'The assault was not prolonged but it was vicious': Teenagers jailed for Barry Daly's killing in Cork

The judge today said Barry Daly (pictured) 'was killed just outside his own home where he was entitled to feel safe. He was defenceless'.

An eight-year jail term has been imposed on a 17-year-old for his part in the "vicious" murder of postman Barry Daly in Doneraile in the front garden of his home last October.

A 16-year-old who confessed to manslaughter for his lesser part was jailed for two years.

Alex Deady, aged 21, of Glenview, Convent Road, Doneraile, County Cork, was jailed for life a fortnight ago and on Friday, Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford referred to him as the instigator, and finalised the case by imposing a sentence of 11 years on the 17-year-old with the last three years suspended, after a jury found him guilty of murder. 

Because he is a child in legal terms, being under the age of 18, he was entitled to have his sentence considered in terms of not receiving a mandatory life term for murder which a person of 18 or more would receive.

In reaching the sentence of eight years, the judge said: “I must take into consideration his age and the nature of the murder itself. 

"Mr Daly was killed just outside his own home where he was entitled to feel safe. He was defenceless. (The three accused) had weapons. The assault was not prolonged but it was vicious.

“It is open to me to take the view that (17-year-old) did not produce a weapon and did not intend to kill and I take that view. He went to the scene however carrying a weapon and supplying weapons to the two others.

“He had time to reflect but continued on his course of action. It has been established that he intended to cause serious harm at a minimum."

She said there was evidence that he kicked Mr Daly in the stomach. "He exhibited other violent behaviour on the night (head-butting a man who tried to intervene when he was on his way to Barry Daly’s home).” 

The judge said that 21-year-old Alex Deady was the “undoubted instigator of events on the night”.

She said the 17-year-old was witness to violence in his youth but he had no previous convictions and was in full-time education and intends to continue in that. 

She said:

He has expressed remorse. Prior to these events he exhibited pro-social behaviour and was assessed as being at low risk of re-offending. 

"Taking these mitigating features into account I think the appropriate sentence is one of 11 years. 

"Suspending a portion of the sentence allows him to engage in the community with services that are available, including probation and welfare. All of this is of assistance not only to the offender but to the community. I am suspending the final three years of his 11-year sentence.” 

Conditions require him to follow the directions of the probation service for three years including attending victim awareness and anger management courses if directed, and to keep away from the family of Barry Daly and have no contact through social media or by any means.

For the assault on Seamus Hunter by head-butting him, Judge Lankford said: “The unfortunate Mr Hunter was simply trying to calm the situation down… there was no justification whatsoever for a physical assault on him.” She imposed a two-year sentence to run concurrently.

Sentencing of 16-year-old

The 16-year-old was in a different position as he was the youngest, the least involved and also he pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced on that and not murder. 

He was given a sentence of two years and six months with the last six months suspended.

“He had a strict upbringing. His parents prioritised hard work and discipline… There were no reports of him being engaged in fights during his schooling… His role in Barry Daly’s death was not as significant as (that of 17-year-old).” 

The judge referred to the estimation of the 16-year-old’s involvement being given very fairly by prosecution senior counsel Lorcan Staines saying this teenager’s case was characterised “as one of joint enterprise manslaughter of moderate objective gravity with him being the secondary juvenile participant whose involvement in the fatal violence cannot be proved".

Ms Justice Lankford said the 16-year-old took part in what Mr Staines called, “an armed retaliatory expedition” and that after the fatal event he was seen carrying a broken golf club and assisting in its disposal. 

She said he did not assist gardaí and lied throughout interview, insisting he was not there at the time. In mitigation he was deemed to be a low risk of re-offending and had no previous convictions before this manslaughter. 

Quoting from the psychological report on the accused it was stated that the 16-year-old may have struggled with peer pressure, understanding situations and the serious consequences that could flow from them.

The judge said:

He has expressed remorse. And professionals accept this remorse as genuine. It might not be as profound as one would like, but to some extent this may be a by-product of his age.

Similar conditions were imposed in relation to the suspension of the final portion of the sentence.

There is a legal prohibition on identification of the two juveniles who were sentenced today at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork.

44-year-old postman Barry Daly at Rockview Terrace in Doneraile was murdered in the front garden of his home on October 12, 2025. 

The prosecution case was that the deceased was struck to the face with a golf club, at least once and probably more, and died almost instantly.

It followed a row on a night of great celebrations in Doneraile for the victory of the local hurling team. 

The judge said that after much conflicting witness evidence it may never be resolved in relation to whether Barry Daly’s striking of Alex Deady’s girlfriend in the mouth during a closing time ‘brawl’, as to whether it was deliberate or accidental. 

She said that one way or the other, Alex Deady became incensed, and was heard to say after the fatal attack: “He thinks he is funny, hitting a girl but I have him laid out now.” 

Regarding the late Barry Daly, Judge Lankford said the victim impact statements had been extremely moving and she recalled that his lifetime partner Katie O’Reilly told the court: “Father’s Day now means bringing our children to their father’s grave with balloons. 

"No child should ever have to spend Father’s Day standing at a graveyard missing their dad.” 

The judge noted that Mr Daly is also a great loss to an adult son, to the entire Daly family, to the O’Reilly family, and to those who knew him. 

“It is clear that Barry Daly was a real people person and created good humour wherever he went. He was a postman who took his position very seriously and is a huge loss to the community in which he worked,” Ms Justice Lankford said on Friday.

Ms Justice Lankford concluded by expressing her sympathies to the loved ones of Barry Daly on their profound loss.