Case No. 0607Murder · Co. Cork · 31 Jan 2024
Daniel Hourigan on trial for murder of Michael Foley in Macroom, Co Cork
Michael Foley, 61, from Clonakilty in west Cork, was found dead in a pool of blood at his Housing First home in Macroom, Co Cork, on 6 February 2024, after suffering 30 incision wounds and blunt force injuries. The murder is charged as occurring on 1 February 2024, though CCTV showed Foley last seen alive at 8.15pm on 31 January. Daniel Hourigan, 32, from Farranree in Cork city, is on trial at the Central Criminal Court in Cork, charged with Foley's murder, and has pleaded not guilty. A bloodied palm print at the scene matched Hourigan, and a knife bearing Foley's blood was recovered from a bin at the Bus Éireann depot in Tralee. As of 13 July 2026, Hourigan has given evidence claiming his former partner Linda O'Flynn carried out the killing.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court2 Jul
4 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Michael Foley, 61, from Clonakilty in west Cork, was found dead in a pool of blood on the kitchen floor of his home at Annville, Barrett's Place, Macroom, Co Cork, on 6 February 2024.
- When
- The murder is charged as occurring on 1 February 2024, though CCTV showed Foley last seen alive at 8.15pm on 31 January 2024.
- Cause
- Foley died from haemorrhage and shock due to 11 stab wounds, 19 slash wounds, and 23 blunt force injuries.
- Weapon
- A 33cm knife with a 12.5cm handle and 20.5cm blade was recovered from a bin at the Bus Éireann depot in Tralee, with blood staining on both sides and all four DNA samples matching Foley.
- Investigation
- A bloodied palm print found on the architrave of a door frame at Foley's home matched Daniel Hourigan's palm print.
- Hourigan told gardaí he had not been in Macroom since June 2023 and had not spoken to Foley since December 2023.
- Charges
- Daniel Hourigan, 32 (reports differ: 33), from Farranree in Cork city, is charged with the murder of Michael Foley, 61, from Clonakilty in west Cork.
- In court
- The trial is being held at the Central Criminal Court in Cork before Judge Siobhan Lankford and a jury of six men and six women.
- Other details
- Hourigan has pleaded not guilty and claims his former partner Linda O'Flynn, a native of Hollyhill in Cork city, carried out the killing.
- Foley had been living in Housing First accommodation in Macroom since 2022 and was found by psychiatric nurse Ciara Harmon during a welfare check.
- Neringa Stalioniene, a platonic friend of Foley, was in his flat on the night of 31 January and heard him say to leave.
- The pathologist could not say whether Foley was attacked by one or two people, nor determine the sequence in which the wounds were inflicted.
54 statements extracted from the articles
- whatFoley was found dead in a pool of blood on the kitchen floor. (irishtimes.com)
- whatNeringa Stalioniene, a platonic friend of Foley, was in his flat on the night of January 31st and heard him say to leave. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHourigan told gardaí he had not been in Macroom since June 2023 and had not spoken to Foley since December that year. (irishtimes.com)
- whatFoley had been living in Housing First accommodation in Macroom since 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA bloodied palm print was found on the architrave of a door frame at Foley's home (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe palm print matched Daniel Hourigan's palm print (irishtimes.com)
- whatA knife was recovered by gardaí from a bin at the Bus Éireann depot in Tralee (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe knife was 33cm long with a 12.5cm handle and a 20.5cm blade (irishtimes.com)
- whatThere was blood staining on both sides of the handle and blade (irishtimes.com)
- whatAll four DNA samples examined on the knife matched the murder victim (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe blood on the knife was 1,000 million times more likely to be Foley's than somebody else's (irishtimes.com)
- whatAn impact blood spatter extended 160cm across the wall in a wedge shape behind a sofa (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe blood spatter was more likely caused by more than one impact (irishtimes.com)
- whatFoley was found lying in front of the sofa on his right side with a cushion under the right side of his face (irishtimes.com)
- whatThere was a gash or slash wound to the front of Foley's head (irishtimes.com)
- whatThere was a significant gash to the inside of Foley's left wrist (irishtimes.com)
- whatThere was a gash to the front of Foley's left hand (irishtimes.com)
- whatNurse Ciara Harmon found Foley during a welfare check (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe pathologist catalogued 30 incision wounds: 11 stab and 19 slash (irishtimes.com)
- whatFoley suffered stab wounds to the chest, abdomen, left thigh and left arm, the latter possibly defensive (irishtimes.com)
- whatTwelve slash wounds were to the head and skull and seven to the left hand and elbow (irishtimes.com)
- whatA wound to the left abdomen penetrated through muscle to a depth of 13cm (irishtimes.com)
- whatFoley also suffered 23 blunt force trauma injuries possibly from a fist, shoe or fall (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe alcohol level equated to approximately seven or eight pints (irishtimes.com)
- whatSedatives were found in Foley's blood within the therapeutic range (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe wounds were consistent with a single bladed knife with one sharp side and one blunt side (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe pathologist could not say whether Foley was attacked by one or two people (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe pathologist could not determine the sequence in which the wounds were inflicted (irishtimes.com)
- whatHourigan claims his former partner Linda O'Flynn carried out the killing. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHourigan saw Foley on the floor with a pool of blood. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHourigan tried to lift Foley onto the sofa but was unable to do so. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHourigan put a cushion under Foley's head and detected a faint pulse. (irishtimes.com)
- whatO'Flynn had left the property by the time Hourigan returned from the bathroom. (irishtimes.com)
- whatFoley had stayed in Hourigan's home in Macroom for six weeks in 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- whatHourigan said by the time he got on the bus his focus was on getting his next fix of drugs. (irishtimes.com)
- whenCCTV showed Foley last seen alive at 8.15pm on January 31st. (irishtimes.com)
- whenPsychiatric nurse Ciara Harmon was due to meet Foley on February 1st, 2024, for an appointment at Mercy University Hospital in Cork. (irishtimes.com)
- whenDr Gerard Murphy pronounced Foley dead at 7.10pm on February 6th (irishtimes.com)
- whenFoley was found on 6 February 2024 (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe murder occurred on 1 February 2024 (irishtimes.com)
- whenFoley was found dead by a care worker on 6 February 2024. (irishtimes.com)
- causeFoley died a violent death from haemorrhage, with 11 stab wounds, 19 slash wounds and blows possibly from fists. (irishtimes.com)
- causeFoley died from haemorrhage and shock due to stab and slash wounds (irishtimes.com)
- weaponGardaí believe a black handled knife was used to fatally wound Foley (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe black plastic bag was left on a bus from Cork to Kerry and recovered from a bin by gardaí. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is being held at the Central Criminal Court in Cork (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork with a jury of six men and six women (irishtimes.com)
- courtHourigan is on trial at the Central Criminal Court in Cork charged with the murder of Michael Foley. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is before Judge Siobhan Lankford and a jury of six men and six women. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe jury consists of six men and six women (irishtimes.com)
- otherDr Craig Mullen is a fingerprint expert with Forensic Science Ireland (irishtimes.com)
- otherMullen appeared by video-link and is an expert in ridge analysis in fingerprints and palm prints (irishtimes.com)
- otherFoley lived alone in accommodation provided by Housing First (irishtimes.com)
- otherHourigan is a native of Farranree in Cork city (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 13 Jul2026Murder accused claims former partner carried out killing of Michael Foley in Cork
Hourigan gave evidence to the jury on Monday afternoon, claiming O'Flynn killed Foley and that he was protecting her. The prosecution, led by Jane Hyland, challenged his account. The trial continues before Judge Siobhan Lankford.
accused, Daniel Hourigan, 33, male, named, irish (judged from name)Daniel Houriganvictim, Michael Foley, 61, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Foleysuspect, female, irish (judged from name) - 6 Jul2026Man (61) bled to death after suffering multiple stab and slash wounds, murder trial told
Provides detailed pathologist evidence from the trial: 30 incision wounds catalogued, blood alcohol level of 227mg/100ml, cause of death as haemorrhage and shock, and identification of a black handled knife as the likely weapon.
victim, Michael Foley, 61, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Foleyaccused, Daniel Hourigan, male, named, irish (judged from name)Daniel Hourigan - 3 Jul2026Scientific expert confirms bloodied palm print found at murder scene matched that of accused
Forensic evidence presented at trial: palm print match on door frame, DNA match on knife found in Tralee, and scene description from Gardaí including injuries to Foley's head, wrist and hand.
victim, Michael Foley, 61, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Foleyaccused, Daniel Hourigan, 32, male, named, irish (judged from name)Daniel Hourigan - 2 Jul2026Palm print found in blood of victim matches that of murder accused, jury told
Prosecution opening statement details forensic evidence including a matching bloody palm print, CCTV footage placing Hourigan and O'Flynn near the scene, and a knife with Foley's blood recovered from a bus bin in Kerry.
victim, Michael Foley, 61, male, irish (judged from name)Michael Foleyaccused, Daniel Hourigan, male, named, irish (judged from name)Daniel Hourigansuspect, female, irish (judged from name)