Ireland Named in reporting
Eddie Friel
Born between April 1964 and April 1965, from the ages reported. 23 reports across 1 case, 14 Apr 2025 to 19 Oct 2026
Victim: Eddie Friel, Irish man, 61 (judged from name)Eddie Friel
Key facts
from every report naming them- Named as
- Victim
- Born
- Between April 1964 and April 1965, from the ages reported
- Offences
- Murder
- Where
- Co. Donegal
- Reporting
- 23 reports, 14 Apr 2025 to 19 Oct 2026
- Outlets
- donegallive.ie, rte.ie, irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com
Photographs
as published, with the outlet's credit
Eddie Friel (left) was found deceased in his Killybegs home. James Spendley was arrested a short time later. NW Newspix | NW Newspix
Photocredit not given by the outletvia donegallive.ie, 19 Oct 2026
Eddie Friel was found dead in his Killybegs home earlier this year
Photocredit not given by the outletvia rte.ie, 3 Oct 2025
Eddie Friel (left) was found deceased in his Killybegs home. James Spendley (Photo by North West Newspix) was arrested a short time later.
Photocredit not given by the outletvia donegallive.ie, 3 Oct 2025
Left: Eddie Friel, and Right: James Spendley (
PhotoNorth West Newspixvia donegallive.ie, 20 Dec 2025Images are shown from the outlet that published them and link back to the article. Copyright stays with the credited photographer or agency.
Cases
latest first- Man jailed for life over Killybegs murder Murder · Co. Donegal
Eddie Friel, 61, a man, was found dead at his home on Harbour View Drive, Killybegs, Co Donegal, on 12 April 2025 after a violent attack. James Spendley, 59, a man of St Cummin's Hill, Killybegs, was arrested on 14 April 2025 and initially charged with assault causing serious harm before being re-charged with murder in October 2025. Spendley pleaded guilty to the murder at the Central Criminal Court on 7 October 2026. He was sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment on 19 October 2026.
Sentenced, 19 Oct 2026Victim · 23 reports
Timeline
every report naming Eddie Friel, newest firstEach entry shows how that report described them.
- 19 Oct2026Man jailed for life following Donegal murdervictim, Eddie Friel, 61, male, irish (judged from name)Eddie Friel
- 19 Oct2026Life in prison for Donegal man over Eddie Friel murdervictim, Eddie Friel, 60, male, irish (judged from name)Eddie Friel
- 19 Oct2026Man to be sentenced for murder in southwest Donegalvictim, Eddie Friel, 61, male, irish (judged from name)Eddie Friel
- 7 Oct2026Man, 59, pleads guilty to murder of Eddie Friel in Donegal last yearvictim, Eddie Friel, 61, male, irish (judged from name)Eddie Friel
- 7 Oct2026Man pleads guilty to murder in south west Donegalvictim, Eddie Friel, 61, male, irish (judged from name)Eddie Friel
- 20 Dec2025Man accused of murdering Killybegs man Eddie Friel is sent forward for trialvictim, Eddie Friel, male, irish (judged from name)Eddie Friel
- 3 Oct2025Man charged with murder of Eddie Friel at his home in Killybegsvictim, Eddie Friel, male, irish (judged from name)Eddie Friel
- 3 Oct2025Man charged with murder of man in Donegal in Aprilvictim, Eddie Friel, 61, irish (judged from name)Eddie Friel
- 25 Sep2025James Spendley to be brought to Ballyshannon Court for ‘imminent’ DPP directionsvictim, Eddie Friel, male, irish (judged from name)Eddie Friel
- 29 May2025‘Complex investigation’ into death of Eddie Friel is still ongoing, court hearsvictim, Eddie Friel, male, irish (judged from name)Eddie Friel
- 15 May2025James Spendley has ‘ongoing’ High Court bail application, court hearsvictim, Eddie Friel, male, irish (judged from name)Eddie Friel
- 1 May2025‘Enquiries are ongoing’ into death of Eddie Friel in Killybegs, court hearsvictim, Eddie Friel, male, irish (judged from name)Eddie Friel
- 24 Apr2025Family of late Eddie Friel in court as James Spendley is refused bailvictim, Eddie Friel, irish (judged from name)Eddie Friel
- 24 Apr2025Man charged in relation to Killybegs death appears before court via videolinkvictim, Eddie Friel, irish (judged from name)Eddie Friel
- 15 Apr2025Man appears in court charged in connection with death of Donegal manvictim, Eddie Friel, 61, male, irish (judged from name)Eddie Friel
- 15 Apr2025Man charged in connection with investigation into Killybegs deathvictim, Eddie Friel, irish (judged from name)Eddie Friel
- 15 Apr2025Man appears in court charged in relation to death of Eddie Friel in Killybegsvictim, Eddie Friel, 60s, male, irish (judged from name)Eddie Friel
- 14 Apr2025Gardai set to launch murder probe after 'harmless' man killed in own homevictim, Eddie Friel, 61, male, irish (judged from name)Eddie Friel
- 14 Apr2025Man arrested in connection with Killybegs deathvictim, Eddie Friel, 60s, male, irish (judged from name)Eddie Friel
- 14 Apr2025Man arrested after discovery of body as Gardai probe suspected violent deathvictim, Eddie Friel, 60s, male, irish (judged from name)Eddie Friel
- 14 Apr2025Man (60s) arrested by gardaí investigating suspicious death in Killybegsvictim, Eddie Friel, 60s, male, irish (judged from name)Eddie Friel
- 14 Apr2025Gardai forensics examine Killybegs house as probe continues into death of man (60s)victim, Eddie Friel, 60s, male, irish (judged from name)Eddie Friel
- 14 Apr2025Man in shock death named locally as Gardai fear he died in violent incidentvictim, Eddie Friel, 60s, male, irish (judged from name)Eddie Friel
Matched on the name as printed, ignoring quoted nicknames, and split by the ages reported. Two people who share a name and age would appear together here.