Man to appeal murder conviction

A man has secured a fresh appeal to the Supreme Court against his conviction for the murder of his friend who was in a permanent vegetative state for almost two years after being shot twice in a car in Dublin.

The three judge Court of Criminal Appeal said legal issues raised by Jonathan Dunne, including whether duress can be a defence to a murder charge, were of “exceptional” public importance requiring determination by the Supreme Court.

Dunne, aged 28, was convicted in 2012 of the murder of Ian Kenny, who died in Beaumont Hospital on July 31, 2009. Mr Kenny was shot by Dunne with a sawn-off shotgun on July 4, 2007, and was in a comatic and permanent vegetative state until his death.

Dunne previously admitted he shot Mr Kenny when the two were respectively sitting in the driver and passenger seats of a parked car on Lakelands Road, Stillorgan. A third unidentified man was also in the car. The car drove off and Mr Kenny was pushed onto the road.

Mr Dunne said he was forced to carry out the shooting by unnamed persons who threatened the lives of himself and his family.

Dunne was previously convicted of the attempted murder of Mr Kenny and having a firearm.