Dean Kerrie awaits sentence for manslaughter of Jack Power

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

Dean Kerrie was awaiting sentence at the Central Criminal Court after a jury found him not guilty of murder but guilty of the manslaughter of fisherman Jack Power. The proceedings were reported on 19 October 2022.

Kerrie pleaded not guilty to murdering Power. Power, 25, died after being stabbed in the chest during an altercation at Kerrie’s home in Shanakiel, Dunmore East, Co Waterford, on 26 July 2018. Kerrie was 17 at the time.

The jury heard that Power had picked up a rock and gone to Kerrie’s house. His friends heard breaking glass and saw him enter the hallway, where he was stabbed. Defence lawyers said Kerrie acted in self-defence after Power forcibly entered the house, having thrown a rock through a window.

In a 999 call at 3.44am on 26 July 2018, Kerrie said Power had come through the front door at him and tried to hit him. Kerrie said he had stabbed Power with a kitchen knife but had not meant to. Eyewitness Christopher Lee denied that Power had forcibly pushed in the door and told the trial that Kerrie had deliberately killed him.

At the sentencing hearing, victim impact statements were read on behalf of Power’s parents and brothers. Kerrie’s lawyers asked Mr Justice Paul McDermott to impose a suspended, structured sentence. They said probation reports recorded Kerrie’s remorse and his account that he had felt his life was in danger and was protecting his mother.

The 19 October report said Mr Justice McDermott had reports to consider and would sentence Kerrie the following Tuesday, 25 October.