Ireland Case No. 9532Murder · Co. Louth · 26 May 2018
Conviction for Cameron Reilly murder quashed on appeal
Cameron Reilly, an 18-year-old man, was murdered at Shamrock Hill, Dunleer, Co Louth, on 26 May 2018. Aaron Connolly, a man from Willistown, Drumcar, pleaded not guilty to the murder and was found guilty by a unanimous jury verdict in December 2022, receiving a life sentence and spending over three years in jail. On 18 May 2026 the Court of Appeal quashed the conviction, finding that the trial judge's jury charge lacked balance. The Director of Public Prosecutions must now decide whether to apply for a retrial, and the matter returns to court on 4 June.
- Reported
- Arrested
- Charged
- In court
- Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Cameron Reilly, an 18-year-old man and DKIT student, was murdered.
- Where
- Cameron Reilly was killed at Shamrock Hill, Dunleer, Co Louth, and his body was found in a field.
- When
- Cameron Reilly was last seen with a group of around 15 young people gathered in a field on the night of 25 May 2018, and he was murdered on 26 May 2018.
- Cause
- The Chief State Pathologist said the cause of death was asphyxia due to external pressure on the neck, with no other contributing factors.
- Investigation
- Aaron Connolly, of Willistown, Drumcar, was accused of the murder.
- Connolly initially denied that anything sexual happened between him and Reilly that night, while his lawyers also made admissions that he performed oral sex on Reilly that night.
- Charges
- Connolly was charged with the murder of Cameron Reilly and pleaded not guilty.
- In court
- In December 2022 a jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict against Connolly.
- The trial judge, Mr Justice Tony Hunt, charged the jury.
- On 18 May 2026 the Court of Appeal found that the trial judge's jury charge lacked balance and quashed Connolly's conviction.
- The Director of Public Prosecutions must decide whether to apply for a retrial of Connolly.
- The matter is listed to return to court on 4 June.
- Sentence
- Connolly was sentenced to life imprisonment and had spent over three years in jail serving it.
- Other details
- The Court of Appeal said the judge gave impeccable instructions on legal principles, but some comments could be seen as disparaging and mocking of the defence case.
30 statements extracted from the articles
- whatAaron Connolly's conviction for the murder of Cameron Reilly was quashed on appeal. (rte.ie)
- whatCameron Reilly, aged 18, was murdered. (rte.ie)
- whatThe victim was 18-year-old Cameron Reilly, a DKIT student. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whatCameron Reilly had been part of a group of around 15 young people who gathered in a field on the outskirts of the town on the night of May 25. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whereThe murder took place at Shamrock Hill, Dunleer, County Louth. (rte.ie)
- whereThe murder took place at Shamrock Hill, Dunleer, Co Louth. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whereReilly and others gathered in a field on the outskirts of Dunleer. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whenCameron Reilly was last seen with a group gathered in a field on the night of 25 May. (rte.ie)
- whenThe murder took place on 26 May 2018. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whenCameron Reilly, 18, was murdered at Shamrock Hill, Dunleer, Co Louth, on May 26, 2018. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- causeThe cause of death was asphyxia due to external pressure on the neck. (rte.ie, dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- causeThe Chief State Pathologist said the cause of death was asphyxia due to external pressure on the neck with no other contributing factors. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- investigationMr Connolly initially denied anything sexual happened between him and Mr Reilly on the night. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtConnolly was found guilty by a unanimous jury verdict in December 2022. (rte.ie, dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe Court of Appeal found that the trial judge's charge to the jury lacked balance. (rte.ie)
- courtThe Director of Public Prosecutions will decide whether to apply for a retrial. (rte.ie)
- courtThe matter has gone back to 4 June. (rte.ie)
- courtConnolly had pleaded not guilty to the murder. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtA jury found Connolly guilty by a unanimous verdict in December 2022. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe Court of Appeal found that the trial judge's jury charge lacked balance. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtConnolly pleaded not guilty to the murder. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe Court of Appeal found the trial judge's charge to the jury lacked balance. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtConnolly's conviction has been quashed on appeal. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtThe DPP will now decide whether to apply for a retrial of Connolly. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- sentenceConnolly spent over three years in jail serving a life sentence. (rte.ie)
- sentenceConnolly has spent over three years serving a life sentence. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- sentenceConnolly has spent over three years in jail serving a life sentence for the murder. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherConnolly made admissions through his lawyers that he performed oral sex on Cameron Reilly on the night he was killed. (rte.ie, dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherThe conviction was quashed. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherThe DPP must now decide whether to apply for a retrial. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 18 May2026Man jailed for murdering Louth teenager has conviction quashed
Reports the Court of Appeal decision of 18 May 2026 quashing Aaron Connolly's conviction for murdering Cameron Reilly. No existing case in the list matched this incident. The DPP must now decide whether to seek a retrial, and the matter returns to court on June 4.
victim, Cameron Reilly, 18, male, irish (judged from name)Cameron Reillyaccused, Aaron Connolly, 26, male, named, irish (judged from name)Aaron Connolly - 18 May2026Louth man serving life sentence has his murder conviction quashed
Court of Appeal quashed the murder conviction after finding the jury charge lacked balance; the DPP must decide whether to apply for a retrial. Article is dated 18 May 2026.
convicted, Aaron Connolly, 26, male, named, irish (judged from name)Aaron Connollyvictim, Cameron Reilly, 18, male, irish (judged from name)Cameron Reilly - 18 May2026Man's conviction for Co Louth murder in 2018 quashed
The Court of Appeal quashed the murder conviction after finding the trial judge's charge lacked balance. The DPP must now decide whether to apply for a retrial, and the matter is listed to return on 4 June.
convicted, Aaron Connolly, 26, male, named, irish (judged from name)Aaron Connollyvictim, Cameron Reilly, 18, male, irish (judged from name)Cameron Reilly