The Central Criminal Court in Cork has begun the trial of 30-year-old Dylan Scannell, who is accused of murdering 33-year-old chef Ian Baitson in Cobh on 15 March 2024.
Mr Scannell has pleaded guilty to manslaughter but denies murder, prompting the State to prove he acted with intent to kill or seriously injure.
The two men reportedly knew each other, and prosecutors allege the incident was linked to a debt Mr Baitson owed. In the days leading up to the attack, WhatsApp messages from Scannell to Baitson reportedly turned increasingly threatening.
On the night in question, Mr Baitson left his mother’s house and went to the nearby Eurospar, where the attack occurred. CCTV footage is said to show a car leaving Scannell’s home and arriving at the scene. After the assault, Scannell allegedly fled in the same vehicle.
Witnesses described a horrifying scene, with Mr Baitson’s leg almost severed. A first responder attempted to stop the catastrophic bleeding with a tourniquet. Despite emergency efforts, Mr Baitson died four days later in the hospital.
A sword recovered from a nearby beach tested positive for Mr Baitson’s DNA, and blood was found in Scannell’s car. The trial continues and is expected to last a week.
