Courts / Dublin / Report

Killer sentenced to 15 years for his role in "brutal" slaying

Date
2016-05-31
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Tallaght
County
Dublin

Summary

A 24‑year‑old man, Michael Kinsella of Swiftbrook Close, Tallaght, was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for his role in the brutal killing of Adil Essalhi on 6 January 2011. Kinsella pleaded guilty to manslaughter in December 2015. Justice Deirdre Murphy described the death as "dreadful" and noted that Kinsella admitted bringing a knife, which he used to stab Essalhi twice while his uncle, Wayne Kinsella, attacked him with a machete. The judge accepted the manslaughter plea, found Kinsella acted under an immediate threat of violence, and refused to suspend any part of the sentence. She recommended that the Minister for Justice consider a reduction if Kinsella engages with educational and psychiatric services while in prison. A further hearing is scheduled for 25 July to decide on back‑dating the sentence. Michael Kinsella was convicted.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Killer sentenced to 15 years for his role in "brutal" slaying. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted

When:

Why: " Justice Murphy said that because the prosecution had accepted a manslaughter plea she had to take it that Michael Kinsella's fear of his uncle meant he did not have the necessary intent to kill. Prosecution account reported by CNI

Case subjects

Michael Kinsella

Defendant

Plea: Guilty

Finding: Convicted

Outcome: Convicted; However, she also noted that Michael Kinsella had been in regular trouble with the prison authorities since his imprisonment in 2012 for a different offence. She said that taking everything into account, the correct sentence is one of 15 years with no part of the sentence suspended.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Central Criminal Court
Secondary Mention
Incident
Facility
  • His prison

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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