William Gilsenan guilty of manslaughter in €100 debt killing

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

William Gilsenan was found guilty of manslaughter at the Central Criminal Court. The proceedings were reported on 14 December 2016. He had pleaded not guilty to the murder of Edward Fitzgerald.

The jury returned a unanimous verdict of not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter after a 10-day trial. Mr Justice Paul Butler remanded Gilsenan in custody until 12 January for a sentencing hearing.

The case concerned Fitzgerald’s death following a confrontation over a €100 debt in a car park in Santry on 17 October 2014. Gilsenan said Fitzgerald threatened him and said he would smash up his house and his mother’s home. The report said the first argument ended without physical confrontation when Gilsenan went to his apartment.

Gilsenan told gardaí he picked up a knife before leaving the apartment but did not intend to use it. He said he intended only to show it to Fitzgerald and scare him away if he threatened him again. The court heard Fitzgerald made further threats when Gilsenan came outside.

According to Gilsenan’s interviews with gardaí, Fitzgerald struck him in the face as they argued through the open passenger-side window. The report described a subsequent scuffle at the driver’s door, with Fitzgerald kicking Gilsenan and Gilsenan holding his legs.

After a few seconds of struggle, Gilsenan produced the knife and stabbed Fitzgerald twice. One wound went through his leg; the other pierced his heart and caused his death.