Ireland Supreme Court dismisses appeal against Tallaght murder conviction
Graham McKeever, a 32-year-old man, was stabbed in the chest with a knife on 18 February 2017 at Deerpark Avenue, Tallaght, Dublin, and the trial heard he suffered four stab wounds, one of which killed him. Keith Connorton, a 44-year-old man, was found guilty of murder by a 10:2 jury majority at the Central Criminal Court in 2019 and sentenced to life imprisonment; he denied the killing and said he acted in self-defence after McKeever punched him. The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction, and the Supreme Court then heard an appeal on the admission of a 999 call recording. On 28 July 2023 the five-judge Supreme Court unanimously dismissed Connorton's appeal, holding that the call was correctly admitted as res gestae evidence.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted28 Jul
2 reports - Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Graham McKeever, a 32-year-old man, was stabbed in the chest and died rapidly from his injuries.
- The trial heard that a fight broke out and McKeever suffered four stab wounds, one of which killed him.
- Other details
- Keith Connorton, a 44-year-old man, denied murdering McKeever and claimed he acted in self-defence after McKeever punched him.
- Where
- The killing happened at Deerpark Avenue, Tallaght, Dublin, in Connorton's apartment.
- When
- The killing happened on 18 February 2017.
- Cause
- The case was presented as a love triangle involving Connorton, his partner Claire McGrath and McKeever, whom Connorton had found sleeping with his partner.
- Weapon
- McKeever was stabbed with a knife.
- Investigation
- Two calls were made to emergency services after the stabbing, one by Claire McGrath and one by Connorton, and the audio of Connorton's call was admitted in evidence.
- In court
- In 2019 a jury at the Central Criminal Court found Connorton guilty of murder by a 10:2 majority.
- The Court of Appeal upheld the murder conviction.
- The trial judge admitted the 999 call recording as res gestae evidence, and the Supreme Court heard an appeal on that ruling.
- On 28 July 2023 the five-judge Supreme Court unanimously dismissed Connorton's appeal in [2023] IESC 19, holding the call was correctly admitted.
- Sentence
- Connorton was sentenced to life imprisonment.
20 statements extracted from the articles
- whatGraham McKeever was stabbed in the chest with a knife and died rapidly from his injuries. (courts.ie)
- whatConnorton had denied murdering Graham McKeever, who was 32. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA fight broke out that resulted in McKeever suffering four stab wounds, one of which killed him, the trial heard. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe stabbing happened in Mr Connorton's apartment. (courts.ie)
- whereThe killing happened at Deerpark Avenue, Tallaght. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe killing happened on 18 February 2017. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponThe victim was stabbed with a knife. (courts.ie)
- investigationTwo calls were made to emergency services in the immediate aftermath of the stabbing, one by Ms McGrath and one by the appellant. (courts.ie)
- courtThe audio recording of the appellant's emergency call was admitted into evidence. (courts.ie)
- courtMr Connorton was convicted of murder in the Central Criminal Court. (courts.ie)
- courtThe Supreme Court dismissed the appeal against the murder conviction. (courts.ie)
- courtThe Supreme Court held that the trial judge correctly admitted the emergency call audio under the res gestae exception to the hearsay rule. (courts.ie)
- courtThe Supreme Court dismissed Keith Connorton's appeal against his murder conviction. (irishtimes.com)
- courtIn 2019 a jury at the Central Criminal Court found Connorton guilty of murder by a 10:2 majority. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe Court of Appeal upheld the conviction. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe Supreme Court heard an appeal on the trial judge's admission of a 999 call recording. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial judge admitted the 999 call as res gestae evidence. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe five-judge court rejected the appeal arguments unanimously. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceConnorton was sentenced to life imprisonment. (irishtimes.com)
- otherConnorton claimed he acted in self-defence after McKeever punched him. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 28 Jul2023Man’s appeal against conviction for murdering man he found with his partner is dismissed by Supreme Court
Supreme Court unanimously dismissed Connorton's appeal against his murder conviction; the Court of Appeal had upheld the conviction and he was sentenced to life imprisonment.
victim, Graham McKeever, 32, male, irish (judged from name)Graham McKeeverconvicted, Keith Connorton, 44, male, named, irish (judged from name)Keith Connorton - 28 Jul2023[2023] IESC 19 Supreme Court: Director of Public Prosecutions -V- Keith Connorton
Supreme Court judgment ([2023] IESC 19) dismissing the appeal against the conviction for the murder of Graham McKeever, which had been upheld by the Court of Appeal. It confirms the admission of the emergency call recording under the res gestae exception.
convicted, Keith Connorton, male, named, irish (judged from name)Keith Connortonvictim, Graham McKeever, male, irish (judged from name)Graham McKeever