Emma Costello McCrory murder: Killer stole 'beautiful' mother's future

Eoin Reynolds

The grieving mother of a "beautiful" woman who died in a house fire has told the Central Criminal Court that the man who set the blaze stole her daughter's future and left two children without their mother.

George Turner, 56, murdered Emma McCrory (née Costello), 45, by setting fire to her home on December 15th, 2022. He told gardaí that he did it because he believed Ms McCrory had "no quality of life" and he wanted to "take her out of her pain". However, he later told officers that he thought the fire might cause her to be evicted, and she would go live with him.

In a statement at today's sentencing hearing, Ms McCrory's mother, Pauline Costello, described her daughter as "beautiful inside and out". She was adored by her family, got on with everyone and was there for everyone, Ms Costello said.

When Emma died, her father was in the advanced stages of Parkinson's disease and passed away two weeks after his daughter. Ms Costello said she decided not to tell him what had happened and visited him every day until his death with the pain of knowing his "adored child" was dead.

Ms Costello turned to the defendant as she said: "My daughter was very vulnerable when she met you. You took her life and stole her future. You left two children growing up without their mother. As for me, I am left to contemplate life without the support of my daughter. Emma was much more than what happened to her, and she will never be forgotten."

Turner, of Fairview Avenue, Fairview, Dublin pleaded guilty last Monday to the murder of Ms McCrory at her home on Howth Road, Clontarf on December 15th, 2022.

Ms Justice Eileen Creedon on Friday sentenced Turner to the mandatory term of life imprisonment.

Before the judge passed sentence, Det Gda Cliff Singleton told prosecutor Eoghan Cole SC that Ms McCrory's neighbours alerted emergency services to a fire at her mews home at about 8.20pm. Dublin fire brigade crews found the house burned out with Ms McCrory's lifeless body in an upstairs bedroom.

A garda technical team established that the fire started in the bedroom, near the foot of the bed where she had been lying. A post-mortem confirmed that she had died from inhaling the products of combustion, including carbon monoxide, with no other contributory factors.

Ms McCrory had drugs and alcohol in her system, which Det Gda Singleton said would have made her sleepy and vulnerable when the fire was set.

Gardai became aware that Turner had earlier that day used Ms McCrory's ATM card to withdraw money and buy alcohol for her. It was also Turner who alerted neighbours to the fire after smoke started to billow from the windows.

Gardai spoke to Turner, but he did not reveal his part in starting the blaze. The garda investigation continued until, on March 15th, 2023, Turner went voluntarily to Clontarf Garda Station and admitted he had started the fire.

He was arrested and detained, and during subsequent interviews, he said he believed Ms McCrory had no quality of life and had told him she didn't want to live.

He said he set fire to her bedclothes as she slept, and when he saw the fire start to smoulder, he left. He said he wished it hadn't happened but added that he would do it again and was relieved for the deceased's sake. He said he wanted to "take her out of her pain".

In a later interview, he said he didn't want her to die but wanted to give her a "wakeup call". He said he thought an alarm would go off once the duvet began to smoulder and didn't think she would die. He thought the fire might cause her to be evicted, and she would go to live with him, he said.

Det Gda Singleton said gardaí established that in the days following her death, Turner continued to use Ms McCrory's ATM card for his personal expenses. Turner has 42 previous convictions, most of which were dealt with by the District Court. His most significant previous convictions came in 2016 when he was found in possession of firearms and ammunition in suspicious circumstances, and with drugs for sale or supply.

Philipp Rahn SC, for Turner, said his client always intended to plead guilty. He asked the court to note for the record that his client has had significant mental health difficulties and has been diagnosed with depression. His problems were compounded by substance abuse.

Since going into custody in 2023, he has been drug-free and has benefitted from the structured environment in prison, Mr Rahn said.