A man (34) has pleaded guilty to the murder of his wife four years ago.
Colin Whelan of Clonard Street, Balbriggan, Co Dublin, was accused of the murder of Mary Whelan (27) at their home between February 28th and March 1st, 2001.
Post-mortem tests on Mrs Whelan revealed that she had been strangled. The couple had been married for just six months.
When the trial began this morning, defence counsel Hugh Hartnett told Mr Justice Carney that "a jury was not required".
Mr Justice Carney remanded Whelan in custody for sentencing tomorrow at the Central Criminal Court.
Whelan fled to Spain shortly after being charged with his wife's murder in April 2003. His car was found abandoned in Howth soon afterwards. He was due to stand trial in October 2003.
However, he was spotted working in a bar in Spain and extradited back to Ireland in July 2004 to face trial.
Speaking after this morning's hearing, the dead woman's family, the Goughs, said they were relieved justice had been done.
"Four years ago, Mary's life was robbed from us, the hurt that she suffered will stay with us forever," they said in a statement. "We are relieved Colin Whelan had finally admitted his guilt. The last four years have been hell on earth. We have spent the time hoping and waiting for justice to be done.
"We would like to thank the Balbriggan gardaí and the very brave person who reported Colin to be in Spain, which without that we might never have received the justice we got today."