Man pleads guilty to manslaughter of young woman

A Cavan man has pleaded not guilty to the murder of a 21-year-old woman but guilty to her manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Brendan McGahern (aged 28) with an address at Drumcarey, Colismore in Co Cavan is charged with murdering Amy Farrell on January 20, 2006, at an address in Glenlara, Co Cavan.

A jury of eight men and four women are hearing the case before Mr Justice Paul Carney in the Central Criminal Court at Dublin.

Opening the case to the court, Mr Alex Owens SC said one of the issues the jury would have to decide was McGahern’s mental state at the time of the murder.

McGahern is represented by Mr David Kennedy SC.