Murder accused tells how he stabbed woman in neck

A man accused of murdering a woman he had been in a three-month relationship with told gardaí that a knife was no sooner in his hands "than it was in her neck", a jury has heard.

Darren Murphy, aged 37, of Dan Desmond Villas, Passage West, Co Cork, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Olivia Dunlea, aged 36, at Pembroke Crescent, Passage West, Co Cork, on February 17, 2013.

When asked how he was to plead to the charge of murder, Mr Murphy said “not guilty, guilty of manslaughter”. He has admitted a second charge of arson on Ms Dunlea’s home on the same date.