Teen accused of murder sent forward for trial

A 15-year-old boy has been sent forward for trial to the Central Criminal Court accused of murder in connection with the fatal Halloween stabbing of a man in Dublin.

The boy, who cannot be named because he is a minor, is accused of the murder of Lorcan O’Reilly, aged 21, last year. He was aged 14 at the time of Mr O’Reilly’s death.

Mr O’Reilly, from Robert Emmet Close in south inner city Dublin, was stabbed in the nearby Oliver Bond flat complex in the early hours of November 1. The incident happened at approximately 2.30am when he had been at Halloween festivities with friends.

He sustained a single stab wound to the heart and was rushed to St James’s Hospital but was pronounced dead a short time later.

The youth appeared at the Dublin Children’s Court yesterday when a book of evidence was served on him. Judge John O’Connor told the teenager, accompanied to court by his mother and another relative as well as his solicitor John Quinn, that he was being returned for trial to appear during the current term of the Central Criminal Court.

The teen was warned he must inform the prosecution within 14 days if he intended to use an alibi in his defence. Legal aid to include representation of senior counsel was granted.

The boy, who remained silent, made no reply when he was originally charged in April and has not yet entered a plea.

Detectives had arrested the 15-year-old on March 31 and detained him at a Dublin Garda Station. On April 1, he was remanded in custody by the Dublin Children’s Court but granted High Court bail the following week.

Judge O’Connor has already warned the teenager that he must obey the bail terms or he could be remanded in custody.