Thursday 29 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. 7762Murder · Co. Dublin · 23 Nov 2019

Trial of man accused of murdering cellmate in Cloverhill Prison, Dublin

Mark Lawlor, a 37-year-old man from Drumcondra, died in Cloverhill Prison, Dublin, in the early hours of 23 November 2019, when his cellmate, Michael Connolly, a 55-year-old man originally from Louth, was accused of scalding him with hot water and strangling him. Lawlor was pronounced dead at 12.55am. Connolly pleaded not guilty to murder by reason of insanity, and it is not disputed that he caused the death. His trial before Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford and a jury opened at the Central Criminal Court in July 2023, and it continues the following day, when the jury must decide between a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity and guilty of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court27 Jul
    2 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A prison officer saw Michael Connolly on top of Mark Lawlor with his hands around his neck.
  • Connolly is accused of scalding his cellmate, Mark Lawlor, with hot water before strangling him.
Where
The incident took place in Cloverhill Prison, Dublin.
When
  • The incident happened on the night of 22 November 2019 into the early hours of 23 November 2019.
  • Mark Lawlor was pronounced dead at 12.55am on 23 November 2019.
Cause
  • A post-mortem found multiple superficial burns and blistering consistent with scalding by boiling or hot water.
  • Mark Lawlor died of asphyxia caused by manual strangulation and straddling of the chest.
Weapon
Hot water was used, and Connolly told gardaí he had thought of boiling a kettle and pouring it over the victim.
Investigation
In a garda interview, Connolly said he wanted revenge and thought boiling a kettle would be enough, but it escalated to murder.
Charges
Michael Connolly pleaded not guilty to murder by reason of insanity.
In court
  • The prosecution and the defence both accept that Connolly caused Mark Lawlor's death, so the jury must decide between the alternative verdicts.
  • The jury must decide whether Connolly receives a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity or is guilty of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.
  • The trial before Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford and a jury of seven men and five women continues the next day.
Other details
  • Connolly believed there was a homosexual conspiracy between the prisoners and prison officers, and that Lawlor was a kingpin of Dublin.
  • Two psychiatrists were to give evidence that Connolly was suffering from an active mental disorder at the time.
22 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA prison officer saw the accused on top of the victim with his hands around his neck. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • whatA man scalded his cellmate with hot water before strangling him. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe incident took place in Cloverhill Prison. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe incident took place on the night of 22 November 2019, into the early hours of 23 November 2019. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenMark Lawlor was pronounced dead at 12.55am. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe killing happened on 23 November 2019. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe victim was pronounced dead at 12.55am. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeA post-mortem found multiple superficial burns on the victim consistent with hot water being thrown at him. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeThe victim died of asphyxia caused by manual strangulation and chest straddling. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeA postmortem found multiple superficial burns and blistering consistent with scalding by boiling or hot water. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe victim died of manual strangulation and straddling of the chest, causing asphyxia. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationIn garda interview, the accused said he thought he would get revenge and that boiling a kettle would be enough, but it escalated to murder. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeMichael Connolly pleaded not guilty to murder by reason of insanity. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe prosecution said there was no dispute that the accused caused the victim's death. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe jury must decide whether the accused gets a special verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity or is guilty of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe trial continues the next day before Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford and a jury of seven men and five women. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe accused has pleaded not guilty to murder by reason of insanity. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe defence accepts the accused caused the death, and the jury must decide between not guilty by reason of insanity and manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe trial continues before Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford and a jury of seven men and five women. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe accused told gardaí he had wanted revenge and had thought of boiling a kettle and pouring it over the victim. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe accused believed there was a homosexual conspiracy between the prisoners and prison officers. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherMichael Connolly, aged 55, is on trial for murder. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 27 Jul2023
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Man believed there was a ‘homosexual conspiracy’ in prison when he killed cellmate, trial told

    Trial report: Connolly has pleaded not guilty to murder by reason of insanity, and the defence is expected to argue for a special verdict or manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility. Prosecution evidence covers the scalding, strangulation and garda interviews. No existing case matches.

    accused, Michael Connolly, 55, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Connollyvictim, Mark Lawlor, 37, male, irish (judged from name)Mark Lawlor
  2. 27 Jul2023
    In courtirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Man accused of prison murder believed there was 'homosexual conspiracy'

    First report of the trial evidence: the accused's defence of insanity, the prison officers' evidence, the post-mortem findings, the accused's garda interview and the psychiatric evidence. Trial continues the following day.

    accused, Michael Connolly, 55, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Connollyvictim, Mark Lawlor, 37, male, irish (judged from name)Mark Lawlor