Addiction and violence recurring themes in Amy McCarthy’s tragic demise

The man convicted of murdering the mother of his child ‘lost control and exploded’ over fears she had cheated on him. Liam Heylin followed the case.

Addiction was to be found throughout the tragic story of a 22-year-old Cork woman who died at the hands of her boyfriend in a squat no more than 100m from some of the busiest nightspots in Cork city.

Adam O’Keeffe was beaten by his father as a child and began drinking alcohol and smoking cannabis at the age of 10. By 16, he was using amphetamines, cocaine, and heroin. He was also living on the streets.