Paul Keating jailed for manslaughter after fatal stabbing

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

Paul Keating was sentenced to seven and a half years, with the final 18 months suspended, for manslaughter at the Central Criminal Court, reported on 25 January 2019. The offence occurred at Mark Richardson’s home in Dublin on 16 March 2017.

Keating had been found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter after stabbing Richardson, his lifelong friend and neighbour, during an argument while they were drinking. The judge said Keating’s early offer to plead guilty, rehabilitation efforts and determination to stop drinking were mitigating factors.

The sentence was backdated to 16 March 2017, when Keating first went into custody. The court also ordered that he engage with rehabilitation courses recommended by probation services and asked probation services to liaise with Richardson’s family before his release.