Courts / Dublin / Report

Dad-of-two murdered wife after discovering affair on her phone

Summary

Stephen Mooney, aged 53, was sentenced to a mandatory life term at the Central Criminal Court for murdering his 43‑year‑old wife, Anna Mooney. He admitted to stabbing her after discovering evidence of an affair on her phone. Mooney recorded the act and later called emergency services at 1.09 am on 15 June 2023, stating he had killed her. Gardaí accessed his phone, finding a 90‑minute video and audio of the murder and the events leading up to it. The pathologist reported a 13.3 cm stab wound that pierced the heart, diaphragm and abdominal cavity, with additional wounds to her back, arm and hand. Mooney apologized to the family and children, and the judge imposed the mandatory life sentence, noting the severe harm caused. The case remains under the jurisdiction of a parole board. Stephen Mooney pleaded guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Dad-of-two murdered wife after discovering affair on her phone. Charges or matters: his wife's murder earlier this year after gardai hacked into his phone and discovered video footage of the build-up to the murder and an audio recording of the murder itself. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• June 15, 2023 Other
• 2025-07-21 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report