Dean Caffrey murder trial hears storage and shooting evidence

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

Dean Caffrey has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Sean McCarthy, aged 28, on a date between 2 and 7 August 2022, both dates inclusive, in the State. The proceedings were reported on 5 November 2024.

The Central Criminal Court trial heard that Mr McCarthy’s body was found in a wardrobe in Mr Caffrey’s home four days after he went missing. Emma Flynn, who worked for storage company U Store It, gave evidence about a request for a unit.

Ms Flynn said a man calling himself Dean Caffrey requested a 16-square-foot unit on 3 August 2022 for household clutter. The following day, the customer sought a larger unit, but none was immediately available. She cancelled the booking on 11 August after repeated attempts to contact him failed.

Ms Flynn agreed with defence counsel that Mr Caffrey used his own name, mobile number and email address on the form. She said he also confirmed his address and gave debit card details by phone.

In her opening speech, prosecution counsel said Mr Caffrey told gardaí that Mr McCarthy had threatened him over missing heroin and that a struggle followed, during which Mr Caffrey secured the gun and discharged it towards him. Counsel said Mr Caffrey had also told gardaí that the gun “just went off” and elsewhere said he was acting in self-defence. The prosecution intended to prove he meant to kill or cause serious injury.

The trial was continuing before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury.