Boyfriend of Irish woman Sarah McNally charged with murdering her in New York

Marcin Pieciak faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted

Sarah McNally from Co Longford died after a man walked into the Céilí House bar in Queens where she worked as a bartender and attacked her with a knife. Photo: Mary McNally/Facebook

The boyfriend of an Irish woman stabbed to death in New York on Saturday has been charged with her murder.

Sarah McNally from Co Longford died after a man walked into the Céilí House bar in Queens where she worked as a bartender and attacked her with a knife.

Marcin Pieciak with an address at 76th Street, Glendale, Queens, appeared in court on Thursday charged with her murder.

The 36-year-old, who was the partner of the victim, is also charged with two counts of criminal possession of a weapon and faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted.

In a statement, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz described Ms McNally as the accused's girlfriend. Ms Katz said the attack was "unprovoked" and one which has shocked the community.

"It was unprovoked and a devastating loss for the family,” she said. "We are using every resource to make sure there is accountability."

Ms McNally was stabbed in the neck during the incident which happened at around 6.35pm last Saturday evening. She was rushed to Elmhurst hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Mr Pieciak received stab wounds to the neck and back and was also taken to hospital — the injuries were self-inflected.

The victim moved to New York 10 years ago but had kept close ties with her family and friends in Longford where she was employed by the Irish prison service prior to her move to the US. Locals described her as a “lovely girl who was very friendly”.

Ms McNally’s aunt Mary said the family were “heartbroken” over her tragic death. She wrote online “Rest in peace my beautiful niece Sarah, we are heart broken, Love you always”.

Some members of her family have flown to New York to help repatriate her remains home to Ireland.

Her funeral details will be announced on Friday, according to a notice on Rip.ie which said she would be “sadly missed and remembered with love by her family, her loving mother Dorrie, dear father Des, grandmother Kathleen O’Connor, aunts, uncles, relatives, extended family, and a wide circle of friends in Longford and New York".

Mr Pieciak is due to appear in court again on Friday.