'It would drive you mad': Cork woman worried about possible parole for daughter's murderer

Olivia Dunlea was stabbed six times by Darren Murphy who then set fire to the duvet on the bed where she lay dying paralysed from her injuries

The murder of Cork woman Olivia Dunlea (pictured, will be featured in an episode of TG4's Marú Inár Measc on Wednesday.

The mother of a woman who was stabbed six times by her partner, who then set fire to the duvet on the bed where she lay dying paralysed from her injuries, has said that it is “maddening ” to think that he can apply for parole this year.

Darren Murphy set a second fire downstairs in the kitchen of Olivia Dunlea’s home in Passage West, Co Cork on February 17, 2013, before he fled the scene.

A murder trial in 2018 heard that when Murphy was contacted about the fire he returned to the house and gave an “Oscar-like performance”. Ann Dunlea of Victoria Avenue in Cork had to endure three murder trials before she saw the killer of her daughter Olivia jailed for life in 2018.

In an interview with the Opinion Line, on Cork’s 96FM, Ms Dunlea said that “it feels like being back on trial again” now that Murphy is eligible to apply for parole this year.

“It is all about him now again and we are back to square one. Olivia was my first born. She was 36 years old when he murdered her and left her poor three children without a mother. He didn’t care about anybody but himself. My poor child got burned alive.

"He lied and lied and lied even on the night he murdered. He went home up the back way (of the park) and watched the house on fire. He is an animal.” 

Ann said that Olivia’s children were being minded by one of her other daughters Amanda on the night of the murder. When Ann heard that a fire had broken out at Olivia’s she rang her daughter who had gone on a night out. Ann didn’t receive an answer.

The mother of three, Olivia Dunlea, was discovered lying face down on her bed having suffered stab wounds.

“Little did I know God help us that she was burned alive. The ceiling was after falling down on top of her.

"(Her kids were) nine, 10 and 12. Aaron (her son) made his confirmation two week later.” Ann told show host PJ Coogan that even after the three murder trials concluded Mr Murphy lodged an appeal of his conviction.

“That will tell you the neck he has. He didn’t say ‘no’ I am after putting them (the family) through enough. He hasn’t a decent bone in his body.” Ms Dunlea has described as deeply upsetting the fact that Murphy can apply for parole after 12 years in custody.

“That would drive you mad. It is like it is all over now. He is after doing (being in custody) 12 years. He is after being a good boy. Course he is a good boy. He is in prison. It is a pity he wasn’t a good boy before he went to prison and left my child alone.

I don’t want to meet that murderer on the road. It is very hard to get justice in this country.

Ann says that Darren and Olivia had only casually dated for a number of weeks when he murdered her. However, she says they now know that he was displaying extremely worrying behaviour in the weeks before he killed Olivia.

“He was stalking her (Olivia) at night and we never knew anything about that. It was through the court that we used to hear that he was outside in his car. Not directly outside her house but in her park. We never knew that. And Olivia certainly didn’t know it.

"It is heartbreaking to see her poor children growing up without her. It is terrible. I am hoping he won’t get parole but we have to be practical and think ‘what if.’ I am not prepared for that. I am hoping our voices will be heard.

"For me life is life and he should be left rot somewhere. Why should he be left out? We are never going to see Olivia again. He has no remorse.

"Olivia was very well liked. She was easy going. I can see their mother now in them (her children). Megan is doing the same as her mum now. Nursery school teaching.

"It doesn’t get easier. The longer it is going on the worse it is. Olivia is never going to come back to us. I have an awful habit of calling some of the grandchildren Olivia when they are all in the house. She is still around me.” 

Case background

Meanwhile, a postmortem examination revealed that Olivia had six stab wounds, two behind the right ear and four to the front of the neck. One of the wounds behind her ear penetrated in to her spinal canal, causing bleeding inside her skull which would have caused paralysis.

The Central Criminal Court in Cork heard that during the trial that clothes had to be bought for the children of Olivia Dunlea because they literally didn’t have a shirt on their backs after the fire.

The family managed to retrieve a few photographs and personal items from the loft of the house in Pembroke Crescent in Passage West. However, the family did not get to the see Olivia's body before she was laid to rest.

Murphy of Dan Desmond Drive, Passage West, Co Cork, had pleaded not guilty to murder. However, he conceded that he had committed manslaughter. The DPP declined to accept his plea. He was 41 when he was jailed for life in 2018.

Olivia Dunlea was discovered lying face down on her bed having suffered stab wounds. Two lockers on either side of her bed were burned and the ceiling had collapsed. The ceiling joints in her bedroom were charred and the en suite was badly burned.

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The trial was told that Mr Murphy reacted so strongly to the break-up of an earlier relationship that he slashed his wrists and required admission to a psychiatric unit. Witnesses in the trial had indicated that he had wanted to control his girlfriend.

Olivia is survived by her three children. Ann Dunlea says that Olivia lives on in her "incredible children".

Ann and Olivia’s daughter Megan are set too feature in Marú inár Measc, a three-part true crime documentary series produced by Midas Productions. The series explores the impact of crimes on victims’ families and their communities. The episode involving the Dunlea family will air on Wednesday at 9.30pm on TG4.