Case No. 2720Murder · Co. Waterford · 2 Nov 2022
Maurice Boland sentenced to life for murder of Cian Gallagher in Tallow, Waterford
Maurice Boland, 37, of Bridgeview Close, Tallow, Co Waterford, was sentenced to life in prison at the Central Criminal Court on 16 December 2024 for the murder of Cian Gallagher, 26, who was punched on Barrack Street, Tallow, in the early hours of 3 November 2022 and died eight days later from a head injury sustained in the fall.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court4 Dec
- Convicted6 Dec
2 reports - Sentenced16 Dec
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports55 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe prosecution said the accused wanted to be like Conor McGregor when he delivered the punch (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGallagher died in hospital eight days after the incident (irishmirror.ie)
- whatBoland bragged to three young men about hitting Gallagher like Conor McGregor in the UFC (irishmirror.ie)
- whatCCTV footage showed the accused standing in the street waiting for someone to come along (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe accused told gardaí that Gallagher had swung at him so he hit him back (irishmirror.ie)
- whatPub witnesses said the accused was going to beat the shit out of a patron and smash his face in (irishmirror.ie)
- whatAfter the punch, Boland went back and tried to lift Gallagher off the road onto the pathway (irishmirror.ie)
- whatCian Gallagher died in hospital eight days after the assault. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whatBoland bragged to three young men at the scene that he had hit Gallagher 'like Conor McGregor in the UFC'. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatBoland had been drunkenly threatening to 'beat the sh*t out' of a patron at a bar and 'smash his face in' earlier in the night. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatCCTV showed Boland standing at the door of the pub waiting for someone to come along when he saw Gallagher leaving. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatBoland lied to gardai saying Gallagher swung at him first, but CCTV evidence proved this was not true. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGallagher had been drinking from around 7pm in Tallow, while Boland had been drinking in Lismore from 7pm until about 10pm. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatBoland did not react when the guilty verdict was revealed. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatCian Gallagher was 26 years old at the time of the attack (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMaurice Boland was 37 years old (irishmirror.ie)
- whatCian Gallagher died in hospital eight days after the attack (irishmirror.ie)
- whatBoland had 23 previous convictions (irishmirror.ie)
- whatBoland was on bail at the time of the offence for a section 3 assault causing harm charge (irishmirror.ie)
- whatBoland boasted to three young men that he hit Gallagher like Conor McGregor in the UFC (irishmirror.ie)
- whatCian Gallagher was part of a team working on a community project in Tallow on 1 November 2022 (irishmirror.ie)
- whatBoland had been drinking in Lismore from 7pm until about 10pm that evening (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe assault took place on Barrack Street in Tallow, Co Waterford. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whereThe attack took place on Barrack Street in Tallow (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe incident took place on Wednesday November 2 going into the early hours of November 3 (irishmirror.ie)
- whenGallagher had been drinking from around 7pm in Tallow (irishmirror.ie)
- whenBoland had been drinking in Lismore from 7pm until about 10pm (irishmirror.ie)
- whenBoland got a bus from Lismore to Tallow at about midnight (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe attack happened on Wednesday 2 November 2022, going into the early hours of 3 November 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe attack happened on November 2nd, into the early hours of November 3rd, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe fatal attack occurred in the early hours of 3 November 2022 (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe cause of death was Gallagher hitting the back of his head when he fell (irishmirror.ie)
- causePathology evidence showed Gallagher died from injuries sustained when he fell and banged his head on the ground after being punched. (irishmirror.ie)
- causePathology evidence showed Gallagher died from injuries sustained when he fell and banged his head on the ground after Boland punched him. (irishtimes.com)
- causeGallagher suffered catastrophic injuries from a punch and a subsequent fall (irishmirror.ie)
- causeGallagher died from injuries sustained when he fell and banged his head on the ground (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeBoland pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Eileen Creedon said evidence of misconduct earlier in the evening was of limited value (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe jury consisted of seven men and five women and was told their verdict must be unanimous (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe jury was to begin deliberations the following day (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe jury of five women and seven men took five hours and 11 minutes to reach their unanimous verdict. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThis was Boland's second trial for the murder; his first trial in April 2024 ended in a jury disagreement. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMs Justice Eileen Creedon presided over the trial and exempted the jury from further service for five years. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe victim's family will be invited to make statements to the court on 16 December before sentencing. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtProsecution counsel Bernard Condon SC told the jury the victim did not 'spontaneously fall' but was pursued by Boland. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtDefence counsel Brendan Grehan SC argued there was no evidence of intent to kill or cause serious harm. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe Central Criminal Court jury of five women and seven men took five hours and 11 minutes to reach their unanimous verdict. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThis was Boland's second trial; his first trial in April 2024 ended in a jury disagreement. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMs Justice Eileen Creedon presided over the trial. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBoland was found guilty of murder on 12 December 2024 (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThis was Boland's second trial after a hung jury in April 2024 (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe sentencing was delivered by Ms Justice Eileen Creedon at the Central Criminal Court (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceBoland was sentenced to life in prison (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceBoland's life sentence will commence on the expiration of the assault charge in May 2024 (irishmirror.ie)
- otherBoland did not react when the verdict was revealed. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 16 Dec2024Family of man murdered by killer with punch 'like Conor McGregor' speaks out
Sentencing hearing at which the Gallagher family delivered a victim impact statement; Boland received the mandatory life sentence. Article also details trial evidence including CCTV, prosecution and defence closing arguments, and the fact this was Boland's second trial after a hung jury in April 2024.
victim, Cian Gallagher, 26, male, Irish, irishCian Gallagherconvicted, Maurice Boland, 37, male, Irish, named, irishMaurice Boland - 6 Dec2024Man who punched victim ‘like Conor McGregor in the UFC’ found guilty of murder
Reports the guilty verdict at Boland's second trial, including the jury's five-hour deliberation, the prosecution's argument on intent, the pathology evidence of the head injury, and Boland's 'Conor McGregor' brag to three young men at the scene.
victim, Cian Gallagher, 26, male, irish (judged from name)Cian Gallaghersuspect, Maurice Boland, 37, male, named, irish (judged from name)Maurice Boland - 6 Dec2024Man who punched victim 'like Conor McGregor in the UFC' found guilty of murder
Reports the guilty verdict at Boland's second trial, including prosecution and defence closing arguments, CCTV evidence, the pathology findings, and the jury's deliberation time. Sentencing was set for 16 December 2024.
victim, Cian Gallagher, 26, male, irish (judged from name)Cian Gallaghersuspect, Maurice Boland, 37, male, named, irish (judged from name)Maurice Boland - 4 Dec2024Murder accused 'wanted to be like Conor McGregor' with 'killer punch', jury told
Covers the closing speeches at the Central Criminal Court trial. Prosecution (Bernard Condon SC) argued Boland pursued Gallagher as 'prey' and bragged about hitting him 'like Conor McGregor in the UFC'. Defence (Brendan Grehan SC) argued no intent to kill or cause serious injury. Judge Eileen Creedon charged the jury of seven men and five women, who were to begin deliberations the following day.
victim, Cian Gallagher, 26, male, irish (judged from name)Cian Gallagheraccused, Maurice Boland, 37, male, named, irish (judged from name)Maurice Boland