Cavan man Danny Heyneman jailed for life for murdering mother and six years for attempting to murder father
Danny Heyneman, 33, pleaded guilty to murdering his mother Annie Heyneman by stabbing her at least 14 times and attempting to murder his father Henk Heyneman at the family home in Kilnavart, Ballyconnell, Co Cavan, on 11 January 2025. Henk Heyneman was stabbed with a knife and forced to escape barefoot across a field to raise the alarm with a neighbour, sustaining permanent physical injuries and psychological trauma. The court heard that Heyneman had features of depression and a history of alcohol and polysubstance abuse but no severe mental disorder, and that he had moved home to live with his parents in 2020. On 2 June 2026, Judge Tony Hunt at the Central Criminal Court imposed a mandatory life sentence for the murder and a six-year sentence for the attempted murder, to be served consecutively.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced2 Jun
2 reports
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Danny Heyneman, 33, pleaded guilty to murdering Annie Heyneman by stabbing her at least 14 times at the family home on 11 January 2025.
- He also pleaded guilty to attempting to murder Henk Heyneman at the same address on the same date.
- Henk Heyneman was forced to escape by running barefoot across a field to raise the alarm with a neighbour and now has permanent physical injuries and psychological trauma.
- Where
- The attack took place at the family home in Kilnavart, Ballyconnell, Co Cavan.
- When
- The incident occurred on 11 January 2025.
- Weapon
- Danny Heyneman attacked both parents with a knife.
- Charges
- Danny Heyneman pleaded guilty to both murder and attempted murder.
- In court
- Judge Tony Hunt imposed the sentences at the Central Criminal Court on 2 June 2026.
- Sentence
- A mandatory life sentence for murder and a six-year sentence for attempted murder were imposed to be served consecutively.
- Other details
- The court heard Heyneman has features of depression and a history of alcohol and polysubstance abuse but no severe mental disorder.
- Heyneman moved home to live with his parents in 2020.
- Heyneman accepted he stabbed both parents but said he could not remember doing it and had not intended to hurt anyone.
20 statements extracted from the articles
- whatDanny Heyneman pleaded guilty to murdering Annie Heyneman at the family home on 11 January 2025. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHe also admitted attempting to murder Henk Heyneman at the same address on the same date. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatAnnie Heyneman was stabbed at least 14 times. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whatHenk Heyneman was forced to escape by running barefoot across a field to raise the alarm with a neighbour. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHenk Heyneman now has permanent physical injuries and psychological trauma. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whatDanny Heyneman moved home to live with his parents in 2020. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whatThe court heard he has features of depression and a history of alcohol and polysubstance abuse but does not suffer from a severe mental disorder. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatDanny Heyneman accepted he stabbed his mother and father but said he couldn't remember doing it and had not intended to hurt anyone. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHenk Heyneman went to bed at around 9pm, heard a strange noise followed by screaming, and found his wife on the kitchen floor not moving. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHis son ran at him with a knife and stabbed him, and after he locked himself in the bedroom he was attacked again. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHenk Heyneman told his neighbour that his wife needed immediate medical attention and might be dead, and that Danny had gone crazy. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatHenk Heyneman was forced to escape by running barefoot across a field to raise the alarm. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe attack took place at the family home in Kilnavart, Ballyconnell, Co Cavan. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident occurred on 11 January 2025. (irishtimes.com)
- whenHenk went to bed at around 9pm before hearing the noise and screaming. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponDanny Heyneman attacked his father with a knife. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeDanny Heyneman pleaded guilty to both murder and attempted murder. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Tony Hunt imposed the sentences at the Central Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHe has features of depression and a history of alcohol and polysubstance abuse but no severe mental disorder. (irishtimes.com)
- otherDanny Heyneman accepted he stabbed both parents but said he could not remember doing it and had not intended to hurt anyone. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 2 Jun2026Man to serve consecutive sentences for frenzied attack on father and murder of mother
Sentencing details: consecutive sentences (six years for attempted murder before life term for murder), judge's characterisation of the violence, victim-impact statement from Henk Heyneman, and background on the defendant's mental health, alcohol use and living situation.
convicted, Danny Heyneman, 33, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Danny Heynemanvictim, Annie Heyneman, female, non-irish (judged from name)Annie Heynemanvictim, Henk Heyneman, male, non-irish (judged from name)Henk Heyneman - 2 Jun2026Man who murdered his mother faces justice for trying to murder his dad
Sentencing at the Central Criminal Court where Judge Tony Hunt imposed a mandatory life sentence for murder and six years for attempted murder to be served consecutively, with detailed victim impact evidence from Henk Heyneman describing the barefoot escape and injuries sustained.
victim, Annie Heyneman, female, non-irish (judged from name)Annie Heynemanvictim, Henk Heyneman, male, non-irish (judged from name)Henk Heynemanconvicted, Danny Heyneman, 33, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Danny Heyneman