Man admits to gun killing of own sister BROTHER SORRY FOR ‘ACCIDENT’
A MAN formally pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawfully killing his sister at her home yesterday.
Mother of five, Sandra Boyd (36) was fatally wounded in a suspected accidental shooting incident at her house in Collins Place, Finglas, Dublin, shortly before 9 pm on March 19.
Emergency services rushed her to the Mater Hospital, but she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Her younger brother Derek Boyd (27) also from Collins Place, was initially charged with unlawful possession or control of five rounds of ammunition and a semi-automatic pistol at his sister’s home address.
He did not apply for bail when he faced an emotionally charged hearing on March 23.
He has remained in custody since while gardai sought directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Complex
In June, Detective Sergeant Damien Mangan told the court: “It’s a complex case, there will be a substantial file submitted to the DPP on this matter, and we are asking for further, more serious charges.”
On July 15, Detective Sergeant Mangan charged Mr Boyd with unlawfully killing Sandra.
Following an adjournment, the case resumed again at Cloverhill District Court, where the accused signed a guilty plea.
He was sent forward for sentencing at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on October 7.
Earlier, Judge Victor Blake heard that the accused replied, “I am sorry,” when the detective sergeant put the manslaughter charge to him.
At his first court appearance in March, Detective Sergeant Mangan said the accused had “no comment” to the ammunition charge, and in response to the gun possession offence, “he made no reply”.
At the outset of the proceedings, the defence said the firearms charges “relate to a terrible accident” and a “heartbreaking tragedy”.
He was then driven to a meeting at the City North Hotel on the M1 at the Dublin-Meath border.
But officers from Kevin Street were lying in wait and Cleary led a team that arrested the thug in the toilets of the building.
Thompson was jailed for life on August 31, 2018.