Courts / Kildare / Report

Murder accused's sister agrees that evidence to jury 'complete opposite' to statement

Date
2025-07-15

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Sallins

County
Kildare

Summary

The sister of Valeriu Melnic, accused of murdering Ion Daghi, testified that her evidence to the jury last week was the opposite of what she had said in her Garda statement. In the statement, she described her brother as the aggressor who had a knife and threatened to kill her husband. In court, she denied that she was trying to protect him and said she had not seen the earlier part of the fight. She admitted that she had described her husband as the one armed and that her brother had wanted to leave the house. She also said she had only seen the leg of a chair in his hand and did not see them fighting. The trial continues tomorrow before Mr Justice David Keane and a jury of eight men and four women. Valeriu Melnic pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Murder accused's sister agrees that evidence to jury 'complete opposite' to statement. Charges or matters: murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Ion Daghi (39) at The Close, Sallins Park, Sallins in Co Kildare on May 12, 2024. Procedural stage: trial

When:

May 12, 2024 Incident
May 2024 Other
May 11 Other
May 12 Incident
2025-07-15 Publication

Why: Mr Hanahoe put it to the witness that the reason she didn't remember certain things was because she was attempting to protect her brother. CNI source report

Case subjects

Valeriu Melnic

Accused

Charges: murder but guilty to the manslaughter of Ion Daghi (39) at The Close, Sallins Park, Sallins in Co Kildare on May 12, 2024 (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty