Tadgh Butler trial: Jury sent home for second night in trial of Kilkenny man

A jury deliberating in the trial of a Kilkenny man, charged with murdering his nephew’s friend, has been sent home for a second night without reaching a verdict.

The six men and six women had begun deliberating yesterday (Wednesday) in the Central Criminal Court trial of Tadhg Butler, who is charged with murdering Michael O’Dwyer on January 10, 2014. The 25-year-old died in hospital, hours after receiving a stab wound to his chest at a party in Mr Butler’s Co Waterford home.

Mr Butler, 37, with an address at Seafield in Tramore, has pleaded not guilty. Previously known as Thomas O’Grady, the father of five told his trial that he accidentally stabbed him while taking a knife from his nephew to prevent him self-harming.

That nephew, Anthony (Tony) O’Grady, told gardai that Mr Butler had walked over and stabbed his friend with a butcher’s knife as they sat and chatted. However, when called to the witness box, he said he couldn't remember anything, partly due to his personality disorders and five daily medications.

The jury began its deliberations yesterday morning, but returned to court after a number of hours with a request for Anthony (Tony) O’Grady’s statement, Mr Butler’s testimony as well as that of State Pathologist Professor Marie Cassidy.

Mr Justice Paul Butler spent much of yesterday (Thursday) Thursday re-reading that evidence before the jurors resumed deliberations.

They returned to court some time later, with the foreman saying they would go home and return tomorrow (Friday) morning ‘with fresh minds’ to continue considering the verdict.