The trial of a Kildare man who is accused of murdering his former girlfriend by stabbing her six times in the chest with a kitchen knife has opened at the Central Criminal Court.
Michael McDonald (50) of Barnhill, Castledermot, Co Kildare has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Breda Cummins on May 13th, 2010 at Michael Dooley Terrace, Athy. He has admitted to the manslaughter of the 31-year-old woman but this plea has not been accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
He also pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm to John Lawlor (44) of Pearse Terrace, Castledermot at Michael Dooley Terrace on the same date.
In his opening address, Mr John Alymer SC, prosecuting, told the jury it was the prosecution’s case that Mr McDonald stabbed Ms Cummins in the chest six times with a kitchen knife in the early hours of the morning while she lay in her bed. He told the jury that Mr McDonald and Ms Cummins had broken up . She was in a new relationship with Mr Lawlor and they had moved in together.