Courts

Gravedigger accused of murdering partner claims she stabbed herself after argument

Jury to hear Martin Hayes (34), accused of murder of Amadea McDermott (27), told new partner about what happened on night Ms McDermott died after becoming ‘upset’

The relationship between Martin Hayes and Amadea McDermott was described in court as 'difficult, volatile and abusive'. Photograph: Facebook

Alison O'Riordan
Tue Oct 17 2023 - 16:09

A gravedigger accused of murdering his partner told emergency services who arrived at her home that the mother of two had self-harmed by stabbing herself, a jury has heard.

During the opening of the Central Criminal Court trial of Martin Hayes, a prosecuting barrister said the jury would also hear that after 27-year-old Amadea McDermott’s death, the accused entered into a relationship with another woman. That woman will, the jury heard, give evidence that the accused became upset on Christmas Eve 2018 and said things about what happened on the night his former partner died.

Seán Gillane, with Michael D Hourigan, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said the accused and Ms McDermott’s relationship was “difficult, volatile and abusive”.

“It was a relationship where there was some degree of violence...that doesn’t make anyone guilty of a particular offence but is the context in which the relationship has to be understood,” he said.

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Mr Hayes (34), with an address at Poddle Close, Crumlin, Dublin 12, is charged with murdering Ms McDermott at her home on Rathvale Drive, Ayrfield, Coolock on or about July 20th, 2017. He has pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The court has heard that Mr Hayes was working as a gravedigger in Mount Jerome cemetery in Harold’s Cross at the time of Ms McDermott’s death.

Opening the prosecution’s case, Mr Gillane said the incident developed over the course of the night of July 19th and into the early morning of July 20th, 2017 at Ms McDermott’s home. Counsel said Ms McDermott and Mr Hayes had been in a relationship for a couple of years and the accused often stayed at her place.

“It was a relationship which was difficult, it was volatile, it was abusive and it was a relationship which had some degree of violence,” he added.

There will be evidence, Mr Gillane said, that there was abuse of alcohol and controlled drugs within the relationship from time to time.

Mr Gillane said the accused, Ms McDermott and the two children were present in the apartment as night fell on July 19th. He said that emergency services were called by Mr Hayes in the early hours of July 20th and the jury would hear three 999 calls as part of the evidence.

Mr Gillane said Mr Hayes had phoned a sister of Ms McDermott, who was at home asleep, in or around that time.

“Having answered the telephone she spoke to the accused and he reported some difficulty in relation to Amadea and repeated the phrase ‘cardiac arrest’; that something had happened in relation to a cardiac arrest,” he said.

Counsel told the jury that Ms McDermott’s sister alerted other members of the family and another sister had run on foot to the deceased’s home.

When medical personnel gained entry to Ms McDermott’s apartment, they found her in some distress, he said. It appeared to medical personnel that she had suffered a stab wound to the abdomen, which had caused significant internal bleeding.

There will be evidence, Mr Gillane said, that Ms McDermott was removed to Beaumont Hospital where further attempts were made to save her but they were unsuccessful. The deceased died shortly after her arrival at the hospital, he continued.

“Upon the arrival of ambulance personnel, the accused was noted as being in his underwear, you will hear they spoke to him, at that stage he effectively reported that Amadea had self harmed, that she had stabbed herself and that she threatened to do so after an argument they had,” said Mr Gillane.

He also indicated to the jury that the deceased’s sisters attended Beaumont Hospital and that Mr Hayes had gone there separately. He said the jurors would hear about a brief argument that ensued between them at the hospital.

The barrister further stated that gardaí interviewed Mr Hayes with his consent in relation to what had happened. “He described an argument, he said he tried to extricate himself from it and tried to remove himself to the bedroom. He said she stabbed herself and he called emergency services when she collapsed on the livingroom floor,” counsel said.

Outlining the circumstances of the deceased’s death, Mr Gillane said a postmortem carried out by retired State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy revealed that Ms McDermott had died from a stab wound to the right side of the abdomen. The postmortem also revealed bruising to her face and body, “some fresh and some old”, he said.

Counsel said the former State pathologist also said that a knife, which was retrieved from a table in the living area of the apartment, could be the weapon that inflicted the injury.

The court will also hear evidence, the lawyer said, that there was a DNA match between the deceased and a small amount of blood on the knife.

Counsel said the court will further hear that the accused man entered into a relationship with another woman some time later. “You will hear from her that on Christmas Eve 2018 at the time she was wrapping presents for her children where she lived, where Martin Hayes was in attendance, he became upset at that juncture and he said things to her of what happened in July 2017.”

Giving evidence on Tuesday afternoon, paramedic Keith Markey told Mr Gillane that he was on duty into the early hours of July 20th, when he responded to a call at Rathvale Drive. Mr Markey said he was on the way towards the house when the ambulance was waved down by a man, who was wearing a white vest and white underpants.

When the ambulance stopped the man told them to come inside so they got their equipment. Mr Markey said there was a woman lying on the floor in the doorframe between the living room and kitchen area. “She wasn’t responding, just lying on her back,” he said. When the paramedics couldn’t find a pulse they started compressions on her chest. He said there was a wound on the right hand side of her abdominal area and they dressed it to stop the blood.

A second paramedic, Maria Partridge, said an agitated man had flagged the ambulance down on the road. When they entered the room Ms Partridge said she heard the woman, who was lying on the floor, take a few short breaths which indicated that she was nearing the end of life. She saw a small wound on the woman. She said the man who had flagged them down told her that he and the woman had been arguing and that she had threatened to stab herself.

The trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of eight men and four women. It is expected to last up to four weeks.

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