Ireland Man sentenced to life for murder of friend Shane Knott
Shane Knott, a 37-year-old man, was beaten to death with a hammer at the home of his friend Padraig Delaney, a 44-year-old man, at The Lane, Eustace Demesne, Naas, Co Kildare, between April 3rd and April 14th, 2024. On April 14th Delaney told his father there was a body in his back garden, and gardaí found Knott's body wrapped in carpet underlay in a dog pen. Delaney pleaded not guilty to murder, but a jury in Tullamore found him guilty earlier in 2025 and rejected his self-defence claim. On May 12th, 2025, Mr Justice Paul Burns at the Central Criminal Court sentenced Delaney to life imprisonment.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced12 May
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Shane Knott, a 37-year-old man, was killed by his friend Padraig Delaney, a 44-year-old man.
- Where
- Delaney lives at The Lane, Eustace Demesne, Naas, Co Kildare, where the body was found.
- When
- The killing took place between April 3rd and April 14th, 2024.
- Weapon
- Delaney told gardaí he struck Knott in the head with a claw hammer three or four times.
- Cause
- Delaney claimed Knott attacked him with a pair of scissors and that he acted in self-defence.
- Investigation
- On April 14th Delaney told his father there was a body in his back garden.
- Gardaí found the body in a dog pen wrapped in carpet underlay, and it was unrecognisable and had to be identified through DNA.
- Other details
- Knott's family attended his cremation on what should have been his 37th birthday.
- Delaney was homeless for a time and has a history of alcohol and substance abuse.
- Delaney has previous convictions for intoxication in public, common assault and criminal damage.
- Knott's mother, Catherine Fitzsimons, gave a victim impact statement at sentencing.
- Delaney's brother, Tadhg Delaney, was murdered in Tallaght in November 2023; no one has been charged and that investigation is ongoing.
- Charges
- Delaney pleaded not guilty to the murder of Knott at his home between April 3rd and April 14th, 2024.
- In court
- A jury in Tullamore found Delaney guilty of murder earlier in 2025 and rejected his self-defence claim.
- Mr Justice Paul Burns described Delaney's self-defence claim as a self-serving fabrication at the Central Criminal Court.
- Sentence
- Delaney was sentenced to life imprisonment on May 12th, 2025.
9 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe body was left wrapped in carpet underlay in a dog pen in the back garden. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe deceased was unrecognisable and had to be identified through DNA. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe family attended Knott's cremation on what should have been his 37th birthday. (irishtimes.com)
- whatOn April 14th, Delaney told his father there was a body in his back garden. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDelaney claimed Knott attacked him with a pair of scissors and he struck him in the head with a claw hammer three or four times in self-defence. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDelaney was homeless for a time and had a history of alcohol and substance abuse. (irishtimes.com)
- whatDelaney has previous convictions for intoxication in public, common assault and criminal damage. (irishtimes.com)
- whereDelaney lives at The Lane, Eustace Demesne, Naas, Co Kildare. (irishtimes.com)
- courtA jury in Tullamore found Delaney guilty of murder, rejecting his self-defence claim. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 12 May2025Man who beat his ‘free spirit’ friend to death sentenced to life
Reports the sentencing to life imprisonment by Mr Justice Paul Burns, including the judge's description of the self-defence claim as a 'self-serving fabrication' and the victim impact statement from Knott's mother Catherine Fitzsimons.
victim, Shane Knott, 37, male, irish (judged from name)Shane Knottconvicted, Padraig Delaney, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)Padraig Delaney