Judge limits media access to upcoming Kriegel sentencing hearing

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

Justice Paul McDermott refused an application to allow more than five journalists into the upcoming sentencing hearing for the two boys convicted of murdering Anastasia Kriegel. The application was heard at the Central Criminal Court on 25 October 2019.

RTÉ and various newspapers had sought to increase the number of journalists in court. The judge cited the boys’ rights, physical and mental well-being and dignity, and said the case had taken a considerable toll on them and their families.

He said the proceedings would be televised in a separate room beside the court, where as many journalists as wished could attend. He rejected the suggestion that this limited their ability to report on the proceedings.

Luan O'Braonain SC, acting for the media outlets, argued that viewing proceedings in a separate room was not the same as being in court. He said the media acted as the public’s eyes and ears and that details such as emotional responses helped inform the public.

The judge ordered the media outlets he represented to pay the costs of the boys’ legal teams attending the application hearing.

Boy A and Boy B were both convicted by unanimous jury verdicts of murdering Ana Kriegel on 14 May 2018. Boy A was also convicted of her aggravated sexual assault involving serious violence. The report said the sentencing hearing was due the following week.