Jury retires in case of Carlow killing

A jury at the trial of a Laois man accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend has been sent out to consider its verdict at the Central Criminal Court.

Mr Justice Peter Charleton has told the jurors that they can deliver a verdict of murder or one of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.

Gordon Molloy (aged 24), Ballinakill, Ballickmoyler, Co. Laois has pleaded not guilty to murdering Ciara Ni Chathmhaoil (aged 22) at her home in Ardmore Gardens, Carlow, on November 12, 2007.

It is the prosecution’s case that Ms Ni Chathmhaoil’s death was the “culmination of drink and jealousy.”

The court has previously heard that the accused and Ms Ni Chathmhaoil had met two years previously and had separated five weeks prior to her death.

Mr Molloy found out that she had met another man the evening before her death, the court has heard.

He told gardaí that he went to Ms Ni Chathmhaoil’s house after having been drinking in Carlow and that she returned home at approximately 8am.

They had an argument and he picked up a knife and stabbed her, the court has heard.

A psychiatrist on behalf of the defence told the jury last week that the accused suffers from a borderline personality disorder.

This disorder was enough to “substantially diminish” the man’s responsibility for the killing, the court was told.

Prosecution witness Dr Paul O’Connell, also a consultant psychiatrist, has previously told the court that it is “very likely” that Mr Molloy has a personality disorder but that he was “hamstrung in unequivocally saying it because of his [Mr Molloy’s] history of intoxicant abuse.”