Dublin Gravedigger Jailed For 12.5 Years For Killing Girlfriend
A 34-year-old gravedigger from Dublin has been jailed for twelve-and-a-half years for killing his girlfriend at her home in Coolock in July 2017.
Martin Hayes, from Poddle Close in Crumlin, claimed she had died by suicide, but a jury found him guilty of her manslaughter after deliberating for over thirteen hours.
In the week leading up to her death, Amadea McDermott texted Martin Hayes, pleading with him to stop being violent towards her.
She was afraid he was going to kill her, and sadly her worst fear came true.
Aside from the physical abuse, Hayes was also very controlling.
He even installed a hidden app on her phone to track her.
He admitted using violence on the 27-year-old mother of two, but denied killing her, claiming right from the beginning that she stabbed herself.
The jury didn’t believe him. They acquitted him of her murder, but found him guilty of manslaughter, and he was jailed today for 12-and-a-half years.
Before passing sentence, the judge told Hayes he had an “unhealthy obsession” with an unfounded belief that she was with someone else – which wasn’t true.
Mr. Justice Paul McDermott also urged others in violent and controlling relationships to come forward.
