Courts / Dublin / Report
Jury told not to let 'live by the sword, die by the sword' cloud their judgement
Summary
In a Central Criminal Court hearing, the jury was instructed not to let the adage "live by the sword, die by the sword" influence their judgment. Prosecutor Roisin Lacey SC explained that Derek Reddin had waited for Andrew Lacey and attacked him after Lacey returned from a pub. She argued that Lacey's use of a knife, his awareness of Reddin's presence, and the manner in which he stabbed Reddin proved intent for murder and negated self‑defence. Defence counsel Dominic McGinn SC challenged the reliability of the prosecution's key witness, David Howard, and presented alternative witness accounts suggesting a baseball bat was involved, not a knife. He urged the jury to consider whether Lacey's actions were reasonable or whether a self‑defence claim could be sustained. The prosecution maintained that Lacey's knife was deliberate and that the depth and multiplicity of cuts proved murder beyond reasonable doubt. Andrew Lacey pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Jury told not to let 'live by the sword, die by the sword' cloud their judgement. Charges or matters: the murder of Derek Reddin (31) at Loughlinstown Drive on a date unknown between October 14 and October 15, 2019, both dates inclusive. Procedural stage: trial
When:
- October 14 Incident
- October 15, 2019 Other
- 2023-07-18 Publication
Why: But, she said, Andrew Lacey had a knife and was "on high alert" because of the ongoing feud. CNI source report
Case subjects
Applicant
Charges: the murder of Derek Reddin (31) at Loughlinstown Drive on a date unknown between October 14 and October 15, 2019, both dates inclusive (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Applicant
Charges: the murder of Derek Reddin (31) at Loughlinstown Drive on a date unknown between October 14 and October 15, 2019, both dates inclusive (Alleged Or Contested)
Places mentioned
Topics
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