Trial of teenager accused of murdering Cork postman Barry Daly opens

The trial of a 17-year-old for the murder of 44-year-old postman Barry Daly in the front garden of his home opened today before a jury that has just been sworn at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork.

Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford told the seven women and five men of the jury that the case attracted considerable publicity and, that in keeping with warnings she would give to juries in every trial, the judge told them not to read anything about the case in the media and not to visit Doneraile for any independent research.

The 17-year-old was arraigned on the charge of murdering Bary Daly at Rockview Terrace in Doneraile on October 12 2025, and he replied not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter.

Prosecution senior counsel, Lorcan Staines, opened the case today with an outline of the anticipated evidence in the trial.

He said the prosecution would say that following a disputed incident in Doneraile on the night of celebrations of a big hurling victory for the town, three young people, including the 17-year-old were seen walking to the home of Barry Daly when each of the three was carrying a golfclub. 

“They are psyching each other up in relation to what is going to happen in the next few minutes,” Mr Staines said.

“We rely on circumstantial evidence as to what happened at Barry Daly’s house. Barry Daly is found dead - certainly dying, or dead – in the front garden of his own house. He died extremely quickly after the incident. He is effectively breathing in blood and dies in these circumstances.

“He has catastrophic facial injuries. One side of his jaw is completely shattered, the other side of his jaw is broken. He has major injuries to the back of his head and down the side of his head, the roof of his mouth is broken. And there is a large number of bruises and grazes around his body, including one fairly serious injury to his leg, consistent with being hit with an object. The pathologist said it could have been a golfclub.

“He (the 17-year-old) said Alex Deady (20) hit Barry Daly but only hit him once, and he (the 17-year-old) did not do anything. The prosecution says that cannot be true in light of those injuries. We say it is fanciful that one blow from a golf club caused all those injuries.” 

Mr Staines said DNA linked Alex Deady of Glenview, Convent Road, Doneraile, County Cork, to the grip of one golf club and said that the head of the club came in contact with the deceased. He said it is the prosecution case that the broken head of a golfclub found close to the body of the deceased was part of the golfclub that the 17-year-old had.

He said the prosecution case is that the 17-year-old, along with Alex Deady, murdered Barry Daly, and that the teenager “participated in the blows that were given to Barry Daly.” 

Mr Staines said the 17-year-old had made the case – at interview with gardaí – that he went to Barry Daly’s with the intention of fighting Barry Daly or another person but that he did not go there to cause serious injury and that when he got there he did not actually do anything at all.

Mr Staines said it was for the prosecution to prove the case and that the accused did not have to prove anything.

The trial continues at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork.