LGBT Rights Ireland - Farmer Murders Gay Student and Claims He Was the ‘Devil’

LGBT Rights Ireland – Farmer Murders Gay Student and Claims He Was the ‘Devil’

Ireland’s Central Criminal Court was told on this month that a farmer who killed a gay student two years ago was motivated by “abhorrence” regarding the fact his victim was homosexual.

Eoin Ryan aged 21, was severely beaten to death on 7 June 2011, in Cappagh Beg, County Clare. His body was found in a barrel on a farm after Joe Heffernan aged 33, called police to confess to the murder. Some recordings of his calls were played at the trial.

In his first call he told Garda Niall Cosgrave: “I’m after killing a man. He came on to me and I killed him. I’m not gay or nothing, you know. He thought I was.

He stripped down,” Heffernan continued. “I’m not going to prison.” He later said: “I killed the devil. The devil came for me but I took him.”

The defence in the case are arguing for a manslaughter verdict on the grounds of mental disorder.