Doneraile murder trial: Jury begins deliberations in trial of 17-year-old accused of murdering Cork postman

Judge said jury have two verdicts available to them — guilty of murder or not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter — and told them they had as much time as they needed but their verdict must be unanimous

Barry Daly was found dead in Doneraile on October 12, 2025.

The jury in the Doneraile murder trial where a teenager denies murdering 44-year-old postman, Barry Daly, last October commenced their deliberations on Tuesday afternoon.

Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford directed the seven women and five men of the jury on the relevant legal principles that are applicable when they are considering the evidence in the case before the Central Criminal Court, which has been sitting in Cork for this trial since July 16.

The jury were sent out of Courtroom 6 at 2.24pm to begin deliberating.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be identified as he is a juvenile, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter of 44-year-old Barry Daly, at Rockview Terrace in Doneraile on October 12, 2025.

In the closing evidence, they were reminded that 20-year-old Alex Deady, of Glenview, Convent Road, Doneraile, Co Cork, has been convicted of murdering Barry Daly, that a 16-year-old has been convicted of manslaughter, and that the 17-year-old who is on trial has no previous convictions of any kind and has never come to the attention of the gardaí, other than in this investigation.

Ms Justice Lankford said because of his plea of not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, the jury have two verdicts available to them — guilty of murder or not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter.

The judge told them they had as much time as they needed but their verdict must be unanimous.