Arranmore murder case reaches closing stages

The trial of a man accused of murdering a teenager in a bar on Arranmore Island has now reached its closing stages in the Central Criminal Court.

Stephen Boyle (aged 41) has admitted killing but denies murdering Paul Boyle (aged 19) at Early’s Bar, Leabgarrow, Arranmore on October 3, 2009.

Mr Boyle of Austen House, Cambridge Road, Kilburn Park in London has pleaded not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter at the Central Criminal Court.

Under cross-examination consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Paul O’ Connell agreed with Mr Michael O’ Higgins SC defending the accused “might be suffering from a depressive disorder”.

Dr O’ Connell said that while he did not believe the accused had bipolar II disorder he agreed there “might be a depressive disorder.”

He said he and another psychiatrist who saw the accused both held the opinion he had an adjustment or depressive disorder.

Dr O’ Connell agreed that they were all psychiatric disorders and it was just a question of degree but said this was “obscured” by the fact the accused was drinking on the day of the incident.

“He had been drinking and it is clear that if one drinks his judgement is impaired,” Dr O’ Connell told the court.

Lawyers for both the prosecution and the defence have now closed their cases and are expected to give their closing speeches to the jury of six men and six women tomorrow.

Members of the jury were originally told the trial would take up to two weeks, but Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy has indicated to them it may now run until early next week.