In a brutal crime that shocked Cork, tattoo artist Dylan Scannell, 31, has been found guilty of murdering 33-year-old chef and father-of-two Ian Baitson with a sword.
The savage attack occurred in Cobh in March 2024, leaving Baitson with a near-complete amputation of his leg and causing catastrophic blood loss. He succumbed to his injuries four days later in Cork University Hospital.
Scannell admitted to manslaughter but denied murder. However, a jury of six men and six women rejected his defence after just over four hours of deliberation, delivering a unanimous murder verdict in the Central Criminal Court.
Ms Justice Eileen Creedon thanked the jury for their duty and excused them from future service for five years, acknowledging the harrowing nature of the trial.
Scannell will receive a mandatory life sentence when the court reconvenes on 11 July to hear heartbreaking victim impact statements.
This gruesome killing has stunned the tight-knit community of Cobh and raised questions about how such extreme violence could erupt so suddenly. As the legal process moves toward sentencing, the family of Ian Baitson prepares to confront his killer and seek justice for the unimaginable loss of a beloved father, friend, and chef.