Kieran Greene’s murder sentencing adjourned until June

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

Kieran Greene’s sentencing for the murder of Patricia O’Connor was adjourned until June after the judge said the court was not in a position to proceed in the present circumstances. The proceedings were reported on 20 April 2020.

A jury had found Greene guilty of murdering his partner’s mother two months earlier. The report said she was killed at the South Dublin home they shared and her remains were found in Wicklow and Dublin. It said he would be handed a life sentence in June.

Greene claimed he acted in self-defence when he beat Patricia O’Connor to death. He initially said he panicked, buried her in a shallow grave in Wexford, then dug her up, dismembered her and scattered her remains. He later changed his account and blamed her husband Gus for killing her.

Gus admitted impeding Greene’s apprehension or prosecution by reporting his wife missing when he knew she was dead. Their daughter Louise, granddaughter Stephanie and Stephanie’s father Keith Johnston were convicted for their roles in the attempted cover-up. Their sentencing hearing had been due on 20 April, but was also adjourned until June.

Greene appeared by video link. The others were on bail and were told they did not have to attend.