Man accused of murdering chef Ian Baitson in Cobh pleads 'guilty of manslaughter'

A 30-year-old Cobh man stood before a jury panel today and admitted the manslaughter of young chef Ian Baitson in Cobh just over a year ago but denied his murder.

Dylan Scannell of O’Rahilly Street, Cobh, County Cork, stood in Courtroom 6 at the courthouse on Anglesea Street, in Cork, for arraignment on the count of murder.

The charge that was put to him was one murdering of Ian Baitson, in Eurospar car park, Newtown Road, Cobh, on March 19, 2024. 

Dylan Scannell replied: “Not guilty to murder, guilty of manslaughter.” 

A jury was then sworn in to hear the case. 

Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford told them that her colleague, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon, would hear the case commencing tomorrow in a case which will conclude by June 6 at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork.

The date on the charge refers to March 19, 2024, where it is alleged that the deceased was fatally injured four days earlier.

Ms Justice Lankford told the jury panel before the empanelling of the jury that they should not serve as jurors if they knew any of the many witnesses listed out for them today. The judge said that if they were from Cobh or closely connected with Cobh it is likely that they would know a witness in the case.

The jury panel was told that the late Mr Baitson had been working at Fitzpatrick’s in Glounthaune, County Cork.

Prosecution senior counsel Donal O’Sullivan acknowledged previously that the indication of a plea of guilty to manslaughter was of assistance as it would make the trial shorter in relation to the issue of murder.

Once sworn in, the jury was given this warning by Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford: “Do not attempt any independent investigations. No looking up things on the internet, no visiting the locus, nothing like that. It would be disastrous.

"You can only decide based on evidence that can be tested in the courtroom. No going on social media. The integrity of the process must be maintained at all times.” 

The six men and six women were asked to return to court for the commencement of the trial at 11am tomorrow.