“While liability for bringing about death in homicide is based on the same principles of causation as in other crimes, it so happens that causation can be an issue in homicide because the path leading to death may sometimes be direct and obvious or sometimes obscured.”
– Charleton, P, McDermott, PA, Herlihy, C and Byrne, S Charleton & McDermott’s Criminal Law and Evidence
Second Edition, Bloomsbury Professional p 449
Discuss this statement in the context of the offences of murder and manslaughter, and the correct test to be applied in determining causation in Irish law. Your answer should make
reference to decided case-law of note from this jurisdiction, and from others, as appropriate.
Your answer should also refer to academic books or journal articles.
