The death of 18-year-old Annie Dean in October 1937 sent shockwaves through the Dublin community, culminating in a highly publicised trial. This article compiles the details of the case, drawing from various reports, to provide a comprehensive account of the tragic events.

Discovery and Initial Investigation
On the morning of Friday, October 29th, 1937, at approximately 3 am, the body of Annie Dean was discovered by Gardaí at a building site on Sundrive Road in Kimmage. Annie’s body was found lying on her back, partially on cement blocks and partially on the sand, without her shoes or corset. A preliminary examination revealed that she had been dead for some time and that there were marks on her throat, indicating strangulation.
The scene showed little evidence of a struggle, but footprints were found in the nearby sand, and casts were taken for investigation. The location of the body was only a few hundred yards from the Dean family home. Police officers, tracing Annie’s movements, learned that she had left her home at around 8 pm the previous evening to keep an appointment. Witnesses reported seeing Annie with a companion at approximately 11 pm, entering the building site on Sundrive Road where her body was later found. Residents in the area heard no unusual noises after 11 pm, and the discovery of Annie’s body was made by people going to Mass in the morning.

Annie Dean: A Life Cut Short
Annie Dean lived at 44 Clonfert Road, Kimmage, with her parents and four siblings. She was employed as a packer and labeller at Messrs. St. Dalmas (Ireland), Ltd., a wholesale chemist in Linenhall. Annie was described by neighbours as a kind, dutiful, and responsible young woman. She was known to be very close to her mother, to whom she gave her pay packet, and was never out late at night. Annie’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Dean, grew increasingly worried when she failed to return home at her usual time. They spent much of the night searching the area, including a nearby disused quarry, before returning home exhausted, just two hours before the discovery of her body.

Daniel O’Donoghue: The Accused
Daniel O’Donoghue, aged 18, was detained in connection with the case. He was described as a warehouseman from 60 Clarence Mangan Road, Fairbrothers Fields. He was employed by Messrs. Price Tailors Ltd., a tailoring establishment in Marrowbone Lane, Dublin. O’Donoghue was described as having dark eyes, black curly hair, and a slight build.

O’Donoghue and Annie had been in a relationship since around Christmas 1936, though there are inconsistencies in the reports. The nature of their relationship became a central point of contention during the trial. O’Donoghue had introduced himself to Mrs Dean in April 1937, falsely claiming to be an inspector for Dublin Corporation. There was also an incident where he had a message flashed on the screen of the Rialto Cinema to get Annie to leave. Furthermore, Annie’s mother noticed Annie had a swollen jaw after returning home from an evening with O’Donoghue about two weeks prior to her death.

On the day of her death, O’Donoghue was late for work, arriving at 2 pm instead of 8.30 am, and smelled of drink. He then asked for time off at 5.45 pm to meet Annie after she left work. He met her as she cycled home from work with a friend, Kathleen O’Toole, in Patrick Street. After this meeting Annie returned home, only to go out again at 7:30 pm, which was the last time her mother saw her.

The Events of the Night
In the early hours of October 29, O’Donoghue approached Garda Gilleran, stating that Annie was unconscious and needed help. He had also stopped a car earlier in the night, asking for assistance but instead, they called for an ambulance which returned to the city after failing to find anyone. According to statements O’Donoghue made to police, after meeting Annie on the evening of October 28th, he and Annie went to the building site. There, he claims, Annie fell and was covered in sand. He attempted to help her, and when she became violent and started to scream, he placed his hands over her mouth and neck to stop the screaming. He claims that after this she stopped struggling, and he realised she was very unwell. He tried to revive her and then sought help from passers-by. He stated, “I swear that never in the time I was keeping company with her did I ever act disrespectfully towards her in any way”.

Medical Evidence and Cause of Death
Medical examinations revealed that Annie’s thyroid bone was fractured, indicating strangulation. There was also sand in her eyes and nostrils, suggesting her face had been pressed into the sand before her death. Dr. McGrath, the State Pathologist, stated the injuries to Annie’s hands and forearms were caused by impact rather than rubbing violence. The presence of a persistent thymus gland made her more vulnerable to death from shock or asphyxia. Dr McGrath stated, “In his opinion death was due to shock and heart failure, which was due to the action of the thymus gland, which action was aroused by interference with respiration as a result of violence applied”.

The Trial and Verdict
O’Donoghue was charged with the murder of Annie Dean. The trial at the Central Criminal Court lasted several days and garnered significant public attention. The prosecution argued that O’Donoghue had used violence in an attempt to assault Annie, resulting in her death. They pointed to O’Donoghue’s possessive nature and previous incidents of violence. The defence contended that Annie’s death was an accident, resulting from a fall, and that O’Donoghue had tried to help her. The defence also stated there was no evidence to support a rape, and that there was no evidence of a struggle at the scene. The defence did not cross-examine any witnesses on matters of fact and instead relied on the witness statements from the prosecution. After deliberation, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. The presiding judge, Mr. Justice Maguire, stated that the jury had taken a merciful view of the case.

Sentencing and Aftermath
O’Donoghue was sentenced to four years’ penal servitude. His application for leave to appeal was refused, with the court stating the sentence was lenient. The Chief Justice stated that the court’s only doubt was whether the sentence imposed was sufficiently severe, demonstrating the gravity of the offence.

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