Jury reaches verdict on second accused in Carrigaline murder trial
Ricardo Hoey (pictured) has been found not guilty of murder but guilty of the manslaughter of 29-year-old Matt O’Neill in Carrigaline at Christmas time in 2022. Picture: Larry Cummins
Ricardo Hoey has been found not guilty of murder but guilty of the manslaughter of 29-year-old Matt O’Neill in Carrigaline at Christmas time in 2022.
The jury of six men and six women commenced their deliberations 10 days ago after hearing a fortnight of evidence. They returned to Courtroom 6 at the Central Criminal Court sitting at Anglesea Street in Cork shortly after noon on Monday with their majority 10-2 verdict.
This brought to an end the extensive considerations given by the jury to this verdict. While their deliberations had to break over two weekends, and it was not possible to sit last Friday, they deliberated for a total of 18 hours and 42 minutes, commencing on Friday, April 19.
The jury reached a similar verdict by an 11-1 majority against Jordan Deasy earlier in their deliberations of not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford remanded Ricardo Hoey in custody until 2pm.
Jordan Deasy, who has been in custody for some time, will be back before the court at that time too. Both parties will then be told when their sentencing will take place.
Victim impact statements from the family of Matt O’Neill are already prepared but some time will be necessary for probation reports on both defendants.
21-year-old Ricardo Hoey of 7 Ardcarrig, Carrigaline, County Cork, and 19-year-old Jordan Deasy of 41 Ravensdale, Heron's Wood, both pleaded not guilty to the single charge against them, namely that on December 28, 2022, at Glenwood estate, Carrigaline, County Cork, they did murder 29-year-old Matt O’Neill, contrary to common law.
Ms Justice Lankford told the jury as they commenced their deliberations on April 19 that they should approach the case as effectively being two separate trials and that in each one there were three possible verdicts open to them: guilty of murder, guilty of manslaughter or not guilty.
Both of them have now been found guilty of manslaughter but not guilty of murder.
