Wednesday 28 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. 1453Murder · Co. Dublin · 20 Jun 2024

Jury hears murder accused Joseph Lawlor recorded calling victim Michael Ryan 'supergrass' and 'rat'

Joseph Lawlor, 39, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael Ryan, 51, who was fatally stabbed in the neck outside Lawlor's home in Finglas, Dublin 11, on 20 June 2024. The killing followed a series of drunken fights between the two men that night, and a 17-second CCTV clip shows Lawlor striking Ryan with a bread knife. The trial at the Central Criminal Court before Ms Justice Karen O'Connor is ongoing, with the jury having viewed the footage and heard a recording in which Lawlor called Ryan a 'supergrass' and a 'rat' and threatened to stab him. The jury is to determine Lawlor's intention at the time of the killing.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court20 Jun
    3 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
A series of drunken fights between two men ended with one fatally stabbing the other in the neck.
Where
Outside Lawlor's home in Hampton Wood Way, St Margaret's Road, Finglas, Dublin 11.
When
20 June 2024; the fatal incident was the third physical altercation that night, occurring after midnight.
Cause
Both men had been drinking heavily together before the fights.
Weapon
A bread knife, confirmed by DNA testing, was used to cut Ryan's carotid artery.
Investigation
  • The fights were recorded on CCTV, by neighbours using mobile phones, and by a Ring doorbell; a 17-second clip shows the fatal stab.
  • Bloodstaining, clothing, money, and a wallet were found at the scene; a black sports bag contained €3,155 in notes; a sword was found in Lawlor's home.
Charges
Joseph Lawlor, 39, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael Ryan, 51.
In court
  • The trial is before Ms Justice Karen O'Connor and a jury of five women and seven men at the Central Criminal Court.
  • The jury heard a recording made by a neighbour at 9:38pm in which Lawlor called Ryan a 'supergrass' and a 'rat' and threatened to stab him in the neck.
Other details
  • Ryan's nickname is Chino.
  • Lawlor told Ryan it was his fifth chance and threatened to stab him; Ryan told Lawlor he was no longer his friend.
45 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA series of fights ended with a man dying from a stab wound to the neck. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe fights were recorded on CCTV, by neighbours using mobile phones, and by a Ring doorbell. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA 17-second CCTV clip shows the moment Lawlor stabbed Ryan in the neck. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatBoth men had been drinking heavily together before the fight. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatIt was the third physical altercation between them that night. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatGardaí noted both men were intoxicated but neither wanted matters to go further. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThree more men joined Lawlor and Ryan after gardaí left. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatOne of the three men who arrived appeared to be refereeing the second fight. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatLawlor got the better of Ryan in the second fight. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatRyan went to his car where gardaí arrested him for being drunk in charge of a vehicle at about 9.50pm. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatRyan was seen carrying a bag on the street. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatLawlor was coming at Ryan with a big knife. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe 17-second clip shows Ryan swinging a bag at Lawlor and Lawlor striking Ryan on the neck with the knife. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatRyan's carotid artery was cut and he died a quick death. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe victim was fatally stabbed in the neck (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe stabbing followed a series of drunken fights between the two men (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe footage shows Ryan holding a carryall bag to defend himself while Lawlor held a knife (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe footage shows Lawlor turning away after inflicting the fatal stab wound (irishtimes.com)
  • whatBoth men had been drinking heavily together before the fatal fight (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe fatal fight was the third physical altercation between them that night (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe jury heard a recording of Lawlor calling Ryan a 'supergrass' and a 'rat'. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatLawlor threatened to stab Ryan in the neck during the recorded conversation. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatLawlor said he would not stab Ryan because he loved him too much. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatSix people were in Lawlor's home at the time of the recording. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe jury previously saw footage of two fights between Lawlor and Ryan captured on CCTV and by neighbours at 8:30pm and about 9:40pm. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatPart of the build-up to the third and fatal encounter after midnight was captured on a neighbour's Ring doorbell. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatCCTV footage from different houses captured the moment Ryan suffered the stab wound to the neck that caused his death. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatRyan's nickname is Chino. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatLawlor told Ryan it was his fifth chance and threatened to stab him. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatRyan told Lawlor he was no longer his friend. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe murder occurred outside Lawlor's home in Hampton Wood Way, St Margaret's Road, Finglas, Dublin 11. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe first physical altercation happened at about 8.30pm. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe second fight broke out at about 9.30pm. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenAbout 20 minutes later, both men were captured on CCTV on the street. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe fatal incident took place on 20 June 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe audio recording was made by a neighbour at 9:38pm, minutes before the second fight. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationBloodstaining was found on the ground at the scene alongside clothing, money and a wallet (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationA black sports bag near the scene contained €3,155 in notes and two blister packs of tablets (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationDNA testing confirmed the bread knife was the one used to stab Ryan (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationA sword was found on the floor in the living room of Lawlor's home (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationDet Gda Shane Gallagher spent 14 hours listening to the recording to prepare a transcript. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeJoseph Lawlor, 39, denies murdering Michael Ryan, 51 (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeJoseph Lawlor has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael Ryan. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe jury viewed CCTV footage of the moment the stabbing occurred (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial is before Ms Justice Karen O'Connor and a jury of five women and seven men. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 26 Jun2025
    In courtirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Jury hears man accused of murder was recorded calling alleged victim 'rat'

    The jury heard Det Gda Shane Gallagher testify about a 14-hour recording of a conversation between Lawlor and Ryan made by a neighbour at 9:38pm, in which Lawlor called Ryan a 'supergrass' and 'rat' and threatened to stab him. The trial continues before Ms Justice Karen O'Connor.

    accused, Joseph Lawlor, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Joseph Lawlorvictim, Michael Ryan, 51, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Ryan
  2. 24 Jun2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Jury sees video footage of stabbing during fight between friends

    Adds details of CCTV/phone footage of the stabbing, Lawlor's 999 call, forensic findings at the scene (bloodstaining, €3,155 in a sports bag), the DNA-matched Royal Swiss bread knife and sword found in Lawlor's home, and the judge's instruction to the jury.

    victim, Michael Ryan, 51, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Ryanaccused, Joseph Lawlor, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Joseph Lawlor
  3. 20 Jun2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Fights recorded on doorbell camera and mobile phones culminated in man’s death, murder trial told

    DPP opening address details the full sequence of three fights, the CCTV and phone recordings, Lawlor's statements calling Ryan a 'rat' and threatening to stab him, Ryan's return after midnight demanding his watch back, and the 17-second clip of the fatal neck wound. Trial before Ms Justice Karen O'Connor continues on Monday.

    victim, Michael Ryan, 51, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Ryanaccused, Joseph Lawlor, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Joseph Lawlor