Dublin man Paul Hickey (31) has been found guilty of killing his partner and mother of his three children, Celine Conroy (26), while on a family holiday in Spain over three years ago.
Hickey, from Darndale, appeared in court in Elche, in the province of Alicante, today. He faces a 15-year sentence for beating Ms Conroy to death, convicted on the charge of “homicidio”, a lesser offence than murder.
For 10 years after his release, Hickey will be barred from contacting or coming within 500 metres of his children, Shane (12), nine-year-old Chloe and five-year-old Leah. A total of €60,000 will be paid to each child and €40,000 each to the deceased’s parents, Davy and Sandra Conroy.
Ms Conroy, from Dublin’s north inner city, was found dead on the floor of a villa at the Marina Oasis holiday complex in San Fulgencio on the Costa Blanca on August 28th, 2005. Hickey has been in custody in Spain since the attack.
Today in the Palacio de Justicia de Elche, in front of Judge García Serrano Ruiz and a jury of four women and seven men, Hickey admitted to killing Ms Conroy.
Under questioning from the State Prosecutor Pablo Romero, Hickey denied causing Ms Conroy more suffering than was necessary to bring about death. He agreed he was fully in control of his faculties at the time of the assault. The court heard that diazepam was the only drug found in his system.
A plea bargain was entered on Hickey’s behalf and the Conroy family was informed. The lawyers came to an agreement on a 15-year sentence which was rubber-stamped by the jury. Hickey is expected to be formally sentenced within days.
Speaking briefly to the Spanish court through an interpreter, Hickey, who was handcuffed, said he was sorry for everything that had happened. His interpreter provided him with a simultaneous translation of what was said in court throughout the proceedings.
The State Prosecution had originally asked for Hickey to be jailed for 20 years on a murder charge. The Conroy family, represented by a Spanish solicitor, had asked for a 15-year sentence with €125,000 to be awarded to each child and €90,000 each to Ms Conroy’s parents.
Hickey’s lawyer had asked for a 10-year sentence on a “homicidio” charge, with €30,000 to be awarded to each child and €20,000 each to the parents of the deceased.
The trial had been expected to last until Monday.