Quadruple killer John Geary's second bid for freedom turned down by parole board

Sarah Hines (left) and her son Reece who were murdered by John Geary in Newcastle West, Co Limerick, in 2010. Their five-month-old daughter Amy and her friend Alicia Brough were also murdered by Mr Geary. File picture: Don Moloney / Press 22

Quadruple killer John Geary’s second bid for freedom has been denied by the parole board.

Geary, originally from Milford in North Cork, is serving a life sentence for the murder of his former partner Sarah Hines, their five-month-old daughter Amy, Sarah’s three-year-old son Reece, and her friend Alicia Brough from Rockchapel, Co Cork, in Ms Hines’ home in Newcastle West in Limerick on November 15, 2010.

Alicia was killed just days before her 21st birthday as she tried to save Amy from the attack by Geary. She had just returned to the house with Reece and both were attacked by Geary. The four bodies were not discovered until the following day.

Geary, who had an address at Meadow Court, Newcastle West, pleaded guilty to the four murders and was sentenced to life in prison.

A previous bid for parole was unsuccessful. He became eligible to apply again under the Parole Act 2019 late last year. The legislation limits parole eligibility to those serving life sentences who have served at least 12 years.

It is understood that relatives of his victims recently engaged with the parole board regarding submissions on foot of his application. Since the 2019 act, victims’ families are allowed make a submission to the board.

The parole board views material on the prisoner and, independently of the Justice Minister, decides if they should be released.

Alicia's mother Maria Dempsey, said she and her family are relieved that Geary has been denied parole for the second time. She added: “Mandatory sentences would be a way to avoid having to face the parole reviews.”

Alicia, who studied sociology and psychology in the UK, was a close friend of Sarah Hines and regularly stayed with her in her rented home following Ms Hines’s split from Geary.

The Central Criminal Court was told his motive for the murders was most likely jealousy that his former girlfriend had started a new relationship.

Five weapons were used in killings, including two knives and a screwdriver. In a letter read out in court prior to his sentencing, he said he was “truly sorry”. He received four concurrent life sentences.

At an inquest into the deaths, the coroner’s court heard that all four victims were stabbed multiple times.

Following the inquest, the coroner, Brendan Nix, said the deaths of the children along with people they loved and trusted, was difficult to comprehend. He also said two blameless women and the children were “done to death” in a most awful and violent way.