Court court hears murder accused said he was Daena's 'soulmate' and he planned to propose
Young mother Daena Walsh was found in the burning apartment.
The man accused of murdering his partner at their apartment in Midleton told gardaí they were soulmates and best friends and he had plans to propose to her, get married and buy a house.
31-year-old Adam Corcoran was arrested on suspicion of murder within less than two hours of Daena Walsh being found in the burning apartment with multiple stab wounds to her face, neck, chest and stomach, and her left arm partially amputated.
Brendan Grehan, defence senior counsel, said that Adam Corcoran told several gardaí and people who arrived at the scene that Friday afternoon, August 2 2024, that Daena’s death was a suicide.
Mr Grehan was cross-examining Detective Inspector John O’Connell and put to him a number of comments made by the accused when he was questioned after the incident.
“He said he did not kill Daena. That he loved her and they were closer than ever and supported each other," the garda said.
“He said she was his soulmate. And the relationship was the best it had ever been. She was his best friend.
“He planned to buy a home for her and the kids. They both had relapsed onto drink and drugs. He had been drinking that day.”
Det Insp O’Connell confirmed that Adam Corcoran said all of these things when interviewed by An Garda Síochána. The accused man also said: “I don’t know, it is like replaying a nightmare. I don’t know how I am in a station. I don’t understand why she would do it. How will I tell the kids? It is the worst day of my life.”
Garda Conor McCarthy was on duty when Adam Corcoran was brought into Mallow garda station just after 5.30pm on August 2 2024. He confirmed that the defendant had a cut over his right eye, his left eye was bloodshot, and his speech was slurred and incoherent.
When a doctor called to the station to examine him, he said that Adam Corcoran would not be fit for interview for six hours. It was noted by Garda McCarthy in the custody record:
Several gardaí from the Garda National Technical Bureau forensically examined the apartment from 9am on the Saturday morning of August 3 2024 when the remains of the deceased remained in situ.
Detective Garda Andy Gibbons showed to the jury of eight men and four women and Ms Justice Siobhán Lankford a red bread knife. Both the blade and handle were red but stained black. It was explained that the black stains were blood and matched the DNA of the deceased. The knife was found in an off-licence bag in the living room.
Detective Garda Treasa Kelly found a large blue carving knife in a beige handbag in the bedroom. Both handle and blade were blue and stained with black. Again the black stains were described as blood with a DNA match to the deceased.
Dr James Cafferkey of Forensic Science Ireland, who examined blood samples from both knives, described them as matching the DNA of the deceased. He also said that blood on a jacket, a pair of jeans and a left runner worn by Adam Corcoran were a DNA match for the deceased.
Det Garda Kelly said two envelopes addressed to the deceased were found on the bed and that both envelopes were bloodstained.
Mr Grehan suggested that the knives appeared to have been part of a multi-coloured set or block of knives.
Det Garda Gibbons said that the legs of the deceased were partly under a yellow chair in the kitchen/dining area and that on top of the chair was a partially damaged Lynx body-spray deodorant cannister. He said it was dented in at least two areas and the top was gone. He said this damage was consistent with it having exploded.
Adam Corcoran is on trial charged with arson of the apartment and murdering mother-of-two, Daena Walsh, at their home at John Barry House, Midleton on August 2 2024. He told gardaí she stabbed herself.
The trial continues on Monday.
It was indicated at the outside of the trial on Monday March 9 that it could finish in two weeks but the jurors were advised that they should be available until March 25 in case it ran longer.
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