Car jack wife killer gets eight years

A 37-year-old Co Kilkenny man who beat his wife to death with a car jack has been sentenced to eight years at the Central Criminal Court.

Patrick Hennessy of Killaloe, Callan, was convicted of the manslaughter of 31-year-old mother-of-three Marie Hennessy on May 10, 1999, after being acquitted on a charge of murder.

Mrs Hennessy died in hospital two days after the assault.

Hennessy, who was a former social welfare manager, said he lost control with his wife after he learnt that he was under investigation for embezzlement.

When he told his wife he had been suspended from work, a row broke out and he hit her with a car jack up to seven times in front of two of their young children.

The court heard Hennessy was deeply remorseful for his actions and had kept pebbles from his wife's grave in his prison cell.