Courts / Cork / Report

Murder accused "jealous" and didn't want anyone else to have girlfriend, prosecution say

Date
2017-05-30

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Cork

County
Cork

Summary

During a murder trial, prosecution barrister Thomas Creed SC argued that Darren Murphy, 40, stabbed his girlfriend Olivia Dunlea to death because he did not want anyone else to have her. Creed said Murphy had been cheated on once before and was determined not to be cheated on again, leading him to kill Dunlea on 17 February 2013. Murphy denies the murder charge but pleaded guilty to manslaughter, a plea that was not accepted. Creed described the events: after a night of drinking, a dispute over a taxi driver led Murphy to stab Dunlea, who died from a knife wound that penetrated her spinal canal and five other stab wounds to the neck. Murphy then set her house on fire, drove her car to the inn, threw her keys into a river, and returned to the burning house pretending ignorance.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Murder accused "jealous" and didn't want anyone else to have girlfriend, prosecution say. Charges or matters: manslaughter. Procedural stage: trial

When:

February 17, 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
2017-05-30 Publication

Why: A man who admits stabbing his girlfriend to death did it because he didn't want anyone else to have her, a prosecution barrister has told a murder trial jury. Prosecution account reported by CNI