Woman accused of murdering husband at Co Wexford home pleads not guilty

A woman accused of stabbing and killing her husband during a family get together at their Co Wexford home has pleaded not guilty to murder.

Sarah Doyle (32) from The Heath, Ramsgate, Gorey, is alleged to have stabbed Philip Doyle twice to his left side with a knife, causing a wound 15cm in depth.

The incident happened during the early hours of Sunday 26th January, 2020.

Emergency services were called to the scene but to no avail and the father of three was pronounced dead at the scene outside the front of his home.

Mr Doyle (33) was originally from Bray, Co Wicklow but had been living in Gorey with his wife and their two toddler sons.

The couple, who had been together for several years, were married about six months prior to the incident.

Opening the case at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Waterford, Paul Green, senior counsel prosecuting for the State, outlined events leading to the fatal stabbing. He said Philip Doyle’s daughter was staying with them the weekend the attack happened, along with his parents David and Jackie.

Sarah Doyle and her mother-in-law went for a night out in Gorey on Saturday evening , before arriving back home separately, he said.

His mother went to bed upstairs but a disagreement took place when the accused arrived home, the court heard.

Mr Green said this continued onto the landing of the house, where Philip Doyle became involved around the top of the stairs before the row moved downstairs.

“Ms Doyle produced a knife,” he said, “and was responsible for inflicting two stab wounds on the late Philip Doyle, one of which was fatal.”

Mr Green told the jury of seven women and five men that they must decide whether the accused intended to kill or cause serious injury to her husband during the incident.

Ms Doyle responded “Not guilty” when asked how she pleaded to the charge. Justice David Keane told the jury that the trial is expected to take three weeks.