josh Leahy, who was stabbed six times in the back after a nightclub altercation on 30 May 2012. Costello had earlier pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm and unlawful possession of a knife, but changed his plea to guilty on the fifth day of the trial. The sentencing hearing was adjourned for two to three weeks to allow the defence to consider a Supreme Court judgment that quashed an attempted rape conviction on the basis that suspects who request a lawyer cannot be questioned by Gardaí until they receive legal advice. The Supreme Court decision was delivered by Justice Paul Butler, who remanded Costello on continuing bail for sentencing on 21 March.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Supreme Court judgement delays attempted murder sentencing. Charges or matters: the attempted murder of Josh Leahy at Johnson's Court in Dublin city on May 31, 2012; assault causing harm to Mr Leahy and unlawful possession of a knife on the same date. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

May 31, 2012 Adjournment
March 21 Adjournment
May 30, 2012 Incident
May 31 2012 Other
June 1, 2012 Other
June 2 Other
May 31 Other
2014-03-07 Publication

Case subjects

Tadhg Costello

Defendant

Charges: the attempted murder of Josh Leahy at Johnson's Court in Dublin city on May 31, 2012; assault causing harm to Mr Leahy and unlawful possession of a knife on the same date (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Outcome: Mr Justice Paul Butler told the court the defence had to consider the Supreme Court judgment and said that an aspect of the probation report caused him some concern. "In relation to sentence I received a very comprehensive probation report and the very end of it talks about the future," said the judge.; Mr Justice Butler told the court the defence needed to consider the judgment and remanded Costello on continuing bail for sentencing on March 21 next.