The Central Criminal Court has heard that a man who was convicted of manslaughter after he stabbed a 20-year-old who broke into his van has 31 previous convictions, including some for possession of knives.
Patrick Murphy, 37, of Drumcairn Parade, Tallaght, admitted he had killed 20-year-old Jordan Ronan on 26 July 2024, but told gardaí he was defending his family and property. He was acquitted of murder and found guilty of manslaughter after a trial last year.
At a sentence hearing today, the court was told Murphy had 31 previous convictions when he caused an 18cm stab wound to Jordan Ronan outside his home in the early hours of the morning. A ring doorbell camera which recorded the event was removed from the door and gardaí later found it hidden in a sofa.
After his arrest, Murphy said he had panicked and had feared for his safety and for his partner and children when he saw someone breaking into his van in the early hours of the morning.
In a victim impact statement, Jordan Ronan's mother, Sabrina Ronan, described her family's devastation at the death her son, who she described as gifted at sports and a fluent Irish speaker.
Ms Ronan said her son had difficulties after his parents broke up and had developed some bad habits, but was getting his life back on track and was expecting a child with his partner when he was killed. Ms Ronan said her son was "charming, witty, funny and super talented" and recalled how he was a keen soccer player and had previously appeared on an Irish language television programme speaking his love of soccer.
"I wake each morning knowing he is never coming back over a deliberate act of violence," she said.
"A piece of my soul was taken that day and nothing can ever fill that space. Grief swallows me most days."
Ms Ronan described the devastation suffered by her younger children and the "anger and rage that another human being did this to my son".
She asked Judge Kerida Naidoo to "fully consider the depth of the harm caused".
"No sentence can ever bring my son back, but accountability matters," she added.
Jordan Ronan's father, Stephen Packenham, broke down in tears in the witness box as he recalled the trauma of having to identify his body and of seeing the CCTV footage of his son's killing. He said he would never get over "the loss of my boy".
Lauren Geraghty, the victim's partner, who was six weeks pregnant when he was killed, told the court the pain of his absence was overwhelming and their daughter could now only visit a headstone.
She described her grief as "suffocating" adding: "I am not just mourning the loss of a partner, but the loss of a future together."
She said she wanted "the person responsible to know the impact of their actions".
His sister, Leah Ronan, told the court that "accountability matters, justice matters and my baby brother's life matters".
"It is not a thing you can just move on from - the man didn't just take my brother's life, he destroyed my family," she said, adding that she was there today to "make sure he is remembered not just for how he died, but for who he was".
Statements were also read on behalf of Jordan Ronan's younger brother, grandfather and aunt. His 12-year-old brother said: "I miss the way he looked out for me. I miss having my big brother."
The trial last year heard that Jordan Ronan was out in the early hours of 26 July 2024 and met two friends.
He was drunk and one of them told him he could stay in his home. On the way there, he lagged behind, and his friend went ahead and waited for him in his house.
CCTV footage showed him getting in to Murphy's unlocked van, before breaking into Murphy's partner's BMW.
Murphy came out of the house and stabbed him.
Mr Ronan subsequently ran down Drumcairn Avenue and looking over his shoulder, before running into a lamppost and collapsing outside.
When paramedics arrived, they discovered he had been stabbed in the chest. He was taken to hospital and died at 4.40am that morning.
Murphy's Revolut card was found on his body. Murphy admitted that he had stabbed Mr Ronan, saying he did so to protect his family or property.
The prosecution had argued that the force used was disproportionate to anything Jordan Ronan had done.
They told the jury the CCTV and ring doorbell footage showed that Murphy had armed himself with a knife, ran out of his house, opened the door of the car and deliberately stabbed Mr Ronan in the chest, pushing the blade 18cm in. However, the jury acquitted him of murder and found him guilty of manslaughter.
At the sentence hearing today, Judge Kerida Naidoo was told that Murphy had 31 previous convictions, six of which were for possession of knives or other articles. He also had previous convictions for handling stolen property and possession of drugs.
Defence Counsel Ronan Kennedy told the court today that his client had offered to plead guilty to manslaughter from the start, which would have saved a trial. He said the jury had accepted his client's defence of self defence. He said Murphy had not gone looking for trouble but it had visited him at his home.
He read a letter of apology in court in which his client expressed "sincere remorse", adding: "If I could go back in time I would do things differently ... I really thought my family was in danger that night ... I am so sorry for my actions, I wish this never happened."
Members of the Ronan family walked out of the courtroom as the letter was read.
Mr Kennedy said Murphy had a difficult childhood and was deprived of a home life many take for granted.
He said this had a significant impact on the direction of his teenage years and he began using drugs at 14, which led to poor choices and conflict with the law. He said his family had to leave their home after the incident and his face was slashed in prison as "punishment".
However, Mr Kennedy stressed that he was not casting any aspersions on the Ronan family in connection with this.
Judge Naidoo adjourned sentence to 16 March.
