Case No. 1374Murder · Co. Dublin · 13 Jun 2023
Teenager jailed for 13 years for murder of Aaron Keating in Ongar, Dublin
A teenager, now 19, was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment (two years suspended) at the Central Criminal Court for the murder of Aaron Keating, 43, whom he stabbed to death on Main Street, Ongar, Dublin 15, on 13 June 2023. Mr Justice Paul McDermott described the killing as the work of an 'angry aggressive youth acting in a drug rage' and noted the Supreme Court ruling that allowed discretion in sentencing a child who committed murder.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court30 Jun
2 reports - Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced7 Jul
2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports61 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe defendant had stashed a knife behind a bin near a busy main street (irishmirror.ie)
- whatAt about 6pm, Mr Keating pushed the youth up against a window (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe defendant appeared wearing his T-shirt over his head and face and carrying a knife, and made a number of attempts to stab Mr Keating (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe defendant inflicted one stab wound to the abdomen and Mr Keating collapsed within seconds and died (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe defendant went to a garda station the following morning with his mother and admitted to what he had done (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whatThe fatal encounter lasted just five seconds (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe defendant stabbed the victim using a knife he kept hidden behind a bin near a busy main street. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe defendant was hanging around Ongar, smoking cannabis with a group of teenagers from about 3pm that afternoon. (irishtimes.com)
- whatAbout 90 seconds after the previous interaction the defendant appeared wearing his T-shirt over his head and face and carrying a knife. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMr Keating collapsed within seconds and died from the injury. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe defendant laughed, refused to give Mr Keating a joint and called him a junkie. (irishtimes.com)
- whatJames Fuery is a chef (irishtimes.com)
- whatCannabis valued at €404,520 weighing slightly less than 22.5kg was found in 45 vacuum-sealed packets in the suitcase (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe teenager was one month short of his 18th birthday at the time of the offence. (irishtimes.com)
- whatAaron Keating was 43 and had mental health difficulties all his life. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe teenager and a group of youths were smoking cannabis on Main Street when the incident occurred. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCCTV footage showed an altercation between Mr Keating and the defendant, after which the youth ran to a nearby stairwell where he had stashed a knife. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe teenager returned within 90 seconds of the first altercation and pursued Mr Keating across the road despite a friend telling him to stop. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe teenager fled the scene, disposed of the knife, and made no attempt to assist the dying man. (irishtimes.com)
- whereHe arrived at Dublin Airport on a flight from Ibiza (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe defendant was hanging around Ongar smoking cannabis with a group of teenagers from about 3pm (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe murder took place on 13 June 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe knife cut the aorta, causing massive bleeding (irishmirror.ie)
- causeThe State Pathologist found the knife had cut the aorta, causing massive bleeding. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe cause of death was haemorrhage and shock due to the single stab wound. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponThe teenager used a knife he had bought for self-protection. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationCustoms officers stopped him after a drugs detection dog showed interest in his suitcase (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe defendant pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court in March to murdering Aaron Keating (43) on 13 June 2023 at Main Street, Ongar, Dublin 15. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply on 25 September 2024 (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe teenager pleaded guilty to murder. (irishtimes.com)
- courtA recent Supreme Court ruling stated that children should only receive life sentences for murder in exceptional cases (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- courtMr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned sentencing until 7 July (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe defendant entered his plea of guilty to murder following a Supreme Court ruling that he would not face a mandatory life sentence because he was a child when he committed the offence (irishmirror.ie)
- courtMr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned sentencing to 7 July 2025. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Elma Sheahan noted the 10-year mandatory minimum sentence but said the court could depart from it given the early plea and circumstances (irishtimes.com)
- courtA Supreme Court ruling last year meant the teenager would not face a mandatory life sentence because he was a child when he committed the offence. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceHe was given a headline sentence of four and a half years, with a three-year term and the final 12 months suspended on strict conditions including drug treatment (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe teenager was sentenced to 15 years with the final two years suspended. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe suspended two years are conditional on keeping the peace, addressing addiction needs, accepting treatment, and participating in drug rehabilitation and mental health services. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe defendant said he had been smoking cannabis and taking mushrooms (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe defendant said he laughed, refused to give Mr Keating a joint and called him a junkie (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe defendant claimed the deceased attacked him so he ran to get the knife to get him first (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe defendant said he did not want Mr Keating to die but wanted to scare him (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe defendant began taking drugs when he was 12 years old (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- otherThe defendant is at high risk of reoffending without support interventions (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe defendant had suffered medical issues as a child that led to him disengaging from his education (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe defendant is not facing a mandatory life sentence because he was a child when he carried out the murder. (irishtimes.com)
- otherAaron Keating was the baby of the family, 16 years younger than his sister Linda. (irishtimes.com)
- otherAaron Keating had suffered mental health difficulties all his life. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe defendant said he kept the knife there for his protection. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe defendant said he had been smoking cannabis and taking mushrooms when Mr Keating asked him for a joint. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe has eight previous District Court convictions for road traffic, theft and public order offences (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe was co-operative and identified the suitcase as the one he had brought to the airport (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe told gardaí this was the first time he had brought drugs into the country (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe outlined difficulties with cocaine and cannabis and how he had relapsed into addiction (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe had built up a drug debt of €15,000 (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe investigating garda agreed he was co-operative, entered an early guilty plea and has no previous convictions for drug offences (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe was told he had to have the money in 24 hours or go and get the suitcase (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe had no proprietary interest in the drugs and had no trappings of wealth (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe had previously experienced homelessness due to addiction issues and underwent rehabilitation (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe teenager is considered at high risk of reoffending if returned to a community setting within 12 months. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 7 Jul2025Teenager who fatally stabbed man in Dublin street jailed for 13 years for murder
Reports the sentencing of the unnamed teenager for the murder of Aaron Keating, including the Supreme Court ruling that gave judges discretion to sentence a child who committed murder, the reduction from a 25-year headline to 15 years, and the conditions attached to the suspended portion.
victim, Aaron Keating, 43, male, irish (judged from name)Aaron Keatingconvicted, 19, male - 7 Jul2025Chef who brought cannabis worth €400,000 in suitcase from Ibiza to Dublin jailed for two years
Sentencing details: Judge Elma Sheahan departed from the 10-year mandatory minimum due to early guilty plea and circumstances; Fuery had no previous drug convictions, was co-operative, and had a €15,000 drug debt when asked to carry the suitcase.
convicted, James Fuery, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Fuery - 30 Jun2025Teenager murdered man with knife stashed behind bin on a busy street in suburban Dublin, court hears
Describes the sentencing hearing where the court heard evidence about the circumstances of the murder, including the defendant's drug use, the trigger for the attack, and the pathologist's findings. Family members gave emotional evidence. Defence counsel cited a Supreme Court ruling on life sentences for children. Sentencing adjourned to 7 July 2025.
victim, Aaron Keating, 43, male, irish (judged from name)Aaron Keatingconvicted, 19, male - 30 Jun2025Teenager murdered man with knife stashed behind bin in Dublin
Details of the 30 June 2025 sentencing hearing, including victim impact statements from the Keating family, prosecution evidence of the stabbing sequence, the State Pathologist's findings, defence submissions on the Supreme Court ruling regarding mandatory life sentences for children, and the adjournment of sentencing to 7 July 2025.
victim, Aaron Keating, 43, male, irish (judged from name)Aaron Keatingaccused, 19, male