Arrested for murder or manslaughter?

24-hour solicitor advice line: 083 080 6056 (Legal Aid Availble)

Murder and Manslaughter

Murder and Manslaughter are among the most serious criminal offences in Ireland. As there are so few murders in Ireland each year, very few solicitors have ever represented people accused of murder. Phelim O'Neill Solicitors has experience of murder trials, including running murder trials in the Special Criminal Court.

If convicted of murder, there is a mandatory sentence of life in prison. If you have been wrongly accused of a serious crime, such as murder, you will need to engage the services of an experience criminal defence solicitor, immediately.

Criminal defence solicitor Dublin for Garda station interviews

Phelim O'Neill, Criminal Defence Solicitor

What to do:

Before speaking to Gardai, you must get legal advice. If you have been contacted by Gardai to give a statement, do the following:

Say nothing until you speak with Phelim O'Neill Solicitors.
Ring us immediately on our 24-hour number: 083 080 6056.
We will explain what is going to happen next, step by step, and we will agree a plan of action.
Depending on your circumstances, we will arrange to have in-person consultation (this may be at the Garda station)

The difference between Murder and Manslaughter

Current law on murder and manslaughter in Ireland

The law in relation to homicide in Ireland is currently divided into murder and manslaughter.

Murder occurs if a person intended to kill, or cause serious injury to, another person who dies as a result of their actions. Murder convictions can include circumstances where a killing was planned in advance; where the victim was knowingly shot; or where the accused is aware that the natural consequences of their actions could lead to death.

Manslaughter is an unlawful killing that is not murder and currently consists of two categories, voluntary manslaughter and involuntary manslaughter.

Voluntary manslaughter deals with what would otherwise be murder but where there is some excusing circumstance - such as provocation - which reduces the offence from murder to manslaughter.

Involuntary manslaughter currently comprises two sub-categories:

Manslaughter by an unlawful and dangerous act, where the killing involves an act constituting a criminal offence, carrying with it the risk of bodily harm to the person who has been killed.
Gross negligence manslaughter, where the death arises from a negligent act or omission by the accused involving a high risk of substantial personal injury.

Phelim O'Neill Solicitors have a proven track record in advising and defending clients accused of murder and manslaughter offences, in the Central Criminal Court, Special Criminal Court and Court of Criminal Appeal. The key to optimising the chances of successfully defending these types of cases is for the accused to be advised by a solicitor from the out-set, prior to giving any statement to Gardai.

About Garda Station Interviews

If you are attending a Garda station to give a statement or to be interviewed, You require a solicitor. Regardless of your innocence or guilt, it is important that you have a solicitor present to ensure your rights are protected. Garda Stations can be hostile and intimidating. Most people have never been arrested. An arrest is a terrifying experience. It is frightening and isolating. The whole process of arrest and detention for 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours and in some cases for longer will place you under maximum psychological and emotional pressure. The Gardai may make you feel like you have to say something that you do not want to say. You do not have to say anything, even if you have been arrested, it is your legal and constitutional right to say "no comment" to every question, even to questions that appear innocuous.
Our solicitors will attend with you at any Garda Station in Ireland, and ensure that your rights are protected

Our Garda Interview Solicitors

Phelim O'Neill Solicitor

B.A. , LL.B., LL.M.

Harringtons Solicitors
Kingsbridge House 17-22 Parkgate Street
Dublin 8
Co Dublin

Partners: Phelim O'Neill & David Harrington

Phelim O'Neill has extensive experience in all areas of Irish criminal law, including District Court representation, as well as trial work in the Circuit Criminal Court, the Central Criminal Court, the Special Criminal Court, and the Court of Criminal Appeal.

Phelim has offices in Dublin and the Midlands, and serves courts all across Ireland with a team of Ireland's leading barristers.

information you need before giving a statement to the guards

If An Garda Síochána want you to attend at a Garda station for them to speak to you, it's probably because you have been accused of being involved in a crime, in some way. Gardai will only take statements from people when investigating a potential crime. They may be trying to ascertain if the information they have gathered is true, in full or in part, so, if they want to speak to you, in a Garda station, you have been linked to a crime in some way. They can ask you to attend voluntarily at a Garda station, to give a statement or be interviewed, even if you are a suspect. It is vital that you obtain legal advice in advance of speaking to the Guards or giving them any statement.

Free Legal Consultation

We offer a Free Consultation by phone to discuss your needs for a criminal defence solicitor. We will discuss your case in full confidentiality and provide advice on how best to proceed. This a no-commitment consultation. We'll be able assess your eligibility for free legal aid during this consultation, also.