Homeless man admits pushing partner into River Lee

A homeless man has been sentenced to six years in jail after pleading gulity to the manslaughter of his partner who he pushed into the River Lee in Cork.

A 37-year-old homeless man who pushed his partner into the River Lee was jailed for six years today.

Greg Holt, 37, who lives with the Simon Community in Cork, had pleaded guilty to the unlawful killing of Marion O'Leary at Albert Quay in Cork on October 17 2007.

The deceased woman, Marion O'Leary (aged 54), from St Anthony's Road in Gurranabraher, Cork, had been living in hostels and other accommodation around the city for several years and had been in what was described as an on-and-off relationship with Holt during that time.

Detective Garda David O’Callaghan testified that the only witness to the killing was Holt and that the area of Albert Quay where the killing was committed was not covered by security cameras. The defendant and the deceased had been drinking heavily all day before the fatal incident occurred after midnight.

When questioned by gardaí, Holt said: “I got angry, lost my temper, I punched her in the back and I pushed her on the back with my two hands.”

Det. Garda O’Callaghan said, “A number of hours passed before Greg Holt reported what happened to Marion O’Leary.”

Tony O’Leary, a son of the deceased, said in a victim impact statement that he and his sister and three brothers loved their mother and she loved them, and her death had broken their hearts.

Tom Creed, defence senior counsel, said: “If not for Mr Holt telling gardaí, this would have been treated as an accidental drowning.” Detective Garda O’Callaghan accepted that proposition.

Judge Patrick J. Moran said he was concerned by the conclusion of a report on Holt where the probation officer said that while Holt accepted responsibility for Ms O’Leary’s death he displayed a lack of empathy and remorse.