A man told gardai he stabbed his girlfriend after he "completely flipped"
because she had taunted him about his sexual performance, the Central Criminal
Court was told yesterday. The court was told Ms Valerie Linehan (21), of
Kilalla Gardens, Knockaheeney, Cork, died after she was strangled and stabbed twice in the chest by her lover, Mr Gerard Mullane, at his flat in Cork early on
December 4th, 1994.
Ms Maureen Clark SC, prosecuting, said Mr Mullane went to the nearby Garda station later that morning and made a number of statements to gardai in which he admitted stabbing Ms Linehan and said she had taunted him about his sexual prowess.
Mr Mullane made no reference to strangling the young woman but a post-mortem had found two stab wounds and signs of strangulation. She had died of blood loss.
In statements read to the court, Mr Mullane said he and Ms Linehan had been out drinking and came back to his flat early on December 4th. They had had a row about Ms Linehan having a miscarriage some days earlier. He said she had taunted him that he was drunk and could not get "a hard on" as the two were undressed to have sex.
"I got mad when she said I wasn't man enough to do it." He said she also said he "didn't have enough sperm in him".
He said that he "completely flipped" and ran and got a knife. "The next thing I knew I was back in the room. The next thing I knew we were struggling on the bed." The defendant said he "stabbed her once for sure" and "must have pulled out the knife and stabbed her again".
Ms Clark said it was agreed that Mr Mullane had killed Ms Linehan and the issue the jury had to decide was whether he was guilty of murder or whether he was guilty of manslaughter because of provocation.
She was opening the trial of Mr Mullane (34), a native of Emly, Co Tipperary, who has denied the murder of Ms Linehan at his flat at MacCurtain Street, Cork on December 4th, 1994.
Mr Brendan Grogan SC, defending, said Mr Mullane admitted he had killed Ms
Linehan and that he was later lawfully arrested and detained. The court was told Mr Mullane was separated and had had two children by his marriage, one of whom died as a result of a cot death. He had formed a relationship with Ms
Linehan about seven months before her death.
Garda John Leahy said he was on duty at Anglesea Street Garda Station in Cork city on December 4th, 1994, when Mr Mullane came into the station about 3.05
a.m. The defendant said: "I need help, I've stabbed my girlfriend. I might have killed her."
Mr Mullane had also said if he had not come into the station he would have killed himself, the witness said.
Garda Leahy said Mr Mullane had agreed to make a statement and signed it.
Cross-examined by Mr Grogan, the witness said Mr Mullane appeared remorseful about what he had done.
The trial continues today before Mr Justice Moriarty and a jury.