Case No. 1653Murder, assault causing harm · Co. Kildare · 28 Apr 2020
Brian Ibe jailed for life for murder of Peter Kennedy in Newbridge
Brian Ibe, 24, was sentenced to life imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of 65-year-old retired probation officer Peter Kennedy in Newbridge, Co Kildare, in April 2020. The jury unanimously rejected Ibe's not guilty by reason of insanity defence, and he was also convicted of assaulting Garda Brendan O'Donnell.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced19 May
3 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports37 statements extracted from the articles
- whatPeter Kennedy had just turned 65 and was retired from the probation services. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- whatGardaí found Kennedy on the floor upstairs with serious head injuries in a pool of blood. (irishtimes.com)
- whatKennedy died from his injuries at Beaumont Hospital on May 12, 2020. (irishtimes.com)
- whatGardaí found Kennedy on the floor upstairs with serious head injuries lying in a pool of blood. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGarda O'Donnell suffered headaches for two months and was on sick leave for up to four weeks. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- whatIbe threw a punch with his right hand that connected with the left side of the Garda's nose below the eye socket. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereIbe was of no fixed abode and formerly of Moore Park, Newbridge, Co Kildare. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whereIbe resided at a hostel run by the Peter McVerry Trust in Walkinstown, Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
- whereIbe entered Kennedy's house through the rear after smashing a window. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereKennedy was brought to Beaumont Hospital. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereIbe resided at a hostel run by the Peter McVerry Trust in Walkinstown before the attack. (dublinlive.ie)
- whenThe murder occurred between April 28 and May 12, 2020, in Newbridge. (irishtimes.com, dublinlive.ie)
- whenOn April 28, 2020, Ibe left a hostel in Walkinstown and got a taxi to Newbridge. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenKennedy was brought to Beaumont Hospital but died from his injuries on May 12, 2020. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenKennedy died from his injuries on May 12, 2020. (dublinlive.ie)
- causeThe pathologist found significant blunt force to the side of Kennedy's head from kicking or a blunt object, with cause of death being traumatic head injuries. (dublinlive.ie)
- weaponIbe's mother said her son attacked Kennedy with what she believed was a knife, making jabbing motions. (dublinlive.ie)
- chargeIbe pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to the murder between April 28 and May 12, 2020. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeIbe was also convicted of assault causing harm to Garda Brendan O'Donnell on April 29, 2020. (dublinlive.ie)
- courtThe jury of six men and six women deliberated for just under seven hours before returning a unanimous guilty verdict. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- courtMs Justice Greally noted the absence of any true remorse from Ibe for his actions. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- courtIt was Ibe's second trial for the murder, the first having collapsed in July 2024 over a legal disagreement on the classification of defence witnesses as experts. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe jury unanimously rejected the insanity defence and convicted Ibe of murder. (dublinlive.ie)
- courtThis was Ibe's second trial; the first collapsed in July 2024 due to a legal disagreement on the classification of defence witnesses as experts. (dublinlive.ie)
- sentenceMs Justice Greally imposed 12 months in prison for the assault on Garda O'Donnell. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe life sentence for murder was backdated to April 29, 2020, the date Ibe went into custody. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceOn the assault charge, Ms Justice Greally imposed 12 months in prison. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceOn the murder charge, the mandatory sentence of life was imposed, backdated to April 29, 2020. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceBrian Ibe was given the mandatory sentence of life in prison for murder. (dublinlive.ie)
- sentenceTwelve months in prison was imposed for the assault charge. (dublinlive.ie)
- sentenceThe life sentence was backdated to April 29, 2020, the date Ibe went into custody. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherDr Stephen Monks diagnosed Ibe with schizophrenia and found him psychotic at the time of the assault. (irishtimes.com, dublinlive.ie)
- otherDr Gaurav Malhan also diagnosed Ibe with schizophrenia and found he was unable to refrain from assaulting Kennedy. (irishtimes.com)
- otherProsecution psychiatrist Dr Mary Davoren disagreed with the schizophrenia diagnosis, saying Ibe's threats were goal-directed and rational. (irishtimes.com, dublinlive.ie)
- otherDr Stephen Monks diagnosed Ibe with schizophrenia and found he was psychotic at the time of the assault. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherDr Mary Davoren, called by the prosecution, disagreed with the schizophrenia diagnosis. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherIbe's mother Martha Ibe had an issue with homelessness and came to live with Kennedy, with Ibe moving in around September 2019 when he was 19. (dublinlive.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 19 May2025Man jailed for life for murder of 'thoughtful and generous' pensioner
Reports the sentencing of Brian Ibe to life for the murder of Peter Kennedy, including details of the insanity defence, the trial evidence, the pathologist's findings, and the victim impact statement from Kennedy's sister.
convicted, Brian Ibe, 24, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Brian Ibevictim, Peter Kennedy, 65, male, irish (judged from name)Peter Kennedyvictim, Brendan O'Donnell, male, irish (judged from name)Brendan O'Donnell - 19 May2025Man jailed for life for murder of man who took him and his mother into his home
Reports the sentencing of Brian Ibe to life in prison (backdated to 29 April 2020) and 12 months for the assault on Garda O'Donnell, including details of the rejected insanity defence, the victim impact statement, and the background of Ibe and his mother living with the victim.
victim, Peter Kennedy, 65, male, irish (judged from name)Peter Kennedyvictim, male, irish (judged from name)convicted, Brian Ibe, 24, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Brian Ibe - 19 May2025Man sentenced to life for murder of ‘charitable’ retiree who gave both him and mother shelter
Provides detailed sentencing information including the victim-impact statement from Anne-Marie Kennedy, psychiatric evidence on both sides, the jury's seven-hour deliberation, the 12-month sentence for the assault on Garda O'Donnell, and the backdating of the life sentence to April 29, 2020.
victim, Peter Kennedy, 65, male, irish (judged from name)Peter Kennedyvictim, male, irish (judged from name)suspect, Brian Ibe, 24, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Brian Ibe