Thursday 29 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 9780Murder · Co. Louth · 26 May 2018

Conviction for 2018 murder of Cameron Reilly quashed on appeal

Cameron Reilly, a teenager, was killed on 26 May 2018 at Shamrock Hill, Dunleer, Co Louth. Aaron Connolly pleaded not guilty to his murder, and in December 2022 a jury unanimously found him guilty. The Court of Appeal has since quashed that conviction, finding that the trial judge's charge to the jury lacked balance, and the report of this ruling gives its date as 18 May 2026. The Director of Public Prosecutions is to decide whether to seek a retrial, and the matter is adjourned to 4 June.

  1. Reported
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Aaron Connolly's conviction for the murder of Cameron Reilly has been quashed on appeal.
  • Cameron Reilly was a teenager at the time of his death.
Where
Cameron Reilly was killed at Shamrock Hill, Dunleer, Co Louth.
When
The murder took place on 26 May 2018.
Cause
The cause of death was asphyxia due to external pressure on the neck.
Charges
Connolly pleaded not guilty to the murder of Cameron Reilly.
In court
  • Connolly was found guilty by a unanimous jury verdict in December 2022.
  • The Court of Appeal found that the trial judge's charge to the jury lacked balance and quashed the conviction; the article text dates this to 18 May 2026, while the tracker lists it as 1 May 2026.
  • The Director of Public Prosecutions is to decide whether to apply for a retrial of the accused.
  • The matter has been adjourned to 4 June.
Other details
Connolly has spent over three years in jail.
9 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatAaron Connolly's conviction for the murder of Cameron Reilly has been quashed on appeal. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatConnolly had pleaded not guilty to the murder. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereCameron Reilly was killed at Shamrock Hill, Dunleer, Co Louth. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe murder took place on 26 May 2018. (thejournal.ie)
  • causeThe cause of death was asphyxia due to external pressure on the neck. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtConnolly was found guilty by a unanimous jury verdict in December 2022. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe Court of Appeal found that the trial judge's charge to the jury lacked balance. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe Director of Public Prosecutions is to decide whether to apply for a retrial of the accused. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe matter has been adjourned to 4 June. (thejournal.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 1 May2026
    Otherthejournal.ie, first report
    Man's conviction for 2018 murder of teenager Cameron Reilly is quashed

    Reports the Court of Appeal quashing the murder conviction, finding the trial judge's charge to the jury lacked balance. The DPP is to decide whether to apply for a retrial, and the matter has gone back to 4 June.

    accused, Aaron Connolly, 26, male, named, irish (judged from name)Aaron Connollyvictim, Cameron Reilly, 18, male, irish (judged from name)Cameron Reilly