Courts / Kildare / Report

Man gets eight years for killing sister's partner

Date
2025-11-20

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Sallins

County
Kildare

Summary

A 24-year-old man, Valeriu Melnic, has been jailed for eight years for the manslaughter of his sister's partner, Ion Daghi, following a fatal stabbing in Co Kildare in May 2024. Melnic told gardai he was so drunk he couldn't remember the incident, but the court found his self-induced intoxication was an aggravating factor. The jury rejected the defence's claims of intoxication and provocation as mitigating factors, though they found him not guilty of murder. During the trial, evidence showed that Melnic had threatened to kill Mr Daghi before stabbing him in the chest with a kitchen knife. The judge noted that Melnic had armed himself with a knife and initiated the altercation. He also acknowledged the victim's mother's heartrending impact statement, describing the loss as irreplaceable. Melnic had pleaded guilty to manslaughter but not guilty to murder. The judge considered his guilty plea and cooperation with gardai as mitigating factors but noted his lack of insight into his wrongdoing.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man gets eight years for killing sister's partner. 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: sentence

When:

May 12, 2024 Hearing Or Sentence
July 22 Hearing Or Sentence
May 15, 2024 Incident
2025-11-20 Publication

Case subjects

Unnamed 24-year-old

Convicted Person

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

Outcome: A 24-year-old man, who told gardai he was "so drunk" that he couldn't remember fatally stabbing his sister's partner with a kitchen knife, has been jailed for eight years for the killing.