Eddie Cummins’ children lose compensation challenge over killing

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

The High Court dismissed Erica and Eddie Cummins’ challenge to the refusal of compensation over their father’s killing, in a decision reported on 14 March 2024. Eddie Cummins was shot at his home in Ballincollig, Co Cork, on 13 August 2005.

Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty ruled that the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal was correct to refuse an award. The tribunal’s decision rested on a scheme provision concerning whether the victim’s conduct, character or way of life made compensation inappropriate.

The children had applied through their mother, Michelle Cunningham, in 2011. The report said their father had 27 previous convictions and that the challenge included an argument that the tribunal relied on insufficient evidence, including a Garda belief that the death was drug related.