Aaron Keating murder: Teen (19) pleads guilty to street killing and retains anonymity

Eoin Reynolds

A 19-year-old has pleaded guilty to murdering a man on a Dublin street, following a Supreme Court ruling last year that he will not face a mandatory life sentence because he was a child when he committed the offence.

The teenager can now no longer be named due to another important Supreme Court decision on Thursday, overturning a landmark Court of Appeal judgement that a child before the courts can be identified if they turn 18 during the course of proceedings.

The defendant on Friday pleaded guilty to the murder of Aaron Keating on June 13th, 2023 at Main Street, Ongar, Dublin 15.

The teen previously sought to halt the proceedings against him because, having aged out while awaiting trial, he faced a mandatory life sentence if convicted of murder.

However, following a recent Supreme Court ruling, judges now have discretion when sentencing a person who committed murder while a child, regardless of what age they are when they come before the courts.

Following the guilty plea, prosecution senior counsel James Dwyer said the mandatory sentencing regime does not apply and a full sentencing hearing would be required. Seamus Clarke SC, for the defendant, said his client had no previous convictions at the time of the murder.

Mr Justice Tony Hunt remanded the defendant in custody until a sentencing hearing on June 30th.

Aaron Keating, who was in his 40s and from Blanchardstown, suffered serious wounds following an assault at about 7pm on June 13th two years ago. He was taken to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown where he was pronounced dead.