Sentencing adjourned in Killarney killing case

The sentencing at the Central Criminal Court of two brothers who killed a man in Killarney two years ago has been adjourned until next Friday.

Shane O’Riordan (aged 19) and his brother, Gerard O’Riordan (aged 28), of Arbutus Grove, Killarney, Co Kerry were cleared last month of murdering James Brazier (aged 30) - also known as ‘English Jim’ - in Killarney on April 15, 2007, but were found guilty of his manslaughter.

Mr Brazier, a father of three, died from multiple stab wounds.

The court heard that the O’Riordan brothers had gone to the home of Shane O’Riordan’s former girlfriend.

Det. Gda Pat Lynch told the court that the brothers went to the girl’s bedroom. Mr Brazier was asleep in the bed beside the girl.

Gerard punched Mr Brazier in the head while Shane stabbed him 12 times in the back, the court heard. Gerard then pulled Mr Brazier from the bed, beat him around the head with a tubular steel chair and kicked him.

The mother of the house then came into the room. The brothers left and told her to get an ambulance, the court heard.

The girl in bed with Mr Brazier had split up with Shane O’Riordan during the course of the previous week. She was seen in the company of Mr Brazier in various pubs on April 14 drinking with him.

The court heard that this information made its way to the O’Riordan brothers.

At 2am on April 15, Shane attempted to call the girl. The call was not taken, the court heard.

Both men then walked to the girl’s house.

After the killing, they went to Cork, then Monaghan. On April 19, they presented themselves at Killarney Garda Station.

Gerard O’Riordan told the gardaí that his brother “freaked out” when he saw the girl in the bed with Mr Brazier.

He said that after they left the house he was in a “total state of shock” and that Shane was “rattling and shaking.”

Shane O’Riordan told gardaí that he “panicked” when he saw Mr Brazier in bed with the girl. He said that he found a knife on the bedside locker and stabbed Mr Brazier in the back.

“I didn’t set out to kill him,” he said.

Shane O’Riordan has 11 previous convictions, including for a 2006 assault in Killarney that left a man with brain injuries, and for which he was sentenced to four years.

Gerard O’Riordan has 35 previous convictions, including for assault causing harm.