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. 1204Manslaughter · Co. Kildare · 8 Feb 2024

Man with 152 previous convictions jailed for fatally stabbing aunt's partner in Kilcock

Ryan Kearney, 39, was sentenced to 10 years in prison (with the final year suspended) at the Central Criminal Court for the manslaughter of Jeffrey Jackson, 50, whom he stabbed 16 times at The Lamps, School Street, Kilcock, Co Kildare, on 8 February 2024. A jury had earlier found him not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced31 Jul
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
19 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe deceased sustained 45 bruises in total (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe deceased also sustained blunt force injuries (irishtimes.com)
  • whatBreda Kearney had to contact emergency services as the defendant had not done so (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe incident occurred at The Lamps, School Street, Kilcock, Co Kildare (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe stabbing took place on 8 February 2024 (irishtimes.com)
  • courtA jury found Kearney not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter (irishtimes.com)
  • courtMr Justice Paul Burns presided over the sentencing at the Central Criminal Court (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe headline sentence was set at 12½ years in prison (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe final sentence was 10 years with the final year suspended for three years (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe sentence was backdated to 8 February 2024 (irishtimes.com)
  • otherKearney had 152 previous convictions for offences including trespassing, theft, possession of drugs, criminal damage and endangerment (irishtimes.com)
  • otherKearney had offered a plea of manslaughter before trial which the DPP had not accepted (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe judge noted Kearney's history of offending was not a violent one (irishtimes.com)
  • otherKearney had a long history of alcohol dependency and abuse (irishtimes.com)
  • otherKearney expressed remorse in a short letter to the court (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe defence argued Kearney was acting in self-defence (irishtimes.com)
  • otherMichael Bowman SC was the defence counsel (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe deceased was a cancer survivor (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe deceased's ability to defend himself was limited due to his level of intoxication (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 31 Jul2025
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Man with 152 previous convictions jailed for fatally stabbing aunt’s partner

    Sentencing hearing details: Mr Justice Paul Burns set a headline sentence of 12½ years, reduced to 10 years with the final year suspended for three years, backdated to 8 February 2024. Victim-impact statements were read from the deceased's brother and mother. Defence argued self-defence.

    victim, Jeffrey Jackson, 50, male, irish (judged from name)Jeffrey Jacksonconvicted, Ryan Kearney, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Ryan Kearney