Courts / Cork / Report
Cork man jailed for life for murder of mum-of-three
Summary
A 37‑year‑old man, Darren Murphy, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of 36‑year‑old Olivia Dunlea, who was his partner for three months. The trial, held in the Central Criminal Court, lasted seven days. Murphy pleaded not guilty to murder but attempted to plead guilty to manslaughter. He admitted setting fire to Dunlea's home, claiming he did not want children to see her, and pleaded guilty to a second charge of arson. The jury found him guilty of murder by a 10‑to‑one majority after four and a half hours of deliberation. The judge imposed a mandatory life sentence, backdated to the date of his arrest, and remanded him in custody for the arson charge. The verdict was met with sobbing from Dunlea's family, while Murphy remained silent throughout the proceedings.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Cork man jailed for life for murder of mum-of-three. Charges or matters: a second charge of arson; murdering Olivia Dunlea (36) at Pembroke Crescent, Passage West, Co Cork on February 17 2013 but had attempted to plead guilty to manslaughter. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- February 17 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
- February 19 2013 Adjournment
- June 18 Adjournment
- 2014-05-29 Publication
Why: Mr Murphy, who admitted setting fire to Ms Dunlea's home because, he claimed, he "didn't want the kids to find her," had pleaded guilty to a second charge of arson. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: murdering Olivia Dunlea (36) at Pembroke Crescent, Passage West, Co Cork on February 17 2013 but had attempted to plead guilty to manslaughter; a second charge of arson (Alleged Or Contested)
Plea: Not guilty
Outcome: The judge further remanded Mr Murphy in custody until June 18 in respect of the arson charge.
Defendant
Charges: a second charge of arson (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: The judge further remanded Mr Murphy in custody until June 18 in respect of the arson charge.
Places mentioned
Topics
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
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request