Courts / Limerick / Report

Limerick murderer fails in appeal

Summary

Sean Flanagan, aged 31, was convicted of murdering Ger McMahon in January 2012 and sentenced to life imprisonment by Mr Justice Garrett Sheehan on 3 December 2013. The Central Criminal Court found that McMahon was attacked from behind while mounting the steps to his cousin's house on Lenihan Avenue, suffering 16 wounds that fatally damaged his lung, liver and kidney. The trial noted that Flanagan and McMahon had a shared ex‑girlfriend and did not get along. Flanagan's appeal against conviction was dismissed by Mr Justice Alan Mahon on 14 June 2016. Mahon found no evidence that the house was McMahon's residence, that the gardaí were lawfully invited, and that Flanagan's constitutional rights were breached. He upheld the trial judge's rulings as reasonable and correct. Flanagan's uncle, Paul Colbert, 49, was also found guilty of the murder, while his brother, Ian Flanagan, 27, was convicted of assisting an offender by hiding a CCTV device. Sean Flanagan pleaded not guilty. Ian Flanagan pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Limerick murderer fails in appeal. Charges or matters: the murder of Ger McMahon at Lenihan Avenue in January 2012. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty

When:

• January 2012 Incident
• December 3, 2013 Incident
• 2016-06-14 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Appeal Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report