Derry man admits preventing lawful burial of his father’s corpse

A man with a PhD in engineering has admitted one charge of preventing the lawful burial of his father’s corpse.

John Garrett O'Sullivan (56) from Culmore Road admitted a single charge that between July 1 and July 18, 2024, he prevented the lawful burial of the corpse of his father, retired orthodontist Noel O'Sullivan who was aged in his eighties.

The body of the deceased was found wrapped in a duvet and plastic sheets and partially placed in a refrigerator when the police entered the family home in July of last year.

The defendant has been in custody in Maghaberry Prison since then.

Defence barrister Stephen Mooney told Judge Roseanne McCormick K.C. that while the defendant contented that he'd delayed rather than prevented the lawful burial of his father's corpse, he was pleading guilty to the charge.

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"There is no factual dispute and the plea is entered on the facts of the case", he said.

"I am conscious that for good reasons this is a very serious offence but he has been in custody since charged fifteen months ago and he is probably almost there in terms of time served if not past it at this stage", he said.

Judge McCormick ordered a pre-sentence report for November 14 and said she would sentenced O'Sullivan on December 2.