State drops attempted murder charge against Philip Cox after jury deadlock

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

The State dropped an attempted murder charge against Philip Cox after a second Central Criminal Court jury failed to reach a verdict. The proceedings were reported on 18 December 2024.

Cox had pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of his former partner, Cristal O’Brien, at a Dublin flat complex on 1 December 2022. He had pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, aggravated burglary and producing a knife during the dispute.

Timothy O’Leary SC, for the State, told Mr Justice Tony Hunt that the Director of Public Prosecutions had directed that the attempted murder charge would not proceed. The judge said that terminated the matter. O’Leary told the court that O’Brien was happy with the decision.

A jury had also failed to reach a verdict in the first trial in March 2024. Mr Justice Hunt listed a sentence hearing for 20 January on the three remaining charges and remanded Cox in custody until then.

This report covers an earlier stage of the case. Later developments are not reported here.