IN THE NEWS...IN THE NEWS..


CO ARMAGH MAN JAILED FOR SIX YEARS FOR STABBING DUNDALK TAXI DRIVER


The family of a man stabbed to death have said they feel “failed” by the jus- tice system after a judge ruled his killer will be freed in just over four years. The Irish News reports that Joseph Hillen, 24,


from


Forkhill, Co Armagh was convicted last year of the man- slaughter of 53- year-old Martin Mulligan on Sep- tember 28 2015. At


the Dublin’s


Central Criminal Court last month, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon imposed a seven-year


tence with the final year


suspended sen-


and backdated it to April 2017 for time already served in custody. She said the taxi driver’s death had a profound effect on his family and he was a family man whose loss could never be repaired, but Hillen was enti- tled to credit for his offer to plead guilty to manslaughter. The judge also took into account his acceptance of res- ponsibility, the re- morse shown, his young age and the fact that he was a


Taxi driver Martin Mulligan was stabbed to death


moderate risk of re- offending. Hillen


initially


denied any knowl- edge of what happened to Mr


Mulligan, but last year he gave a vol- untary statement saying he saw Mr Mulligan - who dropped off his last


fare at Forkhill at 1.45am - at a plot of land owned by his friend, where there had been trouble with illegal dump- ing at the site. He said he thought Mr Mulligan was dumping rubbish from his car and, after a short car chase, followed by “wrestling” when Hillen said the de- ceased pulled a knife which he “flipped” and “jabb- ed out” twice in self defence. The judge was asked to disregard some character ref- erences submitted


at an earlier hear- ing, as one may not be genuine. Outside court, Mr Mulligan’s daughter Sharon told RTÉ their father could not defend himself against the allega- tions made against him. Mmmm… May we first offer condo- lences to the family, friends and col- leagues of Mr Mulligan. His un- timely death was both horrific and without motive; his killer will be out in less than four years. What justice is that – Ed.


18


MARCH 2019


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96