Sunday 1 November 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. 3563Murder · Co. Dublin · 28 Feb 2006

Man granted day release for murder of wife in Dublin

Brian Kearney, 67, a man, strangled his wife Siobhán McLaughlin, 38, a woman, with a vacuum cleaner flex at their home in Goatstown, south Dublin, on 28 February 2006. He was found guilty of murder by a majority verdict of 11 to 1 at the Central Criminal Court and sentenced to life in prison in 2008. Kearney, who has never acknowledged the killing, is serving his sentence at Wheatfield Prison. In March 2026 he was granted day release from the prison and faces a parole hearing in April. Siobhán's mother Deirdre McLaughlin, 85, has been diagnosed with cancer and the family has expressed distress at the release.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court1 Feb
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Brian Kearney strangled his wife Siobhán McLaughlin with a vacuum cleaner flex at their home in Knocknashee, Goatstown, south Dublin.
When
The murder took place on 28 February 2006.
Where
The murder took place at the couple's home in Goatstown, south Dublin.
Weapon
Kearney used the flex of a Dyson vacuum cleaner as a ligature to strangle Siobhán.
Cause
Kearney murdered his wife because she intended to leave him and was in the process of filing for divorce.
Other details
  • Kearney pulled the flex over the en-suite door to make the killing look like a suicide.
  • Siobhán's three-year-old son Dan was sleeping in the next room at the time of the murder.
  • Siobhán's mother Deirdre McLaughlin, 85, has been diagnosed with cancer and blames Kearney for it.
  • Kearney has never acknowledged the killing or shown remorse.
In court
  • Kearney was found guilty of murder by a majority verdict of 11 to 1 at the Central Criminal Court.
  • Kearney was granted day release from Wheatfield Prison in March 2026 and faces a parole hearing in April 2026.
Sentence
Kearney was sentenced to life in prison in 2008.
32 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatBrian Kearney strangled his wife Siobhan to death with a wire flex at their home in Knocknashee, Goatstown, in February 2006. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatDeirdre McLaughlin, Siobhan's mother, has been diagnosed with cancer. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatKearney strangled Siobhan in her room using a Dyson vacuum cleaner flex as a ligature, then tried to hoist her over the en-suite door to make it look like a suicide. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatTheir three-year-old son was sleeping in the next room at the time of the murder. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatSiobhán McLaughlin, 38, was murdered by her husband Brian Kearney at their family home in Goatstown, south Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe murder took place at the couple's home in Goatstown, Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe murder took place on 28 February 2006. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeKearney murdered his wife because she intended to leave him. (irishmirror.ie)
  • weaponKearney used a vacuum cleaner flex to strangle his wife Siobhan. (irishmirror.ie)
  • weaponKearney used the flex of a vacuum cleaner as a ligature before trying to hoist his wife over a door in her bedroom. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtKearney has a parole hearing in the coming weeks. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtKearney is about to face the parole board in the coming weeks. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe family is meeting the parole board in April. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtKearney was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of murder at the Central Criminal Court two years after the killing. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtKearney is set to have a parole hearing in April. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceKearney was jailed for life in 2008. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceKearney was found guilty by a majority verdict of 11 to 1 at the Central Criminal Court and handed a life sentence. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherKearney pulled the vacuum cleaner flex over the en-suite door to make it look like suicide. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherSiobhan was a mother of one. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherKearney has studied Spanish, first aid and law in prison. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherSiobhan's mother Deirdre is 85 and her father Owen is 92. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherEvery member of the McLaughlin family is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherKearney throttled Siobhan twice, threw her over a door and locked her in the bedroom. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherKearney abandoned his young son after giving him a bowl of Coco Pops. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherKearney has a hotel and business in Spain. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherBernard Dempsey is serving life for the murder of James Curran, 42, shot dead in the Green Lizard Pub in Frances Street, Dublin, in April 2005. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherKearney is said to be very unwell behind bars. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherSiobhán was in the process of filing for a divorce at the time of her murder. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherKearney will be taken to a neutral venue in Dublin and escorted at all times by two prisoner officers. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe average life term served in prison is about 19 years. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherKearney has never acknowledged his crime or shown any remorse. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherSiobhán was the fifth of eight children. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 13 Mar2026
    Otheririshtimes.com, follow-up
    Family of woman murdered by husband in Dublin ‘distressed’ after killer granted day release

    Reports the victim's family's reaction to Kearney's day release from Wheatfield Prison, details of the release arrangement, and the family's concerns ahead of his April parole hearing.

    victim, Siobhán McLaughlin, 38, female, irish (judged from name)Siobhán McLaughlinconvicted, Brian Kearney, male, named, irish (judged from name)Brian Kearney
  2. 4 Mar2026
    Otheririshmirror.ie, follow-up
    Mother blames her daughter's killer Brian Kearney for her cancer

    Reveals Deirdre McLaughlin's cancer diagnosis and security fears ahead of Kearney's fourth parole hearing in April; reports Kearney's cell move to share with Bernard Dempsey at Wheatfield Prison; provides details of the 2006 murder method and the 2008 guilty verdict.

    victim, Siobhan McLaughlin, 38, female, irish (judged from name)Siobhan McLaughlinconvicted, Brian Kearney, 67, male, named, irish (judged from name)Brian Kearneyvictim, Deirdre McLaughlin, female, irish (judged from name)Deirdre McLaughlinvictim, Brighid McLaughlin, female, irish (judged from name)Brighid McLaughlin
  3. 1 Feb2026
    In courtirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Family fears Siobhan McLaughlin’s killer may be freed within weeks

    Reports the McLaughlin family's concerns and submissions ahead of Brian Kearney's upcoming parole hearing, with quotes from Siobhan's sisters Brighid and Anne Marie McLaughlin.

    victim, Siobhan McLaughlin, 38, female, irish (judged from name)Siobhan McLaughlinconvicted, Brian Kearney, 67, male, named, irish (judged from name)Brian Kearney