A 35-year-old woman who stabbed her housemate and former partner to death has been jailed for six years at the Central Criminal Court.
After the killing, Monika Matracka hid 38-year-old Michal Rejmer's body in the back garden of the house they shared and destroyed evidence in what her defence team called "bizarre and outrageous behaviour".
She was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by a majority jury verdict in February.
Matracka, with an address at The Pines, Briarfield, Castletroy, Limerick had pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Rejmer at that address at a time unknown between 8pm on December 30 and midnight on December 31, 2015.
Outlining the facts of the case, Mr Justice Paul Butler said Matracka and Mr Rejmer were previously in a relationship which had ended for some time and they had continued to live together.
The judge said Mr Rejmer left work in McDonald's on December 30, 2015 and after a considerable search his body was found in the back garden of the rented accommodation.
He said Matracka made admissions to Mr Rejmer's killing in the back of a garda patrol car after her arrest.
"She said the deceased was a good man and she was a bad person in her interviews," said Mr Justice Butler.
The judge said that whatever happened between Matracka and Mr Rejmer, it was clear she stabbed him a number of times and he died as a result.
"His body was left in the house for some time and a clear attempt was later made to hide it in the garden," he said. He said attempts were also made to destroy evidence.
The judge said Mr Rejmer was a diligent worker and an athlete of some accomplishment.
He said the mitigating factors in the case included the fact that Matracka had no previous convictions, she had offered a plea to manslaughter and she had expressed remorse from a very early stage.
The judge said he had taken into consideration that at least part of Matracka's sentence would have to be served in this jurisdiction.
