Keith Brady murder trial hears stabbing admission

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

Keith Brady, 32, of Cartron Estate, Sligo, was on trial at the Central Criminal Court charged with murdering Martin 'Matt' Kivlehan at his home at New Apartments, Holborn Street, Sligo, on 2 or 3 August 2015. Brady pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. The proceedings were reported on 13 November 2019.

The jury heard that Brady admitted stabbing Kivlehan and apologised in interviews with gardaí on 5 August 2015. In interviews on 9 November 2015, he denied stabbing Kivlehan and said he had not murdered anyone. He said he could not really remember the night because he was highly intoxicated and under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

The court heard that Brady later asked a prison officer to arrange for him to speak to Sergeant Martin McHale. McHale went to Castlerea Prison on 12 December 2015, when Brady made a statement. Paul Murray SC, for the State, read it to the court.

In that statement, Brady described stabbing Kivlehan in the neck as “like a freak moment”. He said he could not explain how the knife came to be in his hand, did not mean for it to happen and was sorry for Kivlehan and his family. The trial was continuing.