Courts / Westmeath / Report

"I knew I was after killing her": murder accused showed gardai how he choked former partner

Summary

Danny Keena, a 55‑year‑old farmer from Empor, Ballynacargy, Westmeath, is on trial for the murder of 43‑year‑old Brigid Maguire, the mother of his two children. He pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. During the trial, Keena demonstrated to Gardaí how he strangled Maguire after a dispute at her new home. He described following her to her bedroom, arguing, and then choking her for a few minutes until she fell and her tongue turned blue. He claimed he did not intend to kill her, stating he panicked when she was dying. Keena also admitted having attempted suicide twice and that he had threatened to kill himself. The court heard a post‑mortem report indicating extensive neck injury and asphyxiation as the cause of death. The trial is proceeding before Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and a jury.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: "I knew I was after killing her": murder accused showed gardai how he choked former partner. Charges or matters: the murder of 43-year-old Brigid Maguire by strangling her; murder, but guilty to her manslaughter at Main Street, Ballynacargy on November 14, 2015. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• November 14, 2015 Incident
• 2017-10-04 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Trial Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report