An alcoholic chef who stabbed his partner to death with a steak knife over three years ago was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment for manslaughter at the Central Criminal Court yesterday.
Both suffered from alcohol addiction and had first met each other at a clinic while they were receiving treatment.
Brian Daly (47), Laytown, Co Meath pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Ms Jean Reilly (34) on December 8th, 2000.
Passing sentence, Mr Justice Paul Carney took into account Daly's early guilty plea on January 12th, 2001 and his remorse for what he had done, which was "evidenced by his refusal to take up bail". He suspended the final 18 months of the sentence which was backdated to December 9th, 2000.
The court heard from Mr Tom O'Connell SC, prosecuting, that Daly was estranged from Ms Reilly, a nurse, and had been barred from her house at the time of her killing. Their relationship was described by Mr O'Connell as a "tumultuous affair".
A barring order was made on October 27th, 2000 and Daly had moved to a guesthouse. On the day of Ms Reilly's death, he had been drinking heavily and had returned to her house to collect some clothes despite the barring order.
Sgt Seamus Burke, of Laytown Garda station, confirmed that Daly was "quite intoxicated" by the time he arrived at Ms Reilly's house. "She told him that he was barred from the house and should not have been present," he said. A confrontation ensued between the couple, during which a friend of Ms Reilly's, Mrs Frances Scully, was assaulted by Daly.
"There was a confrontation and Mr Scully went to Laytown Garda station and reported the assault on his wife to the gardaí," said Sgt Burke.
Daly then assaulted Mrs Scully once more and she had to jump out the front window of the sitting room to escape him, according to Sgt Burke. "As she left, she heard two loud moans. She came back and saw Jean Reilly coming out of the house and collapse on the pavement outside," he said.
State pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy concluded that Ms Reilly died from "a single stab wound to the chest, piercing the heart and ending in the front part of the spine".
Mr Hugh Hartnett SC, defending, told the judge that Daly has "remained extremely remorseful" for his actions. He said Daly had worked as a chef but that "very serious heart problems" forced him to give up work leaving him with a lot of free time which he spent drinking.
Ms Reilly's twin brother, Austin Reilly, told the court his family had been very upset by mail sent to them from Daly. "We have also been upset by receiving correspondence from Brian Daly and I would just wish to say we don't want to receive anymore correspondence," he said.