Oliver Kierans jailed for manslaughter of wife

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

Oliver Kierans received concurrent prison sentences of nine years for manslaughter, eight years for unlawful firearm possession and 12 years for possession with intent to endanger life.

Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly imposed the sentences at the Central Criminal Court on 20 April 2015. The overall prison term was 12 years.

His wife, Patricia Kierans, died after being shot at their home in Drumbannon, Bailieborough, Co Cavan, on 5 September 2013. She sustained a fatal shotgun injury to the chest.

Kierans had pleaded not guilty to murdering his wife. The proceedings were reported on 20 April 2015.

In February 2015, the jury acquitted him of murder but convicted him of manslaughter by majority verdict after more than 15 hours of deliberations. He was also convicted that month of unlawful possession of a 12-gauge double-barrel shotgun and possession with intent to endanger life.

Kierans's evidence was that he picked up the firearm intending to take his own life and it discharged towards Patricia Kierans. Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly said she agreed with the jury that the correct interpretation was manslaughter through gross negligence.