Accused stabbed ex’s lover, court hears

A FATHER of three who found his ex-partner in bed with another man got two knives from her kitchen and stabbed the other man while one of the children was still asleep in the bed, a murder trial has heard.

Patrick Murphy, 27, died in hospital shortly after he was stabbed in the abdomen in a house at 42 The Glen, Waterford, at about 5.15am on June 20 last year.

John Flaherty, aged 25, of Árd Daire, Ferrybank, Waterford, denies murdering Mr Murphy but has admitted assaulting his ex-partner and the mother of his three children, Amy Quigley, aged 25, causing her harm.

The trial at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Waterford, is due to continue today but a juror had to be discharged yesterday afternoon when an issue arose. As another juror was released yesterday morning because of a separate matter, a decision will be made this morning on whether to continue with 10 jurors.

Opening the case, Patrick McCarthy, prosecuting, said Mr Murphy had previously been in a relationship with Ms Quigley’s sister, Louise.

On June 19, 2010, he met Amy Quigley and went to her mother’s house at The Glen near the city centre.

Later they went across the road to Amy’s house with two of Amy’s three children, Mr McCarthy said. He said the relationship between Flaherty and Amy Quigley was over, “in Amy Quigley’s view”.

Flaherty left his home at about 9.30pm that night and went to a pub on The Quay in Waterford city and two separate parties. He arrived at Amy Quigley’s house at about 5am, and went upstairs to the main bedroom.

“In the bed at that time,” Mr McCarthy told the jury, “are her son and Amy in the middle and the late Patrick Murphy. They were all asleep at that time.” The child was two at the time.

Flaherty then punched Mr Murphy and went downstairs, where he took two knives from the kitchen before returning to the bedroom.

“It appears that Amy Quigley is still asleep and the child is still asleep. Mr Murphy is at the side of the bed and Mr Flaherty stabs him in the abdomen, in the stomach area.”

After a struggle, Mr Murphy was “slashed or otherwise cut” as cuts were found on his back.

Ms Quigley left the bedroom and went into another room where another child was sleeping. “Mr Flaherty comes into the room and threatens her and said he’d be back up when he’s finished with Mr Murphy. At that time he also slashes her [Amy’s] leg.”

After a while, Ms Quigley ran to her mother’s house to raise the alarm.

Gardaí arrested Flaherty at about 8am that morning.