Courts / Cork / Report

Murder accused told gardaí knife "no sooner in my hands than it was in her neck"

Summary

In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 22 May 2014, a 37‑year‑old man named Darren Murphy pleaded not guilty to the murder of 36‑year‑old Olivia Dunlea, whom he had dated for three months. He also pleaded guilty to arson of the deceased's home on the same night. Murphy told the court that a knife was "no sooner in my hands than it was in her neck" after a heated argument. He described how he stabbed Ms Dunlea at the back of the neck, then tried to leave the scene, wiping the knife on a pillow and discarding it in the toilet to stop a ringing phone. A taxi driver, Thomas Farrell, testified that he and Ms Dunlea had been friends and had a one‑night stand months earlier, but had no further contact. The case was set to continue before a jury the following day.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Murder accused told gardaí knife "no sooner in my hands than it was in her neck". Charges or matters: murdering Olivia Dunlea (36) at Pembroke Crescent, Passage West, Co Cork on February 17 2013; a second charge of arson on the deceased woman's home on the same date. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• February 17 2013 Other
• February 19 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2014-05-22 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

Related court reports

• Mentally ill man who put fellow psychiatric patient in chokehold to be immediately released into care of UK parents
• 'Alternative dispute resolution': man arranged 'straightener' during which dad-of-seven was stabbed to death
• Brothers who sexually assaulted teenage girls in mid-nineties can now be identified for first time
• ESB worker too late to pursue claim seeking €42k in alleged unpaid overtime
• 'No hand, act or part': Osgur Breatnach's wrongful conviction for Sallins train robbery declared a miscarriage of justice
• Migrant engineer who worked 10-hour days for under minimum wage wins €14k

Read the original CNI report