Kerry man gets life for murdering only brother 'in brutal circumstances' after family funeral
Fergus O'Connor was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment for his brother's murder. File Picture: Domnick Walsh
A 43-year-old man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering his only brother "in the most brutal and frightening of circumstances" following a family funeral in Co Kerry.
Last month, a jury convicted Fergus O'Connor of murder, rejecting his claim of self-defence. Today's sentence hearing at the Central Criminal Court was told that O'Connor had a large number of grievances against his 42-year-old brother Paudie, which ranged from money and land-related matters to "issues of other women".
The defence told the presiding judge that Fergus O'Connor does not accept the jury's verdict and maintains he was acting in self-defence when he murdered his brother Paudie.
However, Ms Justice Melanie Greally said self-defence had been argued "extensively and vociferously" by defence lawyers at O'Connor's trial at Limerick Central Criminal Court, but it was rejected by the panel. She sentenced Fergus O'Connor to the mandatory term of life imprisonment for his brother's murder.
Paudie O’Connor died from a single stab wound measuring 17cm to the left upper chest, which penetrated the heart, diaphragm, and liver. The trial heard the men had attended their cousin's funeral earlier that day and had been drinking in various pubs around Castleisland, Co Kerry.
A toxicology report showed the deceased's level of alcohol was in excess of four or five times over the legal limit for driving.
Fergus O'Connor told gardaí in his interviews that his brother Paudie went behind his back with "any girl I'd go out with", that Paudie had tried to open a bank account with his ID and that his brother gave his name when he was stopped by gardaí and then laughed in his face. The defendant also told gardaí that on the night of the funeral, Paudie had made remarks to him about a woman whose company he was in.
In her victim impact statement today, Paudie O'Connor's partner of nine years, Liz O'Donovan, said "this tragedy" has affected not only her life but those of her children. Ms O'Donovan said Paudie would always be remembered for his "warmth, humour, and generous heart". She said he had left "a lasting mark" on everyone who knew him with his "quick wit and one-liners".
Ms O'Donovan said the manner in which her partner was taken is difficult to accept. She noted how quickly a person's life can change, as she had only spoken on the phone to him "before the tragedy".
She said no jail sentence can ever bring him back or take away the pain, adding: "I do hope the court can understand how deeply his death has affected my life and how much he meant to me and everyone who knew and loved him".
Earlier, the court heard that Fergus O'Connor, of Scartaglen, Castleisland, Co Kerry, has 15 previous convictions, all for road traffic offences including three for drink-driving.
Handing down sentence, Ms Justice Greally said Fergus O'Connor had been found guilty of murder and that Paudie had died in the most brutal and frightening of circumstances at the hands of his only brother. She said it was clear that Paudie was deeply loved by his partner, friends, and family, while his death had left a "teenage son behind without a father".
Ms Justice Greally extended her condolences to "all those who are left bereft" by Paudie's loss. She said it would be remiss of her not to point out the role of the neighbours who, in "very traumatising circumstances", had made every effort to preserve Paudie's life, and should be commended. She said the court has no discretion and must impose the mandatory term of life imprisonment for murder on Fergus O'Connor, backdating it to June 28, 2024.
Detective Sergeant Ernie Henderson of Tralee Garda Station told Michael Delaney, prosecuting, that Fergus O'Connor was convicted of murdering his brother by a jury at the Central Criminal Court which was sitting in Limerick on October 20 last.
Mr Delaney said the offence was committed shortly after midnight on June 28, 2024, at their mother's home at Scartaglen, Castleisland, Co Kerry. The men had attended their cousin's funeral earlier that day and were drinking at various pubs in Castleisland.
Counsel said the pattern of blood in the house suggested the fatal stabbing took place upstairs. He said after the fatal stabbing, Fergus O'Connor had made his way down the stairs before collapsing outside his mother's house, where he died.
Mr Delaney said Fergus and Paudie O'Connor were the only children of Thecla O’Connor and her husband. Counsel said there was only a year between the men and that their parents had separated many years ago. He said the deceased man was born in 1981 and that Fergus was born in 1982.
The lawyer said Thecla O'Connor had previously moved to the housing estate on the outskirts of Castleisland and was seriously ill at the time of the incident. She died from cancer two months later on August 31, 2024.
Mr Delaney said both Fergus and Paudie had been living at their mother's house on an intermittent basis and were "coming and going, to a certain extent".
The Det Sgt agreed that Paudie O'Connor was not married but had a son from a relationship when he was living in the US many years ago. Fergus O'Connor, the court heard, is not married and has no dependents.
Mr Delaney said both men had been in each other's company at Kearney's Bar between 6pm and 7.30pm on June 27. Paudie left the pub and went to other pubs whilst Fergus stayed on in Kearney's.
Counsel said the evidence established that Paudie took a taxi home to his mother's house about 10.30pm, arriving before his brother. He said there had been telephone contact between Paudie and his partner between 10pm and 11pm. "That contact concluded at 10.59pm, with a text saying he was home in bed".
Mr Delaney said Fergus had left a pub on the main street at 12.12am and was quite intoxicated. He said the defendant was last seen on CCTV at 12.15am walking towards his mother's house.
Counsel said neighbour Maurice Flynn, who was parking up his van, had seen the deceased at his mother's front door holding his side at 12.22am. He said this suggested that the stabbing had occurred within five minutes of the defendant getting home.
Another witness said she had heard a noise and looked out her bedroom window that night. She said she saw Paudie O'Connor on his knees outside the front door when the defendant came out of the house. She said Fergus had punched his brother with a closed fist, causing him to fall to the ground.
Another neighbour carried out CPR on the victim as he lay on the ground outside his house. Mr Delaney said the defendant had rendered some assistance when he retrieved a duvet to place over his brother, who was only wearing underpants at the time.
Mr Delaney said paramedics had worked on the deceased for a short period of time, but it was clear upon their arrival that Paudie had died.
Counsel said the defendant told gardaí at the scene that his brother had come at him with a knife and that he was "simply defending himself". Fergus O'Connor, whose clothes were heavily blood-stained, was arrested on suspicion of murder at 2.50am that night and brought to Tralee Garda Station.
Mr Delaney said the defendant was not fit for questioning for six hours due to intoxication and anxiety.
Fergus O'Connor maintained in his garda interviews, counsel said, that a row started in the kitchen between him and his brother after Paudie had made a smart remark. The defendant said he found himself "pinned to the ground" before picking up a knife and stabbing the deceased in self-defence.
Mr Delaney said this account "changed somewhat" when the defendant was shown a photograph of blood on the landing of the stairs and accepted that the incident must have taken place upstairs.
The defendant had some bruising to various parts of his body, which were consistent with blunt force trauma, said Det Sgt Ernie Henderson.
Caroline O'Connell, defending, said her client would like a recommendation from the court for him to serve his sentence in Cork Prison. Ms Justice Greally said that, given the current situation with prison numbers, she could not make any recommendations.
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