A man jailed for life for the murder of his neighbour is seeking to bring an appeal against his conviction to the Supreme Court on the grounds legal issues of exceptional public importance are involved.

A 47-year-old Co Clare woman lost her life last Christmas Eve after a night drinking on the couch in front of the TV with her boyfriend.

The jury in the trial of a man jailed for life for the murder of his neighbour were left in a “hopeless state of confusion” on the issue of self-defence, the Court of Criminal Appeal has heard.