Courts / Ireland / Report

Dave Mahon had "no motive" to kill stepson, defence tell jury

Summary

In the Central Criminal Court, David Mahon's barrister argued that Mahon had no motive to kill his stepson, Dean Fitzpatrick, and that his love for Fitzpatrick's mother, Audrey, gave him every reason not to harm him. The defence suggested that Fitzpatrick's death was caused by self‑impalement and that the jury should decide whether Mahon bore criminal responsibility, not whether the death was his fault. Mahon claimed he wrestled a knife from Fitzpatrick, showed it to him, and that Fitzpatrick walked onto the blade, collapsing and bleeding to death. The barrister highlighted that the prosecution's scientific evidence did not contradict Mahon's account and urged the jury to consider the possibility of an accidental death. The judge informed the jury that they could find guilty, guilty of manslaughter, or not guilty. The case remained at the trial stage.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Dave Mahon had "no motive" to kill stepson, defence tell jury. Charges or matters: murdering the father-of-one on May 26th, 2013, a day after the deceased had taken a water bottle off his bicycle to annoy him. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• May 26th, 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2016-05-03 Publication

Why: Photo: Collins) David Mahon's barrister has told his trial jury that his client had no motive to kill his stepson, but every reason not to harm him due to his love for Dean Fitzpatrick's mother. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

Read the original CNI report