Boy B’s bid to introduce fresh evidence in appeal against Ana Kriégel murder conviction refused

Teenager's lawyers had sought to introduce reports written by eminent psychologists who said Boy B was subjected to 'manipulation and pressure' by gardaí during interviews

In his final interview, Boy B admitted to seeing Boy A assault Ana Kriégel and remove some of her clothing but denied he played any part in her murder. His lawyers argued at his trial he was an innocent by-stander. Picture: Family Handout/PA Wire

The Court of Appeal has refused to allow fresh evidence in an appeal being run by the teenager who lured 14-year-old schoolgirl Ana Kriégel to a derelict house so that his friend could murder her.

Mr Justice George Birmingham, delivering the ruling of the three-judge court on Friday, said Boy B's application to bring fresh evidence does not come near the threshold set for such cases. 

He said Boy B, 17, was attempting to "set at nought" the way his trial was run and having hired a new legal team was trying to run an entirely different case in the appeal court. He said there was no suggestion he had inadequate legal representation at his first trial.

Boy B's lawyers had sought to introduce reports written by eminent psychologists who were critical of an expert called by Boy B's trial lawyers and who said Boy B was subjected to "manipulation and pressure" by gardaí during interviews. 

The reports said the account Boy B gave to gardaí and that was heard by the jury in his trial may have been misleading.

At a previous hearing, Brendan Grehan SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said while Boy B clearly lied in his Garda interviews, there is no suggestion he has denied the final account he gave to gardaí was true.

In his Garda interviews, Boy B initially denied any knowledge of what happened to Ana and gave several different accounts of what he had done and seen. 

In his final interview, he admitted to seeing Boy A assault Ana and remove some of her clothing but denied he played any part in her murder. His lawyers argued at his trial he was an innocent by-stander.

The jury accepted the prosecution's case that Boy B lured Ana to the house by telling her  Boy A wanted to meet her, knowing Boy A intended to kill her. 

He watched as Boy A, who was dressed all in black and wearing a ghoulish mask, shin guards and knee pads, sexually assaulted Ana, having dragged her to the ground where he beat her repeatedly with a piece of wood and a large block. 

In his Garda interviews Boy B also admitted Boy A had previously told him he wanted to kill Ana.

Boy A and Boy B were convicted by a Central Criminal Court jury in June 2019 of murdering Ana at a derelict house in St Catherine’s Park in Lucan in May 2018. 

Both boys were 13 at the time of the murder. Boy A was also convicted of Ana's aggravated sexual assault in a manner that involved serious violence.

Boy B was sentenced to 15 years’ detention, to be reviewed after eight years.

Boy A was sentenced to life imprisonment with a review after 12 years, and eight years imprisonment for aggravated sexual assault. 

No appeal has been lodged on Boy A's behalf.