Joseph Hillen sentenced for manslaughter of taxi driver

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

Joseph Hillen was sentenced to seven years, with the final year suspended, at Dublin Central Criminal Court on 28 January 2019 for the manslaughter of taxi driver Martin Mulligan. Mulligan was stabbed at Carnmore, Balriggan, Dundalk, Co Louth, on 28 September 2015. The sentence was backdated to April 2017 for time Hillen had already spent in custody.

Hillen had been convicted of manslaughter after saying he stabbed Mulligan in self-defence during an altercation linked to suspected illegal dumping. The judge took account of his offer to plead guilty, acceptance of responsibility, remorse, young age and moderate risk of reoffending. Mulligan’s family said they felt failed by the justice system after the sentence was imposed.