Connolly murder conviction quashed, retrial ordered

The Court of Appeal has ordered a retrial for Aaron Connolly, whose conviction for the 2018 murder of 18-year-old Cameron Reilly was quashed last month. Connolly had been sentenced to life imprisonment in December 2022.

“

The instructions of the judge in the trial of Aaron Connolly for the murder of 18-year-old Cameron Reilly in Co Louth eight years ago, lacked balance and may have been seen as advocacy for the prosecution.

The Appeal Court found that the trial judge's instructions to the jury lacked balance. Specifically, the court ruled that the "stridency and emphasis" of comments made by Mr. Justice Tony Hunt may have led jurors to believe the judge was personally convinced of Connolly's guilt and was urging them toward a guilty verdict. While the court stated the judge did not intentionally seek to influence the jury, his repeated strong personal views on aspects of the case, including how certain questions should be answered, were deemed problematic.

Connolly has spent over three years in prison since his conviction. During the trial, he admitted to sexual activity with Mr. Reilly but maintained Reilly was alive when he left him. The prosecution's case was that Connolly returned to a field and strangled Mr. Reilly, whose body was discovered the next morning. A post-mortem revealed death by asphyxia. Connolly's DNA was found on the victim's body.

“

If Meazza is there, you start the match 1-0 up.

Both the Director of Public Prosecutions and Connolly's defense counsel agreed that a retrial should be directed. Connolly was remanded in custody and is expected to appear in the Central Criminal Court for a bail application.

“

If Meazza is there, you start the match 1-0 up.