Husband appeals "gross negligence" conviction for shooting wife dead

Oliver Kierans, aged 60, of Drumbannon, Bailieborough in Cavan, has lodged an appeal against his conviction and sentence at the Court of Appeal. Kierans was found guilty of manslaughter by gross negligence following the death of his wife, Patricia Kierans, at their home on 5 September 2013. He was also convicted of possessing a sawn-off shotgun and of pointing the weapon at a member of An Garda Síochána in a public house in Bailieborough. He had pleaded not guilty to murder. Justice Aileen Donnelly sentenced him to nine years imprisonment for manslaughter, with additional concurrent sentences imposed for the firearms offences in April 2015. During proceedings at the Court of Appeal, counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions submitted that Kierans's moral culpability was significant, particularly regarding the incident involving the garda. The court, presided over by President Mr Justice George Birmingham, reserved judgement.