A Central Criminal Court jury has been sent home for the evening after failing to reach a verdict in the trial of a Kildare man accused of murdering his ex-partner.
Michael McDonald, who has been diagnosed with alcohol dependency syndrome and described as having schizo-affective disorder by a clinical psychiatrist, stabbed Breda Cummins in the chest six times at a house in Athy, Co Kildare.
McDonald (51), Barnhill, Castledermot, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ms Cummins (31) in May 2010 at Michael Dooley Terrace, Athy, but guilty to her manslaughter. This plea was rejected by the DPP.
McDonald has further pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm to John Lawlor (44) on the same date.