Ireland Case No. 12448Murder · Co. Dublin · 15 Dec 2022
Man sentenced to life for murder in Clontarf, Dublin
Emma Costello McCrory, a 45-year-old woman and mother of two, was pronounced dead at the scene of a house fire on Howth Road, Clontarf, Dublin, shortly after 8.45pm on 15 December 2022. George Turner, a man in his 50s from Fairview, Dublin, was arrested on 17 March 2023 and charged with her murder contrary to common law. He pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court on 6 October 2025. On 10 October 2025, he was sentenced to life in prison. A post-mortem found McCrory died from inhaling carbon monoxide and other noxious gases, and fire services found no evidence of an accelerant.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Charged18 Mar
4 reports - In court18 Mar
- Convicted6 Oct
- Sentenced10 Oct
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A house fire broke out in Emma Costello McCrory's home on Howth Road, Clontarf, Dublin, shortly after 8.45pm on 15 December 2022, and she was pronounced dead at the scene.
- Where
- The fire occurred at a house on Howth Road, Clontarf, north Dublin, and her body was taken to the mortuary in Whitehall for a post-mortem.
- When
- The fire broke out on 15 December 2022, and George Turner was arrested at 6.34pm on 17 March 2023.
- Cause
- A post-mortem found McCrory died from inhaling carbon monoxide and other noxious gases, and fire services found no evidence of an accelerant, with the fire beginning towards the bottom of her bed.
- Investigation
- The detective unit at Clontarf Garda Station investigated, and Turner was arrested at Clontarf station and charged just over an hour later.
- Charges
- George Turner was charged with the murder of Emma McCrory contrary to common law.
- In court
- Turner appeared before Judge Gerard Jones at Dublin District Court on 18 March 2023, was remanded in custody, and legal aid was granted.
- Turner pleaded guilty to murder at the Central Criminal Court on 6 October 2025.
- Sentence
- Turner was sentenced to life in prison on 10 October 2025, with the sentence imposed by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon (one source names Justice Paul McDermott).
- Other details
- Turner had 42 previous convictions, mostly for public order and road traffic offences, and had no reply to the charge after caution.
- Detective Garda Cliff Singleton gave evidence that Turner said he had been in a relationship with McCrory for around three months prior to the fire.
80 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA man in his 50s was charged in relation to a house fire that killed a woman in her 40s in Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGardaí and firefighters rushed to the scene on 15 December when the alarm was raised but could not save the woman. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe woman was pronounced dead at the scene. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatEmma McCrory was in her 40s (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whatEmma McCrory was a mother of two (thejournal.ie)
- whatEmma McCrory was a stylist and fashion wholesale manager (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whatEmma McCrory was pronounced dead at the scene (thejournal.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- whatHer funeral took place a week later (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com, dublinlive.ie)
- whatGeorge Turner is 53 years old (thejournal.ie)
- whatHe was charged just over an hour after his arrest (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whatShe was a mother of two (irishtimes.com)
- whatShe was pronounced dead at the scene (irishtimes.com)
- whatGeorge Turner, 53, of Fairview Avenue, Fairview, Dublin, was arrested (irishtimes.com)
- whatGeorge Turner, 53, of Fairview Avenue, Fairview, Dublin, was arrested following an investigation by the detective unit at Clontarf Garda Station. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatEmma McCrory, in her 40s, was fatally injured after a blaze broke out in her house on Howth Road, Clontarf, shortly after 8.45pm on 15 December 2022. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatMs McCrory was a stylist and fashion wholesale manager. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatMs McCrory was pronounced dead at the scene. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatGeorge Turner is 53 years old and lives on Fairview Avenue, Fairview, Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatEmma McCrory was in her 40s and was a mother of two. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatEmma McCrory worked as a stylist and fashion wholesale manager. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatTurner pleaded guilty to the murder of Emma McCrory. (thejournal.ie)
- whatTurner was sentenced to life in prison for murdering a woman by setting fire to her home. (rte.ie)
- whereThe fatal house fire occurred on Howth Road, Clontarf. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe fire occurred at a house on Howth Road, Clontarf (thejournal.ie)
- whereHer body was taken to the mortuary in Whitehall, north Dublin, for a post-mortem (thejournal.ie, dublinlive.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- whereGeorge Turner lives at Fairview Avenue, Fairview, Dublin (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe fire broke out in her house on Howth Road, Clontarf (irishtimes.com)
- whereHer body was taken to the mortuary in Whitehall, north Dublin (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe fire occurred on Howth Road, Clontarf, north Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe killing happened in Ms McCrory's home on Howth Road, Clontarf. (thejournal.ie)
- whereEmma Costello McCrory was found dead at her home on the Howth Road in Clontarf. (rte.ie)
- whenThe fire happened ten days before Christmas. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe fire broke out shortly after 8.45 pm on 15 December (thejournal.ie)
- whenTurner was arrested at 6.34 pm at Clontarf station (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe fire occurred shortly after 8.45pm on 15 December 2022 (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe house fire broke out shortly after 8.45pm on 15 December 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenHer funeral took place a week after the fire. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenGeorge Turner was arrested at 6.34pm at Clontarf station on Friday 17 March 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe murder happened on 15 December 2022. (thejournal.ie)
- whenEmma Costello McCrory was found dead on the evening of 15 December 2022. (rte.ie)
- causeMs McCrory was fatally injured after a blaze broke out in her house. (thejournal.ie)
- causeA post-mortem found the victim died from inhaling carbon monoxide and other noxious gases released in the fire. (rte.ie)
- investigationThe man was arrested by gardaí at Clontarf investigating the fatal house fire. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe investigation was conducted by the detective unit at Clontarf Garda station (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- investigationHe was arrested at 6.34pm at Clontarf station (irishtimes.com)
- investigationHe was arrested at 6.34pm at Clontarf station on Friday and charged just over an hour later. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationFire services found no evidence of an accelerant and found the fire began towards the bottom of the victim's bed. (rte.ie)
- chargeHe was charged with murder contrary to common law (thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- chargeGeorge Turner was charged with the murder of Ms McCrory at her home on 15 December, contrary to common law. (dublinlive.ie)
- chargeHe was charged with the murder of Ms McCrory contrary to common law. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeTurner was charged with murdering Ms McCrory. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe man is expected to appear before Dublin District Court (Criminal Courts of Justice No. 2) on 18 March 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtHe appeared before Judge Gerard Jones at Dublin District Court (thejournal.ie)
- courtHe was remanded in custody (thejournal.ie)
- courtHe was to appear via video-link at Cloverhill District Court on Friday (thejournal.ie)
- courtLegal aid was granted to Turner (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe judge directed that Turner receive appropriate medical attention and supervision while on remand in prison (thejournal.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe DPP must prepare a book of evidence before the District Court can make a return for trial order (thejournal.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- courtHe appeared before Judge Gerard Jones at Dublin District Court on Saturday 18 March 2023 (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe District Court cannot hear a bail application in a murder case (irishtimes.com)
- courtHe was remanded in custody to appear via video-link at Cloverhill District Court on Friday (irishtimes.com, dublinlive.ie)
- courtLegal aid was granted after the judge noted there was no Garda objection (irishtimes.com, dublinlive.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe judge directed that Mr Turner get appropriate medical attention and supervision while on remand in prison. (dublinlive.ie)
- courtThe Director of Public Prosecutions must prepare a book of evidence before the District Court can make a return for trial order. (dublinlive.ie)
- courtThe District Court cannot hear a bail application in a case of suspected murder which requires a High Court ruling. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtJudge Jones remanded him in custody to appear via video-link at Cloverhill District Court on Friday. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe plea was entered at the Central Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
- courtTurner entered a guilty plea to the charge. (thejournal.ie)
- courtSentencing was put back to Friday 10 October before Justice Paul McDermott. (thejournal.ie)
- courtTurner was remanded in custody until sentencing. (thejournal.ie)
- courtTurner pleaded guilty to murder earlier in the week of the sentencing. (rte.ie)
- courtThe sentence was imposed by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon. (rte.ie)
- sentenceTurner was given the mandatory sentence of life in prison. (rte.ie)
- otherHe had no reply to the charge after caution (irishtimes.com)
- otherHis solicitor asked the court to recommend a psychiatric assessment in custody (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe judge directed he receive appropriate medical attention and supervision while on remand (irishtimes.com)
- otherIn reply to the charge after caution, he had no reply. (dublinlive.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- otherMs McCrory was a stylist and fashion wholesale manager in her 40s. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe victim was 45 and the mother of two children. (rte.ie)
- otherTurner had 42 previous convictions, mostly for public order and road traffic offences. (rte.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 10 Oct2025Man jailed for life for murder of Dublin woman in 2022
No matching case in the existing list. Reports the guilty plea and life sentence for George Turner, with details of the fire and the victim's death.
convicted, George Turner, 56, male, named, irish (judged from name)George Turnervictim, Emma Costello McCrory, 45, female, irish (judged from name)Emma Costello McCrory - 6 Oct2025Man in his 50s pleads guilty to murder of Emma McCrory in Dublin
Reports Turner's guilty plea to murder at the Central Criminal Court on 6 October 2025 and that sentencing was set for Friday 10 October. The case record already shows the later sentence.
victim, Emma McCrory, 40s, irish (judged from name)Emma McCroryconvicted, George Turner, 55, male, named, irish (judged from name)George Turner - 18 Mar2023Man charged with murder after death of woman in her 40s in Dublin house fire
Reports the arrest and charging of George Turner on 17 March 2023 and his first court appearance at Dublin District Court on 18 March 2023, where he was remanded in custody and legal aid was granted.
victim, Emma McCrory, 40s, female, irish (judged from name)Emma McCrorysuspect, George Turner, 53, male, named, irish (judged from name)George Turner - 18 Mar2023Man charged with murder after death of mum of two in Dublin house fire
Reports the arrest, charging and first court appearance of George Turner, including his silence in reply to the charge, his mental health history, the remand to Cloverhill District Court, and the grant of legal aid.
victim, Emma McCrory, 40s, female, irish (judged from name)Emma McCroryaccused, George Turner, 53, male, named, irish (judged from name)George Turner - 18 Mar2023Man charged with murder of woman in Dublin house fire
Reports the initial arrest and charging of George Turner on 17 March 2023 and his first court appearance at Dublin District Court on 18 March 2023, where he was remanded in custody, legal aid was granted, and a psychiatric assessment was requested.
victim, Emma McCrory, 40s, female, irish (judged from name)Emma McCrorysuspect, George Turner, 53, male, named, irish (judged from name)George Turner - 18 Mar2023Man charged with murder of woman who was pronounced dead after fire at her home in Clontarf
Reports the charging and first court appearance at Dublin District Court on 18 March 2023, where Turner was remanded in custody, legal aid was granted, and a psychiatric assessment was requested by his defence.
victim, Emma McCrory, 40s, female, irish (judged from name)Emma McCrorysuspect, George Turner, 53, male, named, irish (judged from name)George Turner - 18 Mar2023Man charged after woman in her 40s dies in tragic Dublin house fire
First report of the charging; a man in his 50s charged over the fatal house fire in Clontarf that killed a woman in her 40s on 15 December 2022.
victim, 40s, femalesuspect, 50s, male