Dean Caffrey on trial for Sean McCarthy murder in Dublin

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 murdering Sean McCarthy on a date between 2 and 7 August 2022, both dates inclusive. His trial was continuing at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury. The proceedings were reported on 15 October 2024.

Prosecution counsel Cathleen Noctor said Mr Caffrey told gardaí that Mr McCarthy had accused him of stealing heroin and demanded €5,000. She said Mr Caffrey described a struggle in which he secured a firearm from Mr McCarthy and discharged it, inflicting the fatal wound.

Ms Noctor said Mr Caffrey also told gardaí that the gun “just went off” and, elsewhere, that he was acting in self-defence. She said the prosecution intended to prove that he intended to kill or cause serious injury.

State pathologist Dr Sallyanne Collis told the court that Mr McCarthy died from a gunshot wound to the head. She could not say how far away the gun was when it was fired.