Courts / Wicklow / Report

Man admits to murdering ex two days into trial

Summary

Patrick Ballard, aged 35, pleaded guilty to murdering his former partner, Ms Bennett, aged 29, in a public toilet in County Clare on 28 January 2021. Ballard had initially pleaded not guilty but, two days into his trial at the Central Criminal Court, admitted that his kicking and stamping caused Bennett's death. Witnesses, including Hussein 'Jamesie' Abdullah, testified that Ballard attacked Bennett in the toilet, pushing her onto a metal floor and repeatedly stamping and kicking her head. Bennett was taken to hospital in Limerick, where she died on 10 February 2021. Ballard was re‑arrested on 24 March 2021 and charged with murder. The trial, expected to last two weeks, was adjourned to hear a victim impact statement, with the mandatory sentence for murder being life imprisonment.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man admits to murdering ex two days into trial. Charges or matters: murdering Ms Bennett (29) in the Market area of Ennis on January 28, 2021. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• January 28, 2021 Incident
• February 10, 2021 Incident
• March 24, 2021 Adjournment
• February 10 Adjournment
• 2022-10-06 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

Related court reports

• Peace Commissioner (75) who forged signatures when setting up glamping business gets suspended sentence
• Peace Commissioner (75) forged signatures when setting up glamping business, court hears
• Man who choked ex and attacked her with plank has jail sentence overturned
• Nursing home company which received millions from Chinese investors formally wound up
• Chinese businesswoman says €1m invested through immigrant programme has not been repaid
• 'Gilly' ended up with machine gun when he thought he was collecting cannabis

Read the original CNI report