Ireland Mentally ill prisoner jailed for strangling cellmate at Cloverhill Prison
Michael Connolly (55), of no fixed abode, strangled his cellmate Mark Lawlor at Cloverhill Prison in County Dublin on the night of 22 November 2019 into the early hours of 23 November 2019, after scalding him with hot water. A jury at the Central Criminal Court found Connolly not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility in August. The victim's family criticised the prison service for allowing two prisoners with mental health issues to share a cell. Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford imposed a sentence of 12 years' imprisonment with two years suspended, reported on 27 October 2023.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced27 Oct
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Michael Connolly strangled his cellmate, Mark Lawlor.
- Where
- The attack took place in Cloverhill Prison, County Dublin.
- When
- The attack took place on the night of Friday 22 November 2019 into the early hours of Saturday 23 November 2019.
- Weapon
- Connolly scalded Mr Lawlor with hot water from a kettle borrowed from a next-door cell before strangling him.
- Cause
- The judge described the attack as savage and carried out without any justification.
- Other details
- Both men had mental health issues and had been remanded to the prison on unconnected matters.
- The two men were alone sharing a three-prisoner cell on the night of the attack.
- The victim's family criticised the prison service for allowing two prisoners with mental health issues to share a cell.
- The sentencing was reported by the Irish Times on 27 October 2023.
- Charges
- Connolly pleaded not guilty to murder by reason of insanity.
- In court
- A jury at the Central Criminal Court found Connolly not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility in August.
- Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford imposed the sentence.
- Sentence
- Connolly was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment, with two years suspended for five years; one source gives a headline sentence of 15 years reduced to 12, while the Irish Times headline describes the term as ten years in jail.
11 statements extracted from the articles
- whatMichael Connolly strangled his cellmate, Mark Lawlor. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe attack took place in Cloverhill Prison. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe attack took place on the night of 22 November 2019 into the early hours of 23 November 2019. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe judge described the attack as savage and carried out without any justification. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponConnolly scalded Mr Lawlor with hot water from a borrowed kettle. (irishtimes.com)
- courtA jury found Connolly not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility at the Central Criminal Court in August. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMs Justice Siobhan Lankford imposed the sentence. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceConnolly was sentenced to a headline sentence of 15 years, reduced to 12 years' imprisonment. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceTwo years of the sentence were suspended for five years. (irishtimes.com)
- otherConnolly had pleaded not guilty to murder by reason of insanity. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBoth men had mental health issues and had been remanded to the prison on unconnected matters. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 27 Oct2023Mentally ill prisoner who strangled cellmate is jailed for 10 years
Sentencing of Michael Connolly; the article reports the judge's reasons, the family's criticism of the prison service and the 12-year sentence with two years suspended.
convicted, Michael Connolly, 55, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Connollyvictim, Mark Lawlor, 38, male, irish (judged from name)Mark Lawlor