O'Donoghue Not Guilty of Murder

Andy-Pandy · 16-12-2005 12:57AM

A mate of a mate of mine is Portlaise, and is only a few cells away from him. He says that the bloke is destroyed, massive feelins of guilt for what he has done. My heart really go's out to the guy. Granted he did a bad bad thing, but i beleive it was just one of things, a situation that many people have been in that just turned out for the worst. Remember the kid he killed was his freind, the press described them as like 'brothers', and i think the personal torment that he is going to suffer the rest of his life, will be punishment enough. Ithink its shows how the public feeling is towards the case when you take into account there was know mob at the courts baying for blood, and that the majorety of comments ive heard both here and with people ive talked to just think it was a tragic case.

whiskeyman · 16-12-2005 12:59AM

What do people think how the Indo and Star headlines?
"Killer next door" was one on the Indo (haven't seen it, but heard on Newstalk106).
After the Liam Lawlor scandal, you think they'd approach such a story with a bit more tact.
I know many people who refuse to buy the Inod (or any of IN&M rags) after the Lawlor death reporting, and this just backs their reason.

andy-pandy wrote:

Ithink its shows how the public feeling is towards the case when you take into account there was know mob at the courts baying for blood, and that the majority of comments I've heard both here and with people I've talked to just think it was a tragic case.

This is a very interesting point.
No one I know had ill feelings towards the then "accused murderer" and all saw it as a tragic case for all involved, yet some of the papers (from above) are reporting as if public opinion wanted revenge.

galwaydude · 16-12-2005 01:18AM

After the whole liam lawlor stuff the star and the indo should be ashamed of themselves. They won no favours in the wayne o donoghue case either. This was a tragic case to everyone involved.

RoundyMooney · 16-12-2005 04:28PM

Indeed. Manslaughter was the inevitable outcome, and happily most of the contributers here know the difference between murder and manslaughter in a legal context. Perhaps now, those concerned can begin to move on in some shape or form. My thoughts are with the families and friends involved this Christmas.

Angels · 16-12-2005 04:38PM

Sully04 wrote:

and I suppose if you killed a good friend in a freak accident you would be good and run and call 999 and admit u killed him straight away?

Fair play to you, must be a strong person!

Thats a pretty lousy comment to make.

I am entitled my opinion.

I don't know what was going through his head i never claimed i did.

I am a strong person, but sur i haven't a feckin clue how id react in that situation do you???

Im sure you don't either.

16-01-2008 03:22PM

Well,
This scumbag is being let out this week. I am amazed that so many people dont know about the strange texts they found between Wayne & Robert, not to mention they found semen on the poor boy they couldn't identify. Something was going on here, the boy threatened to reveal all & Wayne flipped(Well thats what I think). Only thing that makes sense from what I've read.

seamus · 16-01-2008 03:29PM

None of the items you mention were used as evidence in court, presumably because they were unreliable as evidence. "Strange Texts"? Depends on what you consider strange texts from a nine year old. Semen? Could easily have come from anywhere or anyone, even Robert himself.

From what I've read, the case facts make the most sense, not the speculation from Magella Houlihan's cold and calculated attempt to paint Wayne as a paedophile.

prendy · 16-01-2008 03:33PM

the court ruled against him, he served his time. let it go.theres alot of guilty people out there that are never caught.

cornbb · 16-01-2008 03:37PM

Whoa! Can is open, worms everywhere.

The guy was convicted and has served his time.

Seamus wrote:

From what I've read, the case facts make the most sense, not the speculation from Magella Houlihan's cold and calculated attempt to paint Wayne as a paedophile.

Agreed, any accusations of anything like that at this time are unfounded, unfair and designed to sell tabloids.

Morlar · 16-01-2008 03:38PM

KaG1888 wrote: »

Well,
This scumbag is being let out this week. I am amazed that so many people dont know about the strange texts they found between Wayne & Robert, not to mention they found semen on the poor boy they couldn't identify. Something was going on here, the boy threatened to reveal all & Wayne flipped(Well thats what I think). Only thing that makes sense from what I've read.

He was released this morning apparently -

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/mheyeyojqlau/

' Wayne O'Donoghue was freed just before 7am after serving three years of a four-year sentence for manslaughter.'

There is no way that that family got justice there. 3 years for taking a life is ridiculous.

Squiggle · 16-01-2008 03:40PM

KaG1888 wrote: »

Well,
This scumbag is being let out this week. I am amazed that so many people dont know about the strange texts they found between Wayne & Robert, not to mention they found semen on the poor boy they couldn't identify./QUOTE]

Low count DNA profiling showed that there was a 1 in 77000 chance that the semen came from someone other than Wayne, though crucially excluding his relatives. Subsequent Full DNA profiling on the semen showed that it was a perfect DNA match for one of Wayne's relatives. The DPP made the correct decision imo.

Maximilian · 16-01-2008 03:40PM

In my opinion it wasn't murder. Its a very sad case with a lot of people's live ruined, including O'Donoghue's. Assuming he didn't mean to do what he did, he is paying a very heavy price for a mistake that almost anyone could conceivably have made given the same circumstances.

LadyJ · 16-01-2008 03:41PM

seamus wrote: »

None of the items you mention were used as evidence in court, presumably because they were unreliable as evidence. "Strange Texts"? Depends on what you consider strange texts from a nine year old. Semen? Could easily have come from anywhere or anyone, even Robert himself.

From what I've read, the case facts make the most sense, not the speculation from Magella Houlihan's cold and calculated attempt to paint Wayne as a paedophile.

Wholeheartedly agree with this.

I obviously have no idea what exactly happened but I genuinely don't think O'Donoghue meant to kill Robert. I hope he doesn't get too hard a time when he leaves prison though I'm sure he probably will.

Morlar wrote: »

There is no way that that family got justice there. 3 years for taking a life is ridiculous.

Manslaughter not murder. He took the life accidentally. How long would you like to be locked up for if you accidentally killed someone? 3 years is fair enough imo, especially at his age.

beanyb · 16-01-2008 03:47PM

Anyone who still believes that Wayne O'Donoghue maliciously killed Robert Holohan, or is a paedophile really should have watched Prime Time last night. It completely rubbished all of those claims. He should win big with his libel action.

He has served his sentence, and repaid the debt that the legal system determined that he owed. Understandably, this is painful for Robert's family but the guy has the right to move on with his life and to be left alone. Though judging by the attitude of the editor of the Evening Herald on Questions and Answers on Monday night, and some of the tabloid headlines this morning that wont happen.

Morlar · 16-01-2008 03:48PM

LadyJ wrote: »

Manslaughter not murder. He took the life accidentally

He killed an 11 year old with his bare hands - then hid the body 12 miles away and played innocent. 3 years is not enough - 15 would be a good start in my book.

16-01-2008 03:50PM

seamus wrote: »

None of the items you mention were used as evidence in court, presumably because they were unreliable as evidence. "Strange Texts"? Depends on what you consider strange texts from a nine year old. Semen? Could easily have come from anywhere or anyone, even Robert himself.

From what I've read, the case facts make the most sense, not the speculation from Magella Houlihan's cold and calculated attempt to paint Wayne as a paedophile.

Well,
It wasn't allowed in court because it was in the middle of the trial & they couldn't identify it in Ireland because it was a small sample & it was sent away to America(Read into it). Robert was 11 at the time, most kids wouldn't of developed like that at that age. From what I remember one of the texts from Robert said I love you or something in the lines of that.

What do you have against the mother? Are you saying she made it up?

Hrududu · 16-01-2008 03:51PM

Anyone who still believes that Wayne O'Donoghue maliciously killed Robert Holohan, or is a paedophile really should have watched Prime Time last night. It completely rubbished all of those claims. He should win big with his libel action.

I missed this, can you give a quick rundown of some of the things they rubbished?

I think he should be left alone. From all reports it looked like an accidental killing and he panicked. Nobody knows what they would have done in that situation.

16-01-2008 03:53PM

How Can You All Be So Defensive To Someone Who Killed A Small Boy With His Bare Hands & Then Threw Him In A Ditch Like He Was Nothing? Makes Me Sick

LadyJ · 16-01-2008 03:53PM

Morlar wrote: »

He killed an 11 year old with his bare hands - then hid the body 12 miles away and played innocent. 3 years is not enough - 15 would be a good start in my book.

It was manslaughter, not murder. That was the charge. I don't care if the kid was 11 or 30, makes no difference. It will never be easy for the family to get over this but objectively speaking Wayne paid his dues.

It was not proven that he intended to kill Robert and if I was in his shoes then I would feel justice hadn't been done if I got 15 years for something I didn't do with any malice behind it.
Also, he acted foolishly afterwards but it seems to me like the actions of someone who panicked and had no idea what to do.

beanyb · 16-01-2008 03:54PM

You can watch it here: http://www.rte.ie/news/primetime/

Maximilian · 16-01-2008 04:02PM

KaG1888 wrote: »

How Can You All Be So Defensive To Someone Who Killed A Small Boy With His Bare Hands & Then Threw Him In A Ditch Like He Was Nothing? Makes Me Sick

Seemingly Makes You Capitalise Every Word You Type Too. We're defensive because we all like to kill the odd baby from time to time because everyone here is an asshole. A.H. really stands for Assholes.

16-01-2008 04:06PM

It was meant to be all in caps but it wouldn't let me ^.

Thanks for your concerns Rupert

Dudess · 16-01-2008 04:11PM

Mairt, your post has been deleted due to its defamatory nature. Any more comments like that and you will be banned.

Genghiz Cohen · 16-01-2008 04:13PM

The legal system determined the length of time he should be confined in jail, he served his time, he has paid his debt, as far as I'm concerned, he is now just another person in the tabloids for the wrong reasons.

seamus · 16-01-2008 04:29PM

KaG1888 wrote: »

What do you have against the mother? Are you saying she made it up?

I have pity for the mother, but that doesn't excuse her actions in court. She made a cold and calculated attempt to paint him as a paedophile by revealing "evidence" to the media. I'm not saying she made it up, but you can twist facts to prove whatever the hell you want. She made a clear attempt to get the media rumour mill started and impose her own revenge, ignoring the obligation of the court.

16-01-2008 04:37PM

seamus wrote: »

I have pity for the mother, but that doesn't excuse her actions in court. She made a cold and calculated attempt to paint him as a paedophile by revealing "evidence" to the media. I'm not saying she made it up, but you can twist facts to prove whatever the hell you want. She made a clear attempt to get the media rumour mill started and impose her own revenge, ignoring the obligation of the court.

How are you so sure mate? I honestly think there is more to all of it then meets the eye. Why would a mother make up something like that?

Dudess · 16-01-2008 04:38PM

Because she was angry and hurting deeply and wanted to hurt him for what he did to her and her family. Understandable yes, right no.

Peared · 16-01-2008 04:57PM

LadyJ wrote: »

Wholeheartedly agree with this.

I obviously have no idea what exactly happened but I genuinely don't think O'Donoghue meant to kill Robert. I hope he doesn't get too hard a time when he leaves prison though I'm sure he probably will.

Manslaughter not murder. He took the life accidentally. How long would you like to be locked up for if you accidentally killed someone? 3 years is fair enough imo, especially at his age.

I hope he does get a hard time. I hope every day of the rest of his life is a living hell. Accidently killing a child is one thing. What he did afterwards and put the family through is another. I cannot believe people here are trying to demonise that childs poor mother. I was hoping a special kind of justice would be doled out inside tbh.

16-01-2008 05:03PM

Peared wrote: »

I hope he does get a hard time. I hope every day of the rest of his life is a living hell. Accidently killing a child is one thing. What he did afterwards and put the family through is another. I cannot believe people here are trying to demonise that childs poor mother. I was hoping a special kind of justice would be doled out inside tbh.

Here here

Dudess · 16-01-2008 05:06PM

Nobody is trying to demonise the mother. That is nonsense.
I love the self-appointed legal experts here. No wonder judges always appear so grumpy, when their decisions are constantly being undermined by people who haven't got a clue.

And apparently there was a special justice administered inside - well attempts were made anyway - by his fellow "pillars of society". Naturally because of the unfounded paedophilia rumours. Thank god for Chris Morris for showing us how idiotic some people can be in the face of anything remotely related to paedophilia - no matter how unsubstantiated.

O'Donoghue Not Guilty of Murder

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