Ireland Case No. 3947Murder · Co. Dublin · 20 Jun 2024
Joseph Lawlor murder trial hears victim's dying words in Finglas stabbing
The jury in the trial of Joseph Lawlor, 39, for the murder of Michael Ryan, 51, heard CCTV and audio evidence of the fatal stabbing in a Finglas carpark on 20 June 2024, including Ryan's words 'You stabbed me in the artery, you f**king eejit.' Lawlor, who pleaded not guilty, is on trial before Mr Justice Patrick McGrath.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court29 Jan
3 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports46 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe victim suffered a fatal knife wound to his neck. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe stabbing occurred during a physical altercation following a day of drinking. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe jury saw CCTV footage of two prior altercations between the men on the same day. (irishtimes.com)
- whatLawlor pleaded not guilty to the murder. (irishtimes.com)
- whatRyan was arrested almost immediately for drink driving after leaving in his car. (irishtimes.com)
- whatLawlor was seen following Ryan carrying a knife in his left hand. (irishtimes.com)
- whatLawlor returned to the scene and called emergency services looking for an ambulance. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe victim called the accused a 'dirtbird' and told him he had been stabbed in the artery. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe two men were drinking together in Lawlor's home throughout the day before the altercation. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatRyan was arrested for drink driving after the second altercation. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatRyan asked for the return of a watch worth €4,000 that was personal to him. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatLawlor told Ryan to go away and that he was not giving him the watch. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- whatLawlor said he would fight Ryan down the back of the house. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatRyan threatened to send someone to throw grenades through the window. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatLawlor was seen carrying a knife in his left hand as he followed Ryan towards the car park. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatAfter being stabbed, Ryan said his dying words identifying Lawlor and the wound. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatLawlor walked back towards his house saying no pineapples would go through his door. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatLawlor and Ryan were drinking together in Lawlor's home throughout the day before the altercation. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatAfter the second altercation, Ryan was arrested for drink driving. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatRyan asked for the return of a watch he said was worth €4,000 and was personal to him. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatLawlor said he would fight Ryan down the back of the property. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatRyan threatened to send someone to throw two or three grenades through the window. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatAfter being stabbed, Ryan said Lawlor had stabbed him in the artery. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatLawlor walked back towards his house saying no grenades would go through his door. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereThe stabbing occurred in a carpark to the back of the accused's home in Finglas, Dublin 11. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe stabbing took place in a carpark to the back of Lawlor's home in Finglas, Dublin 11. (dublinlive.ie)
- whenThe murder occurred on 20 June 2024. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe first physical altercation occurred at 8.30pm. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe second altercation occurred just after 9.30pm. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident occurred on 20 June 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe first physical altercation between the men was at 8.30pm. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenA second altercation occurred just after 9.30pm. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenRyan returned to Lawlor's home shortly after midnight. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- whenThe fatal stabbing occurred on 20 June 2024. (dublinlive.ie)
- whenThe first physical altercation between the two men occurred at 8.30pm. (dublinlive.ie)
- whenA second altercation took place just after 9.30pm. (dublinlive.ie)
- weaponLawlor was carrying a knife in his left hand when he walked towards the car park. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationDet Gda Ronan Kelly viewed the CCTV footage and listened to the audio recording more than 50 times. (dublinlive.ie)
- chargeJoseph Lawlor, 39, of Hampton Wood Road, Finglas, Dublin 11, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael Ryan, 51. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeJoseph Lawlor, 39, is on trial for the murder of Michael Ryan, 51. (dublinlive.ie)
- courtThe trial continues before Mr Justice Patrick McGrath and a jury. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is being heard before Mr Justice Patrick McGrath and a jury. (irishmirror.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- courtKevin White SC is prosecuting. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtLawlor pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. (dublinlive.ie)
- courtKevin White SC is prosecuting in the trial. (dublinlive.ie)
- otherPineapple is slang for a grenade. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 30 Jan2026'You stabbed me in the artery you f*****g eejit' - trial hears words of victim
Trial day report: jury viewed CCTV of the stabbing and two prior altercations, heard audio of Ryan demanding his €4,000 watch and his dying words, and heard Lawlor's 999 call. Det Gda Ronan Kelly testified he reviewed the footage more than 50 times.
victim, Michael Ryan, 51, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Ryanaccused, Joseph Lawlor, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Joseph Lawlor - 30 Jan2026'You stabbed me in the artery you f*****g eejit' - trial hears words of victim
Trial day coverage: jury viewed CCTV of the stabbing and two prior altercations, heard audio from a neighbour's Ring doorbell, and heard Det Gda Ronan Kelly's evidence about the sequence of events including the watch dispute and the fatal wound.
victim, Michael 'Chino' Ryan, 51, male, irish (judged from name)Michael 'Chino' Ryanaccused, Joseph Lawlor, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Joseph Lawlor - 29 Jan2026‘You stabbed me in the artery, you f**king eejit’, victim told murder accused before death
The jury viewed CCTV footage of the stabbing and two prior altercations, and heard audio recordings including the victim's final words. Det Garda Ronan Kelly testified about the sequence of events, and the trial continues before Mr Justice Patrick McGrath.
victim, Michael 'Chino' Ryan, 51, male, irish (judged from name)Michael 'Chino' Ryanaccused, Joseph Lawlor, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Joseph Lawlor