Man jailed for beating partner to death

A 44 year-old English man who beat his partner to death and then recorded a film on TV was jailed for six years at the Central Criminal Court yesterday.

Mr Edward McKenna, who is originally from Liverpool has lived in Cork for 15 years, had pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Jean Scanlon (aged 34) at her home at Roches Buildings, Cork City on January 2, 2003.

The court heard that Ms Scanlon’s liver was split almost in two from severe violence at the hands of McKenna, a chronic alcoholic.

Her left chest was almost caved in from four fractured ribs and she also sustained a broken jaw during the violent beating during which she fell down the stairs.

Her blood alcohol level at the time of death was high - more than twice the drink driving level.

The court also heard that the post mortem carried out by Dr John Harbison recorded 108 bruises and abrasions on Ms Scanlon’s body, some of which may have been two weeks old.

The victim was an accomplished painter who held a diploma from the National College of Art and Design. However, she suffered from anorexia and alcoholism. The court heard she had been abused by a third party earlier in life.

She was treated at the Rutland Centre before moving from her native Dublin to Cork in 2000.

In an emotional address to the court, the victim’s mother Mrs Carol Scanlon said when she saw her dead daughter’s beautiful face "I could not believe that one human being could do that to another". She hoped no other mother would ever stand "where I am and ask the same question why".

Detective Sgt Tony Quilter, Cork, told Mr Michlael O’Higgins SC, for the State, that on the night of the killing, neighbours heard a row in the couple’s flat.

They heard McKenna shouting "I’ll f**king kill you, you won’t be alive tonight". Some time later, he called to a neighbour and told them he had just returned home and found Ms Scanlon at the bottom of the stairs.

Initially, he told gardaí the same story but later admitted kicking her hard and punching her. Detective Sgt Quilter said McKenna also admitted: "I backhanded her and she tumbled down the stairs backwards. I was vicious. She was just drawing out my temper."

He claimed Jean Scanlon "started on him" and hit him after he spent the day drinking when he went to collect his wages as a part time doorman in a city pub. Their relationship was described in court as "tempestuous". Ms Scanlon had been advised by friends and her GP to get out of the relationship or "she would end up dead".

Detective Quilter told counsel that gardaí found that Edward McKenna recorded some 15 minutes of a film on TV as Ms Scanlon’s body was lying on the floor. He then went to bed and it was some hours later before he went for help.

The court heard that he has 17 previous convictions in the UK for arson, burglary, theft and criminal damage from 1978 to 1982.

Mrs Scanlon told the court: "We knew Jean was in a very, very savage harmful relationship. We did everything in our power to bring Jean back to Dublin."

She recalled a previous incident in which her daughter called her for help and said "but hurry". Mrs Scanlon dialled 999 and then travelled to Cork the following day.

"All our worst fears" were realised on the night of January 3 when the police called, she said. The family, including Jean’s twin sister Laura were devastated and still trying to come to terms with her death. The only consolation they had, she added, was that "no one would ever hurt Jean again".

Sentencing McKenna to six years dating from January 2003, Mr Justice Carney said the relationship between McKenna and Jean Scanlon could be characterised as "two loving violent alcoholics" with one of them meeting death at the hands of the other.