Ronan Byrne on trial for manslaughter of James Marren

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

Ronan Byrne pleaded not guilty to the unlawful killing of James Marren at Lohunda Downs, Clonsilla, Blanchardstown, Dublin, on 31 October 2013. He also denied producing a baseball bat during a dispute and assaulting Marren causing him harm at the same address on 26 October 2013.

The proceedings were reported on 23 September 2021. The trial continued at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury.

Opening the trial, prosecutor Philipp Rahn BL said Marren was hospitalised with a fractured leg after an altercation at the family home. The report said a blood clot developed in his leg, travelled to his heart and proved fatal. The State’s case was that Byrne’s actions on 26 October caused Marren’s death five days later.

Byrne’s brother Ciaran Byrne told the jury that Marren had frequently verbally abused the defendant and often struck or choked him. He said Byrne was afraid of Marren and would never hit back or speak up for himself.

Ciaran Byrne said that on the night of the incident the two men were holding each other in a headlock and he tried to separate them. He said Marren ended up on the ground and he held him down because he did not want him to get up and attack Byrne again. He said Byrne walked away, returned with a wooden bat and struck Marren two or three times.