A 32-year-old man has been jailed for 14 years for manslaughter in what a judge described as an extremely violent and brutal attack on a woman in Co Donegal four years ago.
Richard Burke of Killygordon was earlier this year found not guilty of murder but guilty of the manslaughter of Jasmine McMonagle on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
Ms McMonagle, a 28-year-old who had two children, was strangled with a rope and severely beaten in her home in the early hours of 4 January 2019.
Gardaí had to force their way in to the house after a stand off with Burke. The decision to enter the house was taken when a child was seen at the window.
Ms McMonagle was found in a pool of blood in the kitchen of her home. A number of weapons were found at the scene including a meat cleaver.
Burke later told gardaí he had "a real bad temper, I just blanked…I went f***ing ballistic" when she had called gardaí.
Psychiatrists for the prosecution and defence had given evidence to say he was suffering from a mental disorder at the time of the attack.
He had a history of mental illness along with drug and alcohol use.
Mr Justice Paul Burns said the evidence had been that although complicated by drugs and alcohol, delusion was the primary pathological factor.
He had been described by one psychiatrist as having been in an "angry, paranoid, psychotic mental state".
However, he said there were a number of additional factors in the case including the fact that it was not the first time Burke had behaved in an aggressive manner towards Ms McMonagle.
The year before her death she had contacted gardaí to say he was "going crazy" in the house and she had to leave out of fear.
He had been detained under the mental health act on that occasion.
Later that year gardaí had also been contacted by a friend of Ms McMonagle expressing concern for her safety.
He had also been reported as saying "I'll bury her", "I’ll kill the b***h", "I’ll throw her under a bus" and told someone he would like to strangle her.
The judge said despite suffering from a mental disorder he continued to deliberately misuse drugs and alcohol and must have been aware of the potential effects.
He had also failed to comply with his medication regime, the judge said.
The fact that the killing took place in the victim’s home while children were present along with the level of violence used were all aggravating factors in the case.
The judge imposed a 15-year sentence, suspending the final year, on condition that he undergo psychiatric assessment and remain under post-release supervision for five years.
The sentence has been backdated to when he first went into custody in January 2019.
The judge said Ms McMonagle was a "loving and caring mother and a good person" despite the aspersions cast on her by the accused which were the product of delusions.
He said she was a highly regarded person by her family and friends and her two young daughters now had to face life without the guidance of their mother.
He said it was a sad reflection of the under-resourced child mental health services that her older daughter was still waiting for services.
Afterwards, Ms McMonagle's family issued a statement and said: "Nothing will ever bring back our beautiful Jasmine and all we can do now is make sure she is never forgotten."
The family also said they would like to thank all those who supported them over the past four years adding: "It has been an incredibly tough time and our focus has always been on keeping Jasmine’s memory alive."
