Courts / Louth / Report

Woman sentenced to life for murdering her partner

Date
2015-07-17

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Louth

County
Louth

Summary

A 42‑year‑old woman from Louth, Paula Farrell, was sentenced to life imprisonment after a jury found her guilty of murdering her partner, Wayne McQuillan, 30, on 1 January 2014. The trial, held at the Central Criminal Court, lasted three hours and 27 minutes. Farrell pleaded not guilty but was found guilty by a jury of four men and seven women. The prosecution presented evidence that Farrell stabbed McQuillan four times with a large kitchen knife during an argument at her home in Rathmullen Park, Drogheda. Witnesses, including Garda Tomas Leonard and Deputy State Pathologist Michael Curtis, confirmed the stabbing and the fatal wound. Farrell's defence cited a history of sexual abuse and schizophrenia, but the jury accepted the prosecution's case and imposed a life sentence. The judge exempted the jury from service for ten years. The verdict was announced on 17 July 2015.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Woman sentenced to life for murdering her partner. Charges or matters: murdering Wayne McQuillan (30) on January 1, 2014; murdering Mr McQuillan, but after a period of three hours 27 minutes deliberating a jury of four men and seven women brought in a unanimous verdict of guilty. Procedural stage: trial

When:

January 1, 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
January 1 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
Christmas Incident
New Year Other
2015-07-17 Publication

Why: "Because I didn't want to believe it, because it happened me before," said Farrell. CNI source report

Case subjects

Paula Farrell

Accused

Charges: murdering Wayne McQuillan (30) on January 1, 2014; murdering Mr McQuillan, but after a period of three hours 27 minutes deliberating a jury of four men and seven women brought in a unanimous verdict of guilty (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty