Murder accused was ‘scared for her life’

A woman accused of murdering her partner last year has given evidence in her trial that she was “scared for her life” when the deceased began “strangling” her “to death” before she got a knife and stabbed him.

Paula Farrell, aged 42, Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, Co Louth, is charged with murdering Wayne McQuillan, 30, at her home on January 1, 2014.

Two weeks ago at the Central Criminal Court, Ms Farrell pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr McQuillan.

Continuing to give evidence to Derek Kenneally, defending, the mother of three told the jury yesterday she had consumed up to 12 cans of cider before a verbal argument broke out between her and Mr McQuillan on the night.

The court heard how Farrell went to sit on the couch when the deceased gave her a kiss “to make up with her” but she turned her head.

“He then pulled his pants and boxers down and then he pulled my pyjama pants down below my knees. He got in between my legs, on top of me and he tried to get his penis inside me because I was fighting him.

“He got it in a little bit and my legs were kicking, I was trying to fight him off me but his hands were around my neck,” said Ms Farrell.

To get Mr McQuillan off her, Ms Farrell gave him a kick on the side of his leg as she thought “he was going to kill” her.

“He was looking at me very angry with a mad face. I was scared for my life,” added the accused.

The court then heard Ms Farrell walked to the kitchen sink where she picked up a steak knife.

“I went over to him and stuck the knife in him, around the shoulder area. I did it again around the same area,” she said.

The trial continues.