The trial of a Dublin woman, accused of murdering her husband over two years ago, heard today of her distressed state in the aftermath of the incident.
Dolores O'Neill (50), pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to murdering her husband Declan O'Neill (46), in the family home in Coolamber Park, Knocklyon, Dublin on or about July 22nd, 2002. When arraigned she pleaded guilty to his manslaughter, but the plea was not accepted by the State.
Giving evidence on the opening day of the trial Mrs Ann Hughes said when she opened the door to her sister around 1 a.m, the first thing she noticed was a lot of bruising on her sister's face. The accused then asked her sister to look after her boys, while she spoke to her brother-in-law John.
Later that morning, two gardai went to the Hughes home in Ashford, where they confirmed that Mr O'Neill was dead.
Ann Hughes said Ms O' Neill was incoherent most of the time, was "rocking back and forth" on the bed, and eventually collapsed after she told the gardai what had happened. The gardai then took her away.
Mr John Hughes told the court his wife's sister, Ms O'Neill, was "out of it, totally devastated and in a horrific state" when she arrived at his door on the night in question. The accused had driven herself and her two sons the 25 miles from the family home in Knocklyon to her sister Ann Hughes' home in Wicklow.
Mr Hughes told Mr Roger Sweetman, SC for the prosecution, it took him about five minutes to calm the accused down so she could tell him what happened. She eventually said she had "done a terrible thing (to) the father of her sons" and that she must have been mad. He said she spoke disjointedly about a trip to Cork and a row.
She told him her husband had caught her by the throat and threatened to give her another black eye. She said she hit him so he fell back on the bed, and he turned over, before turning back and saying he was out of there the following morning.
Ms O'Neill told her brother-in-law this is when she flipped and hit the deceased with a hammer. Mr Hughes then said he told Ms O' Neill there were things he had to do, and said she understood this meant he had to call the emergency services.
Before the court adjourned for the day, Mr Justice Paul Carney told the jury of six men and six women that despite the word "mad" being mentioned during testimony, there was no issue of insanity in the case. The trial continues tomorrow.