A 17-year-old boy has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of a man, following a fatal incident in County Tipperary last year.
The teenager appeared before the Central Criminal Court today Wednesday, July 22, where he was formally charged with murdering the man at an undisclosed location in Tipperary on March 10th, 2025.
Because the defendant is under the age of 18, he is legally protected from being identified publicly.
When the charge was put to him, the teenager entered a plea of not guilty to murder. However, he admitted responsibility for the lesser offence of manslaughter.
Mr Dean Kelly SC, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions, informed the court that the State was prepared to accept the manslaughter plea. No details about the circumstances surrounding the man’s death were outlined during the brief hearing.
The court was told that the defendant was 15 years old, when the offence occurred and has since turned 17 years of age.
Mr Kelly asked for a probation report to be prepared before the teenager is sentenced. Such a report can provide the court with information about a defendant’s personal circumstances, background and prospects for rehabilitation.
Mr Justice Tony Hunt provisionally scheduled the sentencing hearing for September 28, 2026.
The teenager was remanded on continuing bail and is expected to return to the Central Criminal Court on Wednesday next, July 29th. The court may reconsider or confirm the proposed sentencing date at that appearance.
The judge also directed that victim-impact reports be prepared. These reports will allow those affected by the man’s death to explain the emotional, personal and practical consequences of their loss, before the sentence is imposed.
The case remains before the courts, and the teenager has not yet been sentenced.
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