Courts / Limerick / Report
Limerick man moves to appeal conviction for murdering father-of-six on his birthday
Summary
Jonathan Fitzgerald, 26, of Limerick, has lodged an appeal against his life sentence for the 2006 murder of Noel Crawford, a father of six, which occurred on Crawford's 40th birthday. The Central Criminal Court found Fitzgerald guilty of the shooting, a case of mistaken identity, and imposed a mandatory life term on 9 February 2011. In the Court of Appeal, his barrister Hugh Hartnett SC argues that the trial judge failed to treat prosecution witness Laura Kelly as an accomplice and to warn the jury about the dangers of convicting on her evidence. Hartnett contends that Kelly's testimony, alongside that of her partner Jonathan Kiely, was the sole evidence and that Kelly should have been on the same footing as Kiely. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Kerida Naidoo SC, counters that the judge had warned the jury of potential self‑serving motives in Kelly's testimony and that the evidence against Fitzgerald was strong. Jonathan Fitzgerald pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Limerick man moves to appeal conviction for murdering father-of-six on his birthday. Charges or matters: the murder of Noel Crawford outside his parent's home in O'Malley Park, Southill, Limerick on December 18, 2006. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- December 18, 2006 Hearing Or Sentence
- February 9, 2011 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2016-05-05 Publication
Why: It was the trial judge who indicated a basis for finding Jonathan Kiely as an accomplice, Mr Hartnett said, because he had been arrested under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act on suspicion of possessing a firearm. CNI source report
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: the murder of Noel Crawford outside his parent's home in O'Malley Park, Southill, Limerick on December 18, 2006 (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: A jury found Fitzgerald guilty of Mr Crawford's murder and he was given the mandatory life sentence by Mr Justice Barry White on February 9, 2011.
Places mentioned
- South Claughan Road
- Limerick
- O'Malley Park
- The Central Criminal Court
- Court of Appeal
Topics
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