Four members of Patricia O’Connor's family have been jailed for impeding the investigation into her murder.
Earlier this week, Kieran Greene was handed a life sentence for murdering 61-year-old Patricia O’Connor at their home at Mountain View Park in Rathfarnham in 2017.
Four other members of her family were today sentenced for their roles in an attempted cover-up of the murder in the days after.
Speaking outside court, Patricia O'Connor's son Richard said the family feels the sentences handed down today don't go far enough.
He said: "No length of time is long enough for the crimes they have committed.
"May they live with this on their conscience for the rest of their lives.
"As a family, we will try and heal the pain caused by their actions."
VIDEO 🎥 Patricia O’Connor’s son Richard says the family feels the sentences handed down today don’t go far enough. His father, sister, niece (Stephanie) and Stephanie’s father Keith Johnston helped his mother’s killer, Kieran Greene, with the attempted cover-up afterwards. pic.twitter.com/5WGYM9JSEA
— Frank Greaney (@FrankGreaney) June 26, 2020
Sentences
This morning, Mrs O’Connor’s husband Gus was jailed for 18 months for impeding the apprehension or prosecution of his wife’s killer by reporting her missing person at a time when he knew she was already dead.
Meanwhile, her daughter Louise has been jailed for two-and-a-half years for her role in a ruse designed to give the impression that her mother was still alive at a time when she knew she was dead.
Her granddaughter Stephanie has been jailed for one-and-a-half years for leaving the house disguised as her grandmother to give the false impression that she was still alive at a time when she knew she was dead.
Stephanie's father Keith Johnston has been jailed for three years for assisting Greene in the purchase of various tools, like hacksaws and axes, used to dismember the 61-year-old and dispose of her body parts in the Wicklow mountains.
Murder
Kieran Greene beat Patricia O’Connor to death in the bathroom of their home. He later disposed of her remains in the Wicklow mountains.
Her husband Gus, daughter Louise, granddaughter Stephanie, and Stephanie’s father Keith Johnston assisted in the attempted cover-up afterwards.
Gus admitted reporting her missing at a time when he knew she was dead.
Stephanie and Louise were found to have engaged in a ruse which involved Stephanie leaving the house dressed up as her grandmother to make it look like she was still alive.
Keith Johnston was found guilty of helping him to buy the tools used to dispose of the body afterwards.
Their sentence hearing took place on Monday and they are all due to learn their fate this morning.
Reporting from Frank Greaney
