Ireland Named in reporting
James Spendley
Born 1967, from the ages reported. 23 reports across 2 cases, 15 Apr 2025 to 19 Oct 2026
Key facts
from every report naming them- Named as
- Convicted, accused
- Born
- 1967, from the ages reported
- Offences
- Murder, Assault causing harm, Criminal damage
- Where
- Co. Donegal
- Reporting
- 23 reports, 15 Apr 2025 to 19 Oct 2026
- Outlets
- donegallive.ie, rte.ie, irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com
Photographs
as published, with the outlet's credit
Images 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 2026Convicted, accused · 17 reports - Killybegs man remanded on assault and criminal damage charges in Donegal Assault causing harm · Co. Donegal
James Spendley, 59, a man of Killybegs, is charged with four offences, including two assaults causing harm, a threat to kill or cause serious harm, and criminal damage to spectacles, relating to incidents at Harbour View Drive, Killybegs, on 7 April 2023 and a date before 4 June 2024. The alleged victims are a woman and a man. He first appeared at Donegal District Court, held at Ballyshannon Courthouse, in July 2026, and the case was adjourned several times while a psychiatric report was awaited and due to a videolink issue. On 13 October 2026, he appeared via video link from Cloverhill Prison and was remanded in custody with his consent, with the next hearing set for 4 November 2026.
In court, 28 Jul 2026Accused · 6 reports
Timeline
every report naming James Spendley, newest firstEach entry shows how that report described them.
- 19 Oct2026Man jailed for life following Donegal murderconvicted, James Spendley, 59, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Spendley
- 19 Oct2026Life in prison for Donegal man over Eddie Friel murderconvicted, James Spendley, 59, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Spendley
- 19 Oct2026Man to be sentenced for murder in southwest Donegalconvicted, James Spendley, 59, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Spendley
- 13 Oct2026Killybegs man attends court via video link for assault chargesaccused, James Spendley, 59, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Spendley
- 7 Oct2026Man, 59, pleads guilty to murder of Eddie Friel in Donegal last yearconvicted, James Spendley, 59, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Spendley
- 7 Oct2026Man pleads guilty to murder in south west Donegalaccused, James Spendley, 59, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Spendley
- 29 Sep2026Killybegs man appears at court via video link for assault chargesaccused, James Spendley, 59, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Spendley
- 14 Sep2026Psychiatric report still awaited for Killybegs man on assault chargesaccused, James Spendley, 59, named, irish (judged from name)James Spendley
- 2 Sep2026Judge adjourns Killybegs assault charges case until September 14accused, James Spendley, 59, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Spendley
- 26 Aug2026Book of Evidence to be served to Killybegs man on assault chargesaccused, James Spendley, 59, male, namedJames Spendley
- 28 Jul2026Killybegs man appears at Donegal District Court for assault chargesaccused, James Spendley, 59, male, namedJames Spendley
- 20 Dec2025Man accused of murdering Killybegs man Eddie Friel is sent forward for trialaccused, James Spendley, 58, male, namedJames Spendley
- 3 Oct2025Man charged with murder of Eddie Friel at his home in Killybegsaccused, James Spendley, 58, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Spendley
- 3 Oct2025Man charged with murder of man in Donegal in Aprilaccused, James Spendley, 58, named, irish (judged from name)James Spendley
- 25 Sep2025James Spendley to be brought to Ballyshannon Court for ‘imminent’ DPP directionsaccused, James Spendley, 57, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Spendley
- 29 May2025‘Complex investigation’ into death of Eddie Friel is still ongoing, court hearsaccused, James Spendley, 57, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Spendley
- 15 May2025James Spendley has ‘ongoing’ High Court bail application, court hearsaccused, James Spendley, 57, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Spendley
- 1 May2025‘Enquiries are ongoing’ into death of Eddie Friel in Killybegs, court hearsaccused, James Spendley, 57, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Spendley
- 24 Apr2025Family of late Eddie Friel in court as James Spendley is refused bailaccused, James Spendley, 57, named, irish (judged from name)James Spendley
- 24 Apr2025Man charged in relation to Killybegs death appears before court via videolinkaccused, James Spendley, 57, named, irish (judged from name)James Spendley
- 15 Apr2025Man appears in court charged in connection with death of Donegal manaccused, James Spendley, 57, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Spendley
- 15 Apr2025Man charged in connection with investigation into Killybegs deathaccused, James Spendley, 57, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Spendley
- 15 Apr2025Man appears in court charged in relation to death of Eddie Friel in Killybegsaccused, James Spendley, 57, male, named, irish (judged from name)James Spendley
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.