A 67-YEAR-OLD former soldier has been found guilty of the murder of his friend and former Defence Forces army captain Patrick O’Mahony last year.

Thomas Carroll, of Brookway, Clonmel, Co Tipperary, had denied the murder of 84-year-old Patrick O’Mahony at the victim’s home at Ballyreamen, Castlemaine, Co Kerry, between 24 and 25 February 2024.

The jury of eight men and four women returned a unanimous guilty verdict at the Central Criminal Court, sitting in Limerick.

The trial had heard evidence that Carroll was a long-time friend of the victim and had travelled to his home in Kerry on the weekend in question.

It was alleged that after events took a “foul turn” between the pair, Patrick O’Mahony sustained a single gunshot wound and died as a result of hemorrhage and shock.

In his closing speech to the jury, Carroll’s barrister Mark Nicholas SC, said they must consider intoxication as a “partial defence”.

He argued that Carroll was so intoxicated at the time that he could not have formed the “intent” to kill Patrick O’Mahony, and as such, as he was so “overborne by alcohol” he did not know what he was doing.

Patrick O’Mahony and Carroll had been friends over many decades and were old soldier pals.

Patrick O’Mahony had been as an “excellent” soldier and had retired from the Defence Forces at the rank of Captain with an “exemplary record” in 1994.

The court heard Carroll joined the Defence Forces in 1975, and during a 37-year career, he had served eleven tours of peacekeeping duty in Lebanon, and Kosovo, and had also held an exemplary record of service.

The two men had also shared an entirely lawful interest in firearms and there were various firearms in Patrick O’Mahony’s home.

Nicholas, instructed by solicitor Pat Mann, Tralee, agreed there had been no doubt Patrick O’Mahony died by the actions of Carroll but that he did not intend to kill him and he was therefore not guilty of murder.

The jury disagreed with Nicholas and brought in the guilty verdict shortly after 12.30pm.

Patrick O’Mahony had five children. His wife passed away in November 2023, three months prior to his murder.

Initially, gardaí did not treat Patrick O’Mahony’s death as suspicious. However, a murder investigation was subsequently launched after a local mortician noticed a small exit wound of the bullet that had entered the victim’s body.

Victim impact statements from Patrick O’Mahony’s family are to be heard next week before sentence is passed on Carroll