Brothers found guilty of manslaughter in Killarney murder trial

The two brothers on trial for murdering a man known as ‘English Jim’ in Killarney were found not guilty of murder and guilty of manslaughter this evening.

Shane O'Riordan, 19, and his brother, Gerard O'Riordan, 25, of 26 Arbutus Grove, Killarney, County Kerry, were on trial at the Central Criminal Court where they both deny the single charge of murdering James Brazier, 30, – also known as 'English Jim' - at a housing estate in Killarney on April 15, 2007.

Mr Justice Barry White remanded the brothers in custody until tomorrow to decide when sentencing will take place.

The jury of nine men and three women deliberated for two hours and 45 minutes before reaching their unanimous verdicts. Both of the accused smiled broadly as the verdicts were delivered.

Mr Justice Barry White recapped some of the evidence before the jury retired to consider their verdicts.

He said that one witness described Shane making repeated stabbing motions into the back of Mr Brazier and that when the knife was found, there were traces of blood linked to the deceased and to the accused, Shane O’Riordan.

The prosecution made the case that Gerard struck Mr Brazier after his brother stabbed him 12 times. Mr Justice White addressed the jury on this issue.

“It is for you to decide why the assault carried on. Was it because Gerard was hell-bent on assault without constraint and was he adopting Shane’s conduct as part of the joint enterprise?... Or is there a less guilty interpretation to be put on it?” the judge asked.

The judge referred to the fact that a 15-year-old girl was in bed with the 30-year-old deceased prior to the attack and that her nine-year-old brother was up watching television at 2am and it was the child who let the O’Riordan’s into the house.

“This is a court of law, not a court of morals, (the teenager) and her mother were together drinking that day. Ignore the abhorrence you may have,” he said.