Courts / Dublin / Report

Dublin man found guilty of impeding murder investigation was previously convicted of setting fire that killed man and his pregnant girlfriend

Date
2016-01-21
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

Anthony Locke, 38, of Ballyfermot, was found guilty of impeding the investigation into the murder of Christopher Jackson, 53, who was killed in Jackson's flat on Prussia Street in September 2012. The jury, after 6 hours 47 minutes, returned a majority verdict of not guilty of murder but guilty of impeding apprehension of a person believed to be guilty of murder. Locke's brother, Bernard Locke, had been convicted of Jackson's murder and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2014. In 1998, Anthony Locke received a 10‑year prison sentence for arson that caused the deaths of Gerard Kavanagh, 30, and his pregnant girlfriend Mary Core, 29, in a Ballyfermot flat in 1995; the last three years of that sentence were suspended. The court considered a partial suspension of the custodial sentence, with a probation report to be awaited, and set a sentencing date of 18 April.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Dublin man found guilty of impeding murder investigation was previously convicted of setting fire that killed man and his pregnant girlfriend. Charges or matters: the murder of Mr Christopher Jackson (53) at his apartment on Prussia Street, between September 6 and 7, 2012; the murder of Mr Jackson and was sentenced to life imprisonment in February 2014; the manslaughter of Gerard Kavanagh (30) and his girlfriend Mary Core (29) at Decies Road, Ballyfermot on February 18, 1995. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Case subjects

Anthony Locke

Convicted Person

Charges: the murder of Mr Christopher Jackson (53) at his apartment on Prussia Street, between September 6 and 7, 2012; the murder of Mr Jackson and was sentenced to life imprisonment in February 2014; the manslaughter of Gerard Kavanagh (30) and his girlfriend Mary Core (29) at Decies Road, Ballyfermot on February 18, 1995 (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Outcome: In 1998, Anthony Locke was jailed for ten years for starting a fire in a flat which caused the deaths of a man and his pregnant girlfriend. The court heard a "very serious event" happened in 1995 when a fire was started by Mr Locke in a flat which caused the deaths of two people. "This resulted in a trial and sentence was imposed on Mr Locke in March 1998.; Today, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy told defence counsel Mr Padraig Dwyer SC that the case appeared "in principle to be an appropriate case for a partial suspension of a custodial sentence." The judge told Mr Dwyer that his "concern" would be that the condition of Anthony Locke "be monitored" and "how that would be done." Mr Dwyer suggested that the court put back the sentencing date to await a "pr

Bernard Locke

Background Person

Charges: the murder of Mr Jackson and was sentenced to life imprisonment in February 2014; the manslaughter of Gerard Kavanagh (30) and his girlfriend Mary Core (29) at Decies Road, Ballyfermot on February 18, 1995 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: In 1998, Anthony Locke was jailed for ten years for starting a fire in a flat which caused the deaths of a man and his pregnant girlfriend. The court heard a "very serious event" happened in 1995 when a fire was started by Mr Locke in a flat which caused the deaths of two people. "This resulted in a trial and sentence was imposed on Mr Locke in March 1998.; Today, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy told defence counsel Mr Padraig Dwyer SC that the case appeared "in principle to be an appropriate case for a partial suspension of a custodial sentence." The judge told Mr Dwyer that his "concern" would be that the condition of Anthony Locke "be monitored" and "how that would be done." Mr Dwyer suggested that the court put back the sentencing date to await a "pr

Places mentioned

Secondary Mention
Court Venue
  • Central Criminal Court
Residence
  • Ramilies Road
Address Area
  • Prussia Street
  • Decies Road
Garda Station
  • Donlon of the Bridewell Garda Station

Topics

Arson Stage Sentence Violent Crime

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

Help us improve this report

Your request is saved for the newsroom's next review. It does not immediately change the published report.

Prefer email? Send a correction request.

Request a review

We will use it only to contact you about this request.