A tattoo artist has been found guilty of murdering a father-of-two in a violent assault with a sword in Cobh, County Cork, following a dispute over a drug-related debt.
Dylan Scannell, 31, of O’Rahilly Street in Cobh, was convicted by a jury at the Central Criminal Court in Cork after a week-long trial. The jury deliberated for just over four hours before reaching a unanimous verdict, rejecting Scannell’s plea of guilty to manslaughter and finding him guilty of the more serious charge of murder.
The victim, 33-year-old Ian Baitson, was a local chef and father of two young children. The fatal incident occurred on the evening of March 15, 2024, in the car park of Eurospar on Newtown Road in Cobh. Evidence presented in court revealed that Scannell approached Mr. Baitson from behind and struck him behind the left knee with a sword. The attack was the culmination of a dispute related to a drug debt.
Witnesses described a sudden and shocking scene, with Mr. Baitson collapsing after the blow. Emergency services were called to the scene and transported the injured man to hospital. Despite medical efforts, Mr. Baitson died from his injuries four days later.
During the trial, the prosecution argued that Scannell’s actions were premeditated and disproportionate, amounting to murder rather than manslaughter. The court was told that the use of a sword in a public area was a deliberate and dangerous act, carried out in response to a personal grievance.
Scannell admitted to striking Mr. Baitson but claimed he had not intended to kill him. His legal team argued that the act was spontaneous and carried out under emotional distress. However, the jury was not persuaded by this defense and returned a guilty verdict on the murder charge.
The presiding judge, Mr. Justice Paul McDermott, thanked the jury for their service and remanded Scannell in custody. He will receive a mandatory life sentence for the murder. A formal sentencing hearing has been scheduled for July 11 in Cork.
The case has left the Cobh community in shock. Mr. Baitson was described by friends and family as a devoted father and a talented chef who had worked in several local restaurants. In a statement following the verdict, his family expressed their grief and said they were “heartbroken” by the loss of Ian, calling the attack “senseless and cruel.”
As the town continues to come to terms with the tragedy, the case has highlighted broader concerns about drug-related violence and the presence of dangerous weapons in public spaces.
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