The trial of a Dublin man accused of murdering his wife has heard he stabbed her in front of their three children.
David Bourke, 49, denies the murder of his wife Jean Gilbert at their home at Laverna Dale, Castleknock in August 2007.
Jean Gilbert, 46, was found at her home on 28 August 2007 and she had been stabbed a number of times.
The Central Criminal Court heard that Mr Bourke phoned the emergency services at 10.30am that morning and told them he had tried to kill his wife. He said: 'I've just tried to kill my wife. I stabbed her several times.'
Fireman Maurice McCann told the court he took the call and could hear children in the background.
He said he phoned Mr Bourke back and urged him to take the children to a neighbour and attend to his wife. Mr McCann was told they were in no danger and Mr Bourke did not know what more he could do for his wife.
The court heard that Mr McCann tried to keep him talking on the phone but Mr Bourke said it was too traumatic and he was too emotional to talk.
Prosecuting counsel Isobel Kennedy told the court that Ms Gilbert was in a relationship with another man and wanted to separate from her husband.
She said Mr Bourke had known for some months that his wife wanted to leave.
Ms Kennedy said Ms Gilbert had gone to a hotel to meet a man on the night before she died and when she returned home there were 'aggressive words spoken' by her husband, who stabbed her in the chest.
Gardaí told the court that Mr Bourke showed no emotion at the scene but later became very upset.
He told them he had read his wife's diary and he knew she was going to leave him.
The court also heard statements from the couple's children, who witnessed the incident.
The trial continues.
