Comments on: Two Nights Out, Two Very Different Crimes.

By: The Real Deal

The Real Deal — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:25:38 +0000

Hi,
Reading through this blog and came across this. Then read about the case. Strikes me that if someone came at me with two knives then I’d fuck off sharpish. Excuse the language but people tend to run away from mad dogs do I’d assume the same holds for excitable, armed people. No one deserves to die so young but you have to admit the lad (Nolan) probably wasn’t thinking straight at the time.
Noted one comment above : “If the perpetrator of Sean’s death had come from a less salubrious part of Dublin I am sure that your comdemnation would have been more severe.” I don’t think it’s for responsible journalists to judge their level of reaction according to social status. Too much tabloid crap as it is. Also not so sure the disparity in social status was terribly apparent. As an aside this quoted comment unfairly assumes a prejudice on behalf of the blogger.
To quote Brendan Behan…”Facts are facts, Mr Crimmin, and must be faced”.

By: Abigail

Abigail — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:59:46 +0000

The Fin Colclough trial, out of all the trials I’ve covered has certainly aroused the most impassioned responses. It was a particularly tragic outcome to a night of celebration and it is clear that Sean Nolan had so many loyal and loving friends and family who cannot be expected to see the case in any terms other than their horrendous loss. I on the other hand came to the case in the course of my work. I sat through it as I have sat through dozens of other murders, each one a tragedy for those involved.

I’m basing my comments in this blog on what I saw during my daily attendance of the trial. Finn Colclough was accused of murder and convicted of manslaughter. The post mortem evidence was consistent with the situation described by all the witnesses – a scuffle in which one party was holding two knives. There were no repeated stabs, no frenzied attack. Colclough might have been waving the knives about when he came out of the house but he wasn’t in the scuffle that followed or Sean’s wounds would have been different. The defense asked Professor Cassidy, the State Pathologist, whether the wounds were consistent with Colclough’s account of attempting to push Sean away from him while still holding the knives. She said that the position of the two wounds Sean suffered would have been consistent with that. This wasn’t a typical knife crime even though the result was as bad but that has nothing to do with the address of the guy holding the knives.

There’s no doubt that Finn Colclough’s reaction was over the top, the introduction of any weapon is always so, but I’m not viewing him any differently because of his address, each trial has it’s own peculiarities and all I can do is write what I observe.

It’s unlikely that we’re ever going to agree on this subject. We’re coming at it from two completely different standpoints. An objective view can be hard to stomach if you’re personally connected to the case but as an observer I have little choice but to be objective.

By: Friend

Friend — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:28:50 +0000

I think you are missing the point here somewhat. It could be viewed from Judge Carney’s comments at the trial that he viewed the act of agression of going into the house and returning with two knives to be completely out of proportion to the threat (perceived or otherwise). There are two potential impulses when someone comes out of a house in an aggressive manner 1) Run 2) is to stand there and try to work out what is going on. Unfortunately Sean stood there and stated “you should put those away as they are dangerous” (or something similar) the only bit of sense that night.

It is like saying if I come out of my house with a gun and shoot you, you contributed to your downfall by not running away. The statement you make is frankly ludicrous. If the perpetrator of Sean’s death had come from a less salubrious part of Dublin I am sure that your comdemnation would have been more severe.

The fact is that knife crime has been increasing over recent years and with the exception of a few “Red Top” newspapers this issue has not been highlighted enough. The production of knives, a potentially deadly weapon, should automatically carry a life sentence and the charge of murder. Why else would you produce a knife other than to inflict maximum damage. Or more simply put, if you perceive a threat stay inside and call the Gardai…

Colclough’s actions that night were completely out of proportion to reality…

Unfortunately two mothers are without their sons for another Christmas fortunately for Ms Gardner she will one day have her son back… There has also never been any expression of remorse for what happened other than the message read out in court by Colclough’s mother.

By: Abigail

Abigail — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:07:46 +0000

According to the evidence given by Eric Treacy, Sean’s friend, Sean was not someone who would walk away from a confrontation. I’m not saying that this instinct resulted in his death simply that taking several steps forward and engaging in a scuffle with Colcough who was plainly armed with two large knives, contributed to the tragic circumstances of that night. This is in no way saying that Sean brought about his own death but was an unfortunate participant in this dreadful sequence of events.

By: concerned parent

concerned parent — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:51:10 +0000

Seans attempt at defending himself and his friends was not the cause of his death. What caused his death was the production of two knives by Finn Colclough and the ultimate use of them to stab Sean.