Man found guilty of woman's manslaughter by diminished responsibility to be sentenced in May

Sharon Crean was stabbed to death by her ‘on/off’ partner who was suffering from a mental disorder at the time

Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford said the sentencing hearing would take place on May 15 when there will be an opportunity for the family of the deceased to give their victim impact evidence. File picture: Larry Cummins

A 34-year-old woman who was described as a loving mother was stabbed to death by her ‘on/off’ partner and he will be sentenced for her manslaughter on May 15.

This date was confirmed on Monday at the Central Criminal Court in Cork.

In a case that consisted largely of psychiatric evidence, 39-year-old Seán Egan of Lios Na Slí, Rathmiles, Portarlington, County Laois, was found not guilty of murdering 34-year-old Sharon Crean at College Avenue, Mountmellick, County Laois on December 14, 2022, but guilty of manslaughter by diminished responsibility.

Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford said the sentencing hearing would take place on May 15 when there will be an opportunity for the family of the deceased to give their victim impact evidence. Seán Egan appeared in court on Monday by video link from prison.

Garret Baker, prosecution senior counsel, said: “This prosecution involves the allegation of murder of Sharon Crean in the late afternoon of December 14, 2022, at her home in College Avenue, Mountmellick. 

"She was born in August 1987 and was 35 when she lost her life due to the acts of horrific violence perpetrated by Seán Egan.

“He was her on/off partner. She was stabbed multiple times by Seán Egan using a flick knife with a nine-centimeter blade and also struck with a Himalayan rock candle holder."

Seán Egan's mental state

Consultant psychiatrists called by both the prosecution and defence were in agreement that Seán Egan was suffering from a mental disorder at the time he killed Sharon Crean. 

In their reports he was variously described as being, "impervious to reason", "psychotic at time of interview", having "paranoid psychosis" and "persecution delusions… and needed to protect his child", was suffering a "fixed delusion belief system", "a psychotic disorder with potential diagnosis of schizophrenia", and "psychotic disorder interfering with his capacity for rational judgement".

Memos of garda interviews with the accused included long narratives from the defendant which lacked coherence. Seán Egan said: “I know it was a serious thing… For what it is worth, I did love her… Taking the knife out as a deterrent, I was going to use it as a fear factor… 

"I said, right, this is the time. I picked up the candlestick and cracked it over the head… I stabbed her two or three times in the side… I went in jest with the knife… She said, please, please… At no point I thought her life was took.

“Up until I struck her I did not think I would do it. I can’t believe she is dead. I did not know I was penetrating her. I never stabbed anyone. If I can change the clocks I would wind them back.”