The trial of a Dublin man charged with murdering his father at the family home in Crumlin, Dublin two years ago has ended after a plea of manslaughter was accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
33-year-old David Fortune, of Rutland Grove in Crumlin, had pleaded not guilty to the murder of his father, Gerard Fortune, on 19 August 2018 when the trial began at the Central Criminal Court last week.
Today, at the start of the fifth day of the trial, Fortune was rearraigned and changed his plea, stating that he denied murder but was pleading guilty to manslaughter.
Counsel for the prosecution, Seán Gillane SC, told trial judge Ms Justice Eileen Creedon that such a plea was acceptable to the DPP.
The jury of eight women and four men was discharged by Ms Justice Creedon.
The judge ordered a probation reported on Fortune to be prepared in advance of a sentence hearing on 26 February next.
The court was told that victim impact statements will also be heard on that date.
Fortune was remanded in custody until the sentencing date.
