Ireland Case No. 21319Murder
Chef jailed for life for murder of father of three
Frankie Dunne, a 64-year-old father of three, was killed between December 27 and 28, 2019, at Castlegreine House on Boreenmanna Road in Cork, where his body was found in the grounds and his head was found in a bag. Ionut Cosmin Nicolescu, a 31-year-old Romanian man, was arrested in Romania on a European Arrest Warrant and brought back to Ireland in September 2021. A jury at the Central Criminal Court in Cork found him guilty of murder on March 31, 2023. On April 28, 2023, Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a mandatory life sentence backdated to November 8, 2021, and Nicolescu indicated he will not appeal.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced28 Apr
4 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Frankie Dunne, a 64-year-old father of three, was murdered.
- His body was found partially dismembered and headless, hidden in the grounds of a derelict house.
- Where
- The body and head were found at Castlegreine House, Boreenmanna Road, Cork; sources describe the site as the grounds of a derelict house in Cork city.
- When
- The murder took place on a date between December 27 and December 28, 2019.
- Mr Dunne was last seen alive leaving Clanmornin House at about 7.30pm on December 27, 2019.
- The head was found in a bag on December 28, 2019.
- Cause
- Mr Dunne was bludgeoned with a bottle and strangled until unconscious; the State Pathologist gave the cause of death as neck compression leading to asphyxia with blunt force trauma to the head.
- The decapitation and the amputation of the arms happened after death.
- Investigation
- The body was discovered by local man Joe Pierce, who was looking for his missing cat.
- Nicolescu fled Ireland after the murder and was arrested in Romania on a European Arrest Warrant.
- Other details
- Nicolescu was brought back to Ireland in September 2021; he had no previous convictions and told police in Romania that two men made him bag the remains.
- Sources spell the accused's name as both Nicolescu and Nicholescu; he is also described as a 31-year-old native of Branistea, Romania.
- In court
- After a three-week trial, a jury at the Central Criminal Court in Cork unanimously found Nicolescu guilty of murder on March 31, 2023, after about eight hours of deliberation.
- Sentence
- On April 28, 2023, Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed a mandatory life sentence, backdated to November 8, 2021, when Nicolescu first entered custody.
- Nicolescu's counsel said he accepted the verdict and would not appeal; the judge said he showed shocking disrespect to Mr Dunne.
44 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA chef was jailed for life for murdering Frankie Dunne. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe victim, Frankie Dunne, was 64 years old. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMr Dunne's body was found under a tree at the property, and his arms had been removed. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatIonut Cosmin Nicholescu was jailed for life for the murder of a father of three. (thejournal.ie)
- whatA 31-year-old chef was jailed for life for the murder of a 64-year-old father of three. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA chef murdered and decapitated a father of three. (extra.ie)
- whereThe body was found on the grounds of Castlegreine House on Boreenmanna Road in Cork. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe victim's partially dismembered, headless body was found on the grounds of a derelict house in Cork. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe victim's dismembered body was found hidden in the grounds of a derelict house in Cork city. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe head of Mr Dunne was found on 28 December 2019. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe victim's head was found in a bag at Castlegreine House, Boreenmanna Road, Cork, on 28 December 2019. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe murder occurred on a date between December 27th and December 28th, 2019, at Castle Greine House, Boreenmanna Road, Cork. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe victim was last seen alive leaving Clanmornin House at about 7.30pm on December 27th. (irishtimes.com)
- causeDunne was bludgeoned with a bottle and strangled until he was unconscious. (thejournal.ie)
- causeThe State Pathologist said the victim died from neck compression leading to asphyxia associated with blunt force trauma to the head. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe decapitation and amputation of the victim's arms occurred after death. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponMr Dunne was bludgeoned with a bottle. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponThe victim was bludgeoned with a bottle and strangled, according to the court. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationLocal man Joseph Pierce found the body while looking for a missing cat. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe body was discovered by a man who was out looking for his missing cat. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationNicolescu was taken into custody in Romania on foot of a European Arrest Warrant. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeA jury at the Central Criminal Court in Cork found Nicholescu guilty of murdering Frankie Dunne on 31 March. (thejournal.ie)
- courtA jury at the Central Criminal Court in Cork found Mr Nicholescu guilty of murder on 31 March. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtA jury at the Central Criminal Court unanimously found Nicolescu guilty of the murder. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge imposed a mandatory life sentence on Mr Nicholescu. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe sentence was backdated to when Mr Nicholescu first entered custody. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceMr Nicholescu indicated that he will not appeal his sentence. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe judge imposed a mandatory life sentence on Nicholescu. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe sentence was backdated to when Nicholescu first entered custody two years earlier. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceNicolescu was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe life sentence was backdated to November 8th, 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe chef, Frankie Dunne, was jailed for life. (extra.ie)
- otherMr Nicholescu claimed in police interviews in Romania that two men made him bag the remains. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMr Nicholescu had no previous convictions. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMr Nicholescu fled the jurisdiction after the murder. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherHe was brought back to Ireland in September 2021 on a European Arrest Warrant. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe Dunne family said Mr Dunne was a loving father, grandfather, uncle and friend. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherNicholescu's account was that he stumbled upon two men who had carried out the murder. (thejournal.ie)
- otherNicholescu had worked at the Silver Key Pub in Cork city and fled the country after the murder. (thejournal.ie)
- otherHe was brought back to Ireland in September 2021 under a European Arrest Warrant. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe judge said Nicholescu showed shocking disrespect to Dunne by killing and dismembering him. (thejournal.ie)
- otherNicholescu indicated that he will not appeal his sentence. (thejournal.ie)
- otherDefence counsel said the accused would not appeal the jury's verdict. (irishtimes.com)
- otherJoe Pierce, a Rockboro resident, found the victim's dismembered body while looking for his cat. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 28 Apr2023Chef Who Murdered And Decapitated Father Of Three Frankie Dunne Jailed For Life
Article body is unrendered template code with no narrative. Only the headline states the murder, the decapitation, and the life sentence. Location and date are not given.
convicted, Frankie Dunne, named, irish (judged from name)Frankie Dunnevictim - 28 Apr2023Man jailed for murder of man whose dismembered body was found at derelict house
Reports the sentencing of Ionut Cosmin Nicolescu to life imprisonment after a jury convicted him of murdering Frankie Dunne. Adds the victim's age, the accused's age and nationality, the cause of death, the backdating of the sentence, the discovery of the body by Joe Pierce, and that no appeal was lodged.
victim, Frankie Dunne, 64, male, irish (judged from name)Frankie Dunneconvicted, Ionut Cosmin Nicolescu, 31, male, Romanian, named, non-irishIonut Cosmin Nicolescu - 28 Apr2023Chef jailed for life for murder of 64-year-old Frankie Dunne
Adds the county (Cork), the victim's name and age, the suspect's name, age and nationality, the discovery of the body and head on 28 December 2019, the jury verdict, the mandatory life sentence imposed by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, the backdating of the sentence, and that Nicholescu will not appeal.
victim, Frankie Dunne, 64, male, irish (judged from name)Frankie Dunneconvicted, Ionut Cosmin Nicholescu, 31, male, namedIonut Cosmin Nicholescu - 28 Apr2023Chef jailed for life for murder of decapitated dad-of-three Frankie Dunne
Adds the location (Castlegreine House, Boreenmanna Road, Cork), the discovery date (28 December 2019), the victim's age (64) and name, the cause of death described by the judge, the jury verdict date, the backdating of the sentence, that Nicholescu will not appeal, and the discovery by Joseph Pierce while searching for a missing cat.
victim, Frankie Dunne, 64, male, irish (judged from name)Frankie Dunneconvicted, Ionut Cosmin Nicholescu, 31, male, namedIonut Cosmin Nicholescu