'Conor’s death has left an endless void'; Tyler Jackson gets life for Mallow murder

Mr Jackson intends to appeal the verdict

Tyler Jackson (pictured) was convicted last week of murdering 24-year-old Conor Quinn.

Young Mallow man Tyler Jackson was sentenced to life imprisonment on Tuesday for murdering a 24-year-old Galway man as the victim’s family said justice had been served but they would never wake from the nightmare of their loved one’s murder.

Ms Justice Eileen Creedon imposed the mandatory life sentence on Tyler (Tiggy) Jackson of Ballydaheen West, Mallow, County Cork, who was convicted last week of murdering 24-year-old Conor Quinn at Bridge Street, Mallow, County Cork, on July 12, 2018.

The evidence was that he stabbed the victim once in the heart on the side of the street resulting in Mr Quinn’s death moments later. His last words were: “I’m after being stabbed, I’m after being stabbed, am I going to die?” 

On Tuesday his family said, through the deceased’s aunt, Jennifer Quinn: “Conor was a wonderful person with a great sense of humour. He was a very lovable son, brother, partner, nephew, grandchild, cousin, friend to many and soon-to-be father. Conor was full of childish fun and always made sure to put a smile on your face—the person who would light up any room he walked into. 

"He was the dancer at the party, the storyteller in the room, the rascal who started the prank. He was the one who always made us laugh no matter what.

“Conor’s death has left an endless void in our lives and in the lives of all who knew him. 

The family continued in their victim impact statement:

Conor was ecstatic in anticipation to start his own family as a soon-to-be father. He was ready to embark on this new chapter in his life with so much enthusiasm, love and pure pride.

Conor’s mother, Teresa Quinn, said: “It will ache me for eternity when my little grandson often asks me, ‘Nanny, I wish my Daddy was here to play with me and give me a cuddle. Why did he have to go to heaven? What happened to my daddy?’ A question no one should have to answer, not the way we will one day. A grief that I never want my grandchildren to ever endure.

“The fact that this act of violence occurred in broad daylight, in a public setting, compounds the pain and leaves a lasting scar on our collective consciousness. The complete disregard for human life… leaving us with a harrowing sense of vulnerability.” 

On behalf of the family, Jennifer Quinn continued: “The prolonged agony and uncertainty inflicted upon us was further compounded by the defendant’s decision to flee the scene. Taking nearly five years to get justice only deepened our pain and suffering. The defendant’s deliberate choice to flee the scene demonstrates a complete disregard for the consequences of his actions and a blatant disregard for the grief and suffering endured by Conor’s loved ones.

The relentless pursuit of justice during these years has been emotionally draining. This extended period prevented the possibility of any closure and the opportunities to begin the journey toward healing were denied.

“It was also deeply distressing to witness the defendant laughing, sneering with his thumbs up to his acquaintances, displaying a complete neglect to the severity of the charges. The defendant’s action served as a painful reminder of the disregard he has shown for the life that was taken away.

“Though justice has been served, the pain of his massive loss will always be a part of us. July 12, 2018, will forever feel like a bad nightmare—a nightmare that we will just never awake from.” 

The Quinn family thanked the ambulance crew at the crime scene, staff at Cork University Hospital, the gardaí—especially their liaison officer Garda Marie McCarthy—the court, the Department of Justice and the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Conor Quinn was described by his family as "a very lovable son, brother, partner, nephew, grandchild, cousin, friend to many and soon-to-be father".

Inspector Hugh Twomey said that despite a full murder investigation immediately after the incident in July five years ago, the man who was suspected of the murder fled to England immediately afterwards. 

Extensive enquiries were made to establish his whereabouts through the co-operation of police in the UK. Finally, in November 2021 Tyler Jackson was arrested in Cambridge. In February 2022, he was brought back on a European arrest warrant and charged with murder.

Defence senior counsel Brian McInerney said: “Mr Jackson acknowledges the jury verdict. He disagrees with same. It is his intention to appeal.” 

The defence did not give evidence but suggested through senior counsel Brian McInerney that the deceased man had a knife in his hand and that the fatal injury resulted in a collision between the two men when the deceased ran across Bridge Street in Mallow at around 8pm that Thursday in July five years ago, and that this resulted in the deceased man effectively stabbing himself.

Dr Margaret Bolster, pathologist, replied: “In my opinion that would be very unlikely… It would be a very unusual place to stab yourself and it would require at least a moderate degree of force.” The stab wound entered the left side of the late Mr Quinn’s chest, cutting into the middle of his body, fracturing his fourth rib and piercing his heart.

Cross-examining, Mr McInerney, defence senior counsel said one witness saw the deceased run across the road, colliding with the accused. He asked about that collision—and if the deceased had a knife—“Might that amount to moderate force?” Again the pathologist said it was unlikely. Mr McInerney continued: “But not impossible”. Dr Bolster replied: “Nothing in the world is impossible but very unlikely.” 

As for the defence contention that the accused never had a knife, there was one prosecution witness who saw him leaving the scene after the fatal stabbing occurred and that he was carrying a kitchen knife.

The young witness Christina Kearney, whose statement to the gardaí was read to the jury during the trial, was quoted as saying: “I saw Tiggy sprinting against us. Another lady said, ‘what was he in such a hurry for?’ When I saw Tiggy running I saw a knife in his hand—in his left hand. A kitchen knife,” the statement said.

While it was clear from evidence referring to the deceased chasing the accused man earlier that evening in Mallow that he was angry with him, it was not clear in the case what gave rise to this.

Mr Boland for the prosecution said: “Obviously, this case is a tragic case. One young man is dead. One young man is accused of his murder. Over what? We don’t know. But I would comment it was young men’s bravado and bullshit, if I can use that phrase.”