Irish teen jailed for life for luring boy to his death by pretending to be a girl

Dublin teenager stabbed his peer in the face with long knife in brutal planned attack

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Dublin's Central Criminal Court

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A teenager stabbed his victim nine times after luring him into a trap by arranging a fake date with a girl, via text message.

Marcus Kirwan has been sentenced to life in prison for luring David Byrne to a youth centre pretending to be another teenage girl. On March 19, 2011, 19-year-old Byrne was set up by Kirwan and a number of other youths. He was chased into a dead end at a Dublin apartment complex.
Kirwan, who was also 19, stabbed the victim in the face once, and eight times in his back. His heart and lungs were punctured. One of the fatal wounds was over seven inches deep.
Byrne, of Davitt House in Drimnagh, South Dublin, died in hospital.

Justice Garrett Sheehan’s mandatory sentence of life was greeted by gasps in court. Kirwan showed no reaction as he was led away.

Byrne’s father, David Hayes, told the Irish Independent of his joy and delight at the verdict.
“We’ve been waiting for this day for a very long time…Justice is done.”

He said he was proud of his son and told, “I wish that he’s happy up there now.”

Byrne’s mother, Ann, died of cancer a month after his murder. His aunt Angela described her nephew as a gentle giant.

“He cared for his Mam, who had cancer…He was just a lovely boy.”

In court, Kirwan of Cooley Road, also in Drimnagh, pleaded not guilty to murder, at Emmet Court, Inchicore in Dublin.

After only 13 minutes the jury returned a verdict of guilty.

The jury had heard from several residents from Emmet Court, through the case, who had witnessed the chase and assault.

Sonya Byrne, one of the witnesses, picked out Kirwan from an identification parade. Another,

Thomas Quinn, said he saw someone “digging” Byrne in the back. Imes Kmiecik saw three people running away from the scene. She said the last person had a 12 inch knife in their hand.
The chase was also caught by several CCTV cameras.

After the attack Kirwan was also captured on CCTV examining stains on his hoodie which the prosecution suggested was blood. He then takes off his hoodie.

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