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. 6611Murder · Co. Carlow

Family of Lisa Doyle warn her killer Gerard O'Hara could kill again if freed

Gerard O'Hara, a man and the victim's fiancé according to the Irish Mirror, strangled Lisa Doyle, a 24-year-old woman, with a shoe lace as she lay in bed beside him in Leighlinbridge, Co Carlow. The sources give no incident date. O'Hara walked into a Carlow garda station at 6am on a Sunday with a handwritten note saying he had done something terrible, and he admitted to gardaí that he had had dark thoughts about hurting a woman for years. He pleaded guilty in the Central Criminal Court in October 2010. In February 2024 Lisa Doyle's family warned that he could be freed in less than four years and would kill again, and TG4 scheduled a programme on the case for Wednesday at 9.30pm.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted4 Feb
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Gerard O'Hara, a man, strangled Lisa Doyle, a 24-year-old woman and his fiancée according to the Irish Mirror, as she lay in bed beside him.
Weapon
O'Hara used a shoe lace to throttle Lisa Doyle.
Where
The killing took place in the village of Leighlinbridge, Co Carlow.
When
The sources do not give the date of the killing.
Cause
O'Hara admitted to gardaí that he had had dark thoughts about hurting a woman for years.
Investigation
O'Hara walked into a garda station in Carlow at 6am on a Sunday with a handwritten note saying he had done something terrible.
In court
O'Hara pleaded guilty in the Central Criminal Court in October 2010.
Sentence
The sources do not report a sentence.
Other details
  • The Irish Mirror published the family's warnings on 4 February 2024.
  • Lisa Doyle's family fear O'Hara could be freed in less than four years.
  • Lisa Doyle's family warn that O'Hara will kill again if he is freed from prison.
  • Another woman told gardaí that O'Hara had tried to strangle her after a one-night stand.
  • The TG4 programme Maru inar Measc, about the murder, is due to broadcast on Wednesday at 9.30pm.
9 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGerard O'Hara used a shoe lace to throttle Lisa Doyle, 24, as she lay in bed beside him. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe murder took place in the small village of Leighlinbridge, Co Carlow. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeO'Hara admitted to gardaí that he had had dark thoughts about hurting a woman for years. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationO'Hara walked into a garda station in Carlow at 6am on a Sunday with a handwritten note saying he had done something terrible. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtO'Hara pleaded guilty in the Central Criminal Court in October 2010. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherLisa Doyle's family fear O'Hara could be freed in less than four years. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherLisa Doyle's family warn that O'Hara will kill again if he is freed from prison. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherAnother woman told gardaí that O'Hara had tried to strangle her after a one-night stand. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe murder is the subject of the TG4 programme Maru inar Measc, broadcast on Wednesday at 9.30pm. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 4 Feb2024
    Convictedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Family of murdered strangle victim warn he will kill again if freed from prison

    Feature on a 2010 murder in Leighlinbridge, Co Carlow, in which O'Hara pleaded guilty. It gives no incident date and does not match any existing case. It adds the family's fears about his possible release and the TG4 documentary.

    victim, Lisa Doyle, 24, female, irish (judged from name)Lisa Doyleconvicted, Gerard O'Hara, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gerard O'Hara