Man attacked neighbour after brother's murder, court told

A Dublin man who was found weeping over his murdered brother’s body has received a four-year suspended sentence for aggravated burglary at a neighbouring home shortly after the killing.

Defence counsel, Mr Sean Gillane SC, submitted that Derek Ledden (aged 28) had been drinking with friends in the city centre on St Stephen’s Day 2006 when he received a “garbled” phone call about his brother’s murder.

Ledden went to a neighbour’s house with a knife and attacked the male occupant when he heard rumours the man had shot his brother, Stephen, dead in the local gangland feud.

Garda Paul Carney agreed with Mr Gillane that his client had no role in the serious feud around Sheriff Street despite pressures on the young local men to get involved.

Mr Gillane submitted to Judge Patricia Ryan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that his client has stayed out of trouble since and has resumed good relations with his neighbour, Ms Sandra Batt.

Ledden, Oriel Street Upper, Dublin 1, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary at Ms Batt’s Sheriff Street home on December 27, 2006, a half hour after discovering his brother shot dead in a living room chair at a house in Oriel Street.

He has 19 previous convictions mainly for old road traffic offences.

Garda Carney told Mr John Quirke BL, prosecuting, that gardaí were on the scene beginning the murder investigation when they heard about the violent incident at a house nearby.

Garda Carney said Ms Batt told colleagues she had been knocking to get in her front door after visiting neighbours when she turned and saw Ledden standing across the road with a knife.

Ledden shouted a threat to kill Ms Batt’s partner, ran at her front door and burst through to the kitchen.

Ms Batt told gardaí the intruder began swinging the knife and attacking her partner, Mr Sean Keagan, when he arrived home seconds later.

Garda Carney said another man managed to get Ledden out of the house before Mr Keagan suffered any serious injuries.

Ledden was subsequently prevented from re-entering the house and stood outside with a gang of other men chanting threats until his arrest.

The garda agreed with Mr Gillane that Ledden was co-operative during interview and had no animosity toward Ms Batt before or since the incident.

Garda Carney further agreed that Ms Batt has accepted Ledden’s apologies.

Mr Gillane submitted that his client has been conviction free since 2004, has dealt with his former drink and drug problems but now has a serious health complaint.

Judge Ryan suspended the sentence taking into consideration the case’s “traumatic” background circumstances and recognising that Ledden has redeemed his good relationship with Ms Batt.