Jury convicts Kildare man of murdering his former partner

A 51-year-old Kildare man has been convicted of murdering his ex partner.

Michael McDonald of Barnhill, Castledermot stabbed Breda Cummins six times in the chest at a house in Athy in the early hours of May 13, 2010.

McDonald admits killing 31-year-old Cummins, but denies her murder.

He has also pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm to her new partner John Lawlor.

The prosecution say he armed himself with a knife and took a taxi to her house in order to vent his jealous rage that his girlfriend of five years had left him for another man.

The defence say the 51-year-old has been diagnosed with Alcohol Dependency Syndrome and Schizoaffective disorder, and that this is not a case of murder because of his diminished responsibility under the Criminal Law Insanity Act.

Before beginning their deliberations yesterday Ms Justice Iseult O'Malley said despite it being a “shocking, sad and outrageous death”, the jury must not let this cloud their judgment.