David Dunne convicted of murdering Mountjoy prisoner Robert O’Connor

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

David Dunne was convicted of murdering Robert O’Connor at the Central Criminal Court, with the jury returning its verdict on 28 November 2024. The murder occurred at Mountjoy Prison in Dublin on 29 July 2022.

The jury unanimously found Dunne guilty after considering his claim that he had acted in self-defence and did not intend to kill O’Connor. The trial judge had instructed jurors to consider whether he intended to kill or cause serious injury and whether he honestly believed he was acting in self-defence.

A pathologist’s report and neuropathology examination found that blunt force to O’Connor’s head caused his brain to rotate, tearing nerve cells. The injuries were consistent with stamping, punching or kicking.

Dunne is due to face the mandatory life sentence when he is sentenced on 16 December 2024. The report says sentencing was scheduled for that date.