Zbigniew Bednarczyk jailed for manslaughter of his son

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Zbigniew Bednarczyk was jailed for manslaughter at the Central Criminal Court on 26 February 2025, receiving a two-year sentence with the final six months suspended.

The court heard that Bednarczyk’s son, Rafal Bednarczyk Jacyna, died after a knife wound severed an artery in his leg at their home in Kilkenny in February 2023. Bednarczyk had initially faced a murder charge, but pleaded guilty to manslaughter after his trial began, and the State accepted the plea.

Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring placed the case in the lower culpability category for manslaughter. She said the knife was being used to prepare food, and the injury was unexpected; she also noted the deceased had bipolar disorder and had not been following his medication routine.