Scarlett Faulkner Murder Trial Opens As Teen Admits Manslaughter, 41-Year-Old Woman Denies Murder

A jury has been sworn in at the Central Criminal Court for the trial of a woman and a teenage girl accused of murdering mother-of-one Scarlett Faulkner in County Tipperary earlier this year. The 17-year-old girl, who cannot be identified because she is a minor, pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter when arraigned before Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo on Monday afternoon, Daily Dazzling Dawn understands. Her 41-year-old co-accused pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms Faulkner, aged 29, who died on 13 April following an alleged incident at Birdhill, County Tipperary, on 21 March 2026.

The case, which is expected to run for approximately four weeks until around 30 November, will see prosecutors present various recordings of dashcam footage to the jury. Defence barristers indicated that they had no objection to the footage being used during the proceedings.

Charges Span Two Counties As Jury Hears Evidence Outline- The older accused, a 41-year-old woman, entered not guilty pleas to a total of four charges when she was arraigned. Beyond the murder count, she denies burglary, entering a building as a trespasser and causing criminal damage at an address in County Tipperary on 20 March 2026. She further pleaded not guilty to a third charge of burglary and committing assault causing harm at an address in Limerick on 21 March 2026.

The court heard that Ms Faulkner, who was from Longpavement in Limerick city, died on 13 April, some three weeks after the alleged incident at Birdhill. The trial is being presided over by Mr Justice Kerida Naidoo, who empanelled a jury of eight men and four women to hear the case.

Judge Issues Strict Warning To Jury Panel- Mr Justice Naidoo instructed the jury not to look up any information about the case or discuss it with anyone outside the courtroom. Such directions are standard in high-profile Irish trials, designed to ensure the verdict is reached solely on the evidence presented in court. The judge adjourned the proceedings until Tuesday morning, when opening speeches and the first evidence are expected to be heard.

Seoirse Ó Dúnlaing SC is prosecuting on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions. The 41-year-old woman is represented by Mark Thompson Grolimund SC and Amy Nix BL, while the teenage girl is represented by Colman Cody SC and Johanna O'Connor BL. Both defence teams confirmed they had no objection to the dashcam material being shown to the jury during the trial.

Trial To Examine Sequence Of Alleged Events Across Munster-The trial is expected to examine an alleged sequence of events spanning two counties in Munster in March 2026, culminating in Ms Faulkner's death the following month. The burglary and criminal damage allegations relate to an address in County Tipperary on 20 March, while the burglary and assault causing harm charge concerns an address in Limerick on 21 March — the same date as the alleged incident at Birdhill that preceded Ms Faulkner's death.

Ms Faulkner, a mother of one, was aged 29 at the time of her death. Her killing prompted significant local interest in both County Tipperary and Limerick, where she was known as a resident of the Longpavement area of the city. The case has been listed for mention in the Central Criminal Court, the venue reserved for the most serious criminal trials in the State.

The jury's role will be to determine the facts of the case against both accused, who are being tried together. The teenage girl's plea of guilty to manslaughter means the jury will not be asked to decide her guilt on that charge, but rather whether she is guilty of murder as charged. Her co-accused denies all charges against her.

 Next As Four-Week Hearing Begins- Proceedings will resume on Tuesday morning before Mr Justice Naidoo. The prosecution is expected to open its case, outlining the evidence it intends to call over the coming weeks. The trial's projected duration until approximately 30 November reflects the volume of evidence and the number of witnesses anticipated in a case involving multiple charges and two accused.

Daily Dazzling Dawn will continue to follow the trial as it progresses through the Central Criminal Court.