Courts / Galway / Report
Woman who killed partner sent back to jail for breaching release conditions
Summary
Maura Thornton, 38, of Inverin, Connemara, was originally sentenced in 2013 to ten years imprisonment for the manslaughter of her former partner Kevin Joyce, 59, outside her Salthill apartment on 3 July 2011. Three years of that sentence were suspended. In February 2018 she was granted early release, but she breached the conditions of her partly suspended sentence by drinking alcohol. In October 2022 a bench warrant was issued after she failed to appear in court. At a hearing on 9 February 2021, Mr Justice Paul McDermott found that Thornton had not engaged with probation services and had attempted to negotiate with the court. He therefore sent her back to prison for 16 months, activating 22 months of the suspended term and leaving the remaining three years suspended. The court noted that Thornton had been in custody since 8 October 2020 and that her compliance with treatment and probation had been inadequate. Maura Thornton was found guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Woman who killed partner sent back to jail for breaching release conditions. Charges or matters: the manslaughter of her former partner Kevin Joyce (59) outside her apartment in Salthill in Galway on July 3, 2011. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- July 3, 2011 Hearing Or Sentence
- February 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
- October 8 Hearing Or Sentence
- Christmas Other
- 2021-02-09 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: the manslaughter of her former partner Kevin Joyce (59) outside her apartment in Salthill in Galway on July 3, 2011 (Proven)
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; Maura Thornton (38) from Inverin, Connemara, Co Galway was originally sentenced to ten years imprisonment with the final three suspended in 2013 after she was found guilty of the manslaughter of her former partner Kevin Joyce (59) outside her apartment in Salthill in Galway on July 3, 2011. Ultimately, he said, the court had imposed a suspended sentence and had been left in a situation where the terms had been breached.; He said he wanted a "structured plan" drawn up for her ongoing treatment and adjourned the case until today to allow that to happen.
Places mentioned
- The Central Criminal Court
- During Thornton's Central Criminal Court
- High Park
Topics
Related court reports
- Appearance of tips machine in cafe that pulled in €5k unexplained, tribunal notes
- Judge speaks out about toxic masculinity while jailing young man for rape
- 'You ruined my life,' rape victim tells older brother
- Retired Franciscan brother jailed for 11 years for raping boy
- Lab had to decontaminate first aid room after technician found to have been napping, wearing lead-exposed work gear, tribunal told
- Lithuanian man admits engaging in terrorist plot to attack mosque
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request