Victims' families plead for reform as quadruple killer applies for parole

Geary, originally from Milford in North Cork, is serving a life sentence for the murder of his former partner Sarah Hines, their five-month-old daughter Amy, Sarah’s three-year-old son Reece, and her friend Ms Brough in Ms Hines’ home in Newcastle West in Limerick on November 15, 2010.

Alicia was killed just days before her 21st birthday as she tried to save Amy from the attack by Geary. She had just returned to the house with Reece and both were attacked by Geary. The four bodies were not discovered until the following day.

Geary, who had an address at Meadow Court, Newcastle West, pleaded guilty to the four murders and was sentenced to life in prison.

A previous bid for parole was unsuccessful. He is now eligible to apply again under the Parole Act 2019, which limits parole eligibility to those serving life sentences who have served at least 12 years.

It is understood that relatives of his victims recently engaged with the Parole Board regarding submissions on foot of his application. Since the 2019 act, victims’ families are allowed make a submission to the board. A decision has not yet been made on his application.

Last November, at a Fine Gael conference, Justice Minister Helen McEntee said her department was working on legislation which would allow a judge to recommend that a criminal would not come before the parole board for 20 to 30 years for crimes including murder, rape, sexual assault, or child sexual abuse.

Ms Dempsey, from Rockchapel in Cork, has fought for reforms in the justice system since the murders.

She told the Irish Examiner that she welcomed Simon Harris’s pledge, on becoming Taoiseach, to fast-track the legislation which he said would give powers to judges to “make sure heinous criminals serve long sentences before they are even considered for release”.

Ms Dempsey said: “I do think that it might make people think twice before committing murder but also gives to victims time to adjust to life without facing multiple parole hearings.”

The Parole Board views material on the prisoner and, independently of the justice minister, decides if they should be released. The minister has the power to sign off on the release.

Alicia, who studied sociology and psychology in the UK, was a close friend of Sarah Hines and regularly stayed with her in her rented home following her split from Geary.

The Central Criminal Court was told his motive for the murders was most likely jealousy that his former girlfriend had started a new relationship.

Five weapons were used, including two knives and a screwdriver.

In a letter read out in court prior to his sentencing, he said he was “truly sorry” for the killings. He received four concurrent life sentences.

At an inquest into the deaths, the coroner’s court heard that all four victims were stabbed multiple times.

Following the inquest, the coroner, Brendan Nix, said the deaths of the children along with people they loved and trusted, was difficult to comprehend. He also said two blameless women and the children were “done to death” in a most awful and violent way.

Tánaiste: A need to review the issue of early parole

Tánaiste Micheál Martin has said there is a need to “constantly review” whether or not parole comes up too early in cases involving rapists or murderers.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, he said: “I believe rapists and people who commit murder need long sentences and one area we need to constantly review is where parole comes up too early.” 

He added: “I think we need to watch that space, that people who commit murder or rape and are convicted of that are given long sentences."

The Tánaiste also hit out at Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins over his calls to chemically castrate sex offenders, saying they were “ill-thought out”.

Asked if what Mr Collins said was wrong, Mr Martin said: “I think it’s probably ill-thought out. I don’t know has he thought through it properly in terms of actual practical implementation."