Cork man accused of murdering partner said she was 'best woman in the world', court hears
Olivia Kelleher
A man charged with the murder of his partner, who was found dead in a burning apartment, told a Garda at the scene that she was the “best woman in the world” before asking, “Why would someone do this to her?”
Adam Corcoran (31) denies murdering Daena Walsh, his partner of several years, at their apartment in John Barry House, Midleton, Co Cork, on August 2nd, 2024.
He has also pleaded not guilty to a charge of causing damage to the apartment by fire on the same date.
A trial at the Central Criminal Court in Cork has heard that the 27-year-old mother of two had 11 stab wounds, including one to her chest, which was 11.5 centimetres deep. She also had 14 incised wounds.
Witnesses who arrived at the scene have said in evidence that her injuries also included a slit throat and a partially amputated left arm.
Det Sgt Cormac O’Bric on Wednesday gave evidence of speaking to Corcoran at the scene. The garda had arrived at John Barry House at around 4:30pm on August 2nd, 2024. The emergency services had received a call about a suicide at the apartment.
Det Sgt O’Bric said that Corcoran stated that he had gone to an off licence and that when he returned he saw that “Daena was bleeding.”
“All she (Daena) said was ‘I love you so much, this wasn’t your fault.’ Before I went out she was lighting candles. We were going to have a sexual time, if you know what I mean.”
He said that Corcoran indicated that he had been gone from the apartment for about four minutes when he returned to find his partner with “cuts.” Det Sgt O’Bric said that Walsh “had a big blade.” He said that he told her (Daena) that he loved her.
The jury of eight men and four women also heard evidence from Det Insp John O’Connell. He said that he arrived at the apartment at about 5:40pm. He noted that there was “significant fire damage and a smell of smoke.”
He saw the body of a female lying under a sky light in the dining area of the apartment. Det Insp O’Conell said that the woman had sustained a “very significant injury” to her left arm. He noted that she had a slice injury at the left elbow.
Det Insp O’Bric said that Walsh had sustained stab wounds to her upper torso and had a “gaping wound to her rib cage.”
Another garda witness Det Garda Tomas Ryan said that he arrived at the scene at 4.20pm after a call had been made of an alleged suicide attempt onsite.
Det Garda Ryan said that the fire alarm was going off upon his arrival at the apartment complex with another garda. When he went up to the apartment he was met in the hallway by Corcoran. He said that the accused told him ‘She is dead, she is dead, she f***ing killed herself man.
Det Garda Ryan said that Walsh had injuries which were not compatible with life.
“She had extensive injuries to her abdomen. She was obviously dead.”
Meanwhile, Det Sgt Ger O’Shaughnessy was also on duty at the scene on the day. He said that he noticed that Corcoran looked “disheveled.“ He stated that Corcoran had blood over his right eye which looked like a cut. He also had blood on his hands and clothing.
The trial will continue on Thursday. It is being presided over by Justice Siobhan Lankford.
