Wayne Kennedy jailed for eight years for manslaughter

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

Wayne Kennedy, 34, was jailed for eight years on 7 December 2015 for the manslaughter of David Spain, 26. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy imposed the sentence. The proceedings were reported on 7 December 2015.

Kennedy, of Rathsallagh Park, Shankill, Co Dublin, was charged with murdering David Spain at that address on 26 December 2013 and intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Sean Turner on the same date.

He pleaded not guilty to both counts at the Central Criminal Court. The report dates the pleas to July 2015.

After deliberating for four hours and 48 minutes, the jury reached an 11-to-one majority verdict finding Kennedy not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. It unanimously acquitted him of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Sean Turner.

Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy said Kennedy came out of his house carrying a knife for a so-called straightener. He also said Turner was armed with a stone and threw it at Kennedy’s head. The judge said the knife had been brought out unlawfully and used on David Spain, and referred to Kennedy bringing it for a duel before imposing the eight-year sentence.