Ireland Case No. 3021Manslaughter by diminished responsibility · Co. Laois · 14 Dec 2022
Man jailed for 13½ years over Mountmellick manslaughter
Sean Egan, 39, stabbed his partner Sharon Crean, 35, at least 13 times and struck her with a Himalayan rock lamp at her apartment in College Avenue, Mountmellick, Co Laois, on 14 December 2022, then left without calling for medical help. A neighbour found Crean in the doorway of her apartment; she was conscious when 999 was called but died later that day. In March 2026, a jury at the High Court in Cork found Egan not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by diminished responsibility. On 21 May 2026, Judge Siobhan Lankford sentenced him to 13½ years with the final year suspended for two years, backdated to 16 December 2022. Crean's family said they had not received justice.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court15 May
- Convicted10 Mar
3 reports - Sentenced1 May
4 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Sean Egan stabbed his partner Sharon Crean at least 13 times and struck her with a Himalayan rock lamp at her apartment.
- Egan left Crean alone without calling for medical help, and a neighbour found her in the doorway of her apartment and called 999.
- Crean was conscious when the 999 call was made but her condition deteriorated rapidly and she died later that day.
- Where
- The assault took place at College Avenue, Mountmellick, Co Laois.
- When
- The fatal assault occurred on 14 December 2022.
- Cause
- A number of stab wounds entered the chest cavity and were fatal; she suffered 42 injuries to her body, of which at least 15 were sharp force injuries.
- Weapon
- Egan used a knife and a Himalayan rock lamp, also described as a Himalayan salt lamp.
- Investigation
- Egan admitted to gardaí that he had killed Crean and said he took out the knife to use as a fear factor.
- Other details
- Both State and defence psychiatrists agreed Egan was suffering from a mental disorder at the time of the offence.
- The victim's family said they had not received justice.
- Charges
- Egan was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by diminished responsibility.
- In court
- The verdict was delivered at the High Court in Cork on 9 March 2026, and sentencing was adjourned to 21 May 2026.
- Sentence
- On 21 May 2026, Judge Siobhan Lankford sentenced Egan to 13½ years with the final year suspended for two years, backdated to 16 December 2022.
93 statements extracted from the articles
- whatSharon Crean died after a fatal assault. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whatSean Egan was found guilty of manslaughter by diminished responsibility of Sharon Crean. (thejournal.ie)
- whatEgan left the victim alone at her home without calling for medical help. (thejournal.ie)
- whatA neighbour discovered the victim in the doorway of her apartment. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe victim died later that day. (thejournal.ie)
- whatSharon Crean was stabbed 13 times by her partner. (thejournal.ie, rte.ie)
- whatEgan left the scene and returned 18 minutes later while Sharon Crean was being treated. (thejournal.ie, rte.ie)
- whatSharon Crean died on the day she was stabbed. (thejournal.ie)
- whatSharon Crean suffered 42 injuries to her body. (rte.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whatSean Egan was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by diminished responsibility of Sharon Crean. (irishtimes.com)
- whatSharon Crean was stabbed 13 times. (irishtimes.com)
- whatEgan left her without calling for medical help. (irishtimes.com)
- whatSharon Crean was found injured by her neighbour who called 999. (irishtimes.com)
- whatShe died later that same day. (irishtimes.com)
- whatEgan left the scene and returned 18 minutes later as his partner was being treated. (irishtimes.com)
- whatSharon Crean was discovered in the doorway of her apartment by a neighbour. (rte.ie)
- whatSharon Crean died later the same day. (rte.ie)
- whatEgan stabbed his partner at least 13 times and struck her with a Himalayan rock lamp. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCrean was discovered in the doorway of her apartment by a neighbour who was conscious when the 999 call was made. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCrean's condition deteriorated rapidly and she died later that day. (irishtimes.com)
- whatEgan is a qualified electrician formerly of Rathmiles in Portarlington, Co Laois. (irishtimes.com)
- whatConsultant psychiatrists agreed Egan was suffering from a mental disorder when he committed the offence. (irishtimes.com)
- whatEgan told gardaí he took out the knife to use as a fear factor. (irishtimes.com)
- whatEgan left the scene and returned 18 minutes later as his partner was being treated by paramedics. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCrean was the much-loved eldest child in a family of seven and was originally from Arklow in Co Wicklow. (irishtimes.com)
- whatCrean's brother Nigel said his sister had not received justice. (irishtimes.com)
- whatSharon Crean was fatally assaulted at her apartment in College Avenue, Mountmellick. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whereThe assault happened at her apartment in College Avenue, Mountmellick. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whereThe offence took place at College Avenue in Mountmellick, Co Laois. (thejournal.ie, rte.ie)
- whereThe killing took place at College Avenue in Mountmellick, County Laois. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe incident took place at College Avenue in Mountmellick, Co Laois. (irishtimes.com)
- whereSharon Crean was originally from Arklow in Co Wicklow. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe attack took place at College Avenue in Mountmellick, Co Laois. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe assault took place at Sharon Crean's apartment in College Avenue, Mountmellick. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenThe fatal assault happened in December 2022. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- whenThe killing took place on 14 December 2022. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe offence took place on 14 December 2022. (rte.ie)
- whenThe killing occurred on 14 December 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident occurred on 14 December 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe fatal assault took place on 14 December 2022. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- causeSharon Crean was fatally assaulted. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- causeEgan stabbed his partner at least 13 times. (thejournal.ie, rte.ie)
- causeA number of stab wounds entered the chest cavity and were fatal. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponEgan also struck the victim with a Himalayan rock lamp. (thejournal.ie)
- weaponSharon Crean was struck with a Himalayan salt lamp. (thejournal.ie, rte.ie)
- weaponShe was struck with a Himalayan salt lamp. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponEgan also struck his partner with a Himalayan rock lamp. (rte.ie)
- weaponEgan used a knife and a Himalayan rock lamp (candlestick) in the attack. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationEgan admitted to gardaí that he had killed Sharon Crean. (thejournal.ie, rte.ie)
- investigationBoth State and defence psychiatrists agreed Egan had been suffering from a mental disorder at the time of the offence. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeSean Egan was found not guilty of murder. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- chargeEgan was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by diminished responsibility. (rte.ie)
- courtSean Egan was found guilty of manslaughter through diminished responsibility at the High Court in Cork on Monday, March 9. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtA jury heard the case at a trial in Cork. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe sentencing hearing was held at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork. (thejournal.ie)
- courtSean Egan was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by diminished responsibility. (thejournal.ie, rte.ie)
- courtVictim impact statements from several family members were read at a sentencing hearing at the Central Criminal Court in Cork. (thejournal.ie, rte.ie)
- courtThe sentencing hearing took place at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork. (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge Siobhan Lankford adjourned sentencing until 21 May. (irishtimes.com)
- courtEgan was remanded in continuing custody until his next appearance in Cork. (irishtimes.com)
- courtA jury at a trial in Cork heard the case earlier in 2026. (rte.ie)
- courtThe judge described the attack as ferocious and said it was completely unprovoked. (rte.ie)
- courtA verdict of not guilty by virtue of insanity was not applicable in the case. (irishtimes.com)
- courtSean Egan was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter through diminished responsibility. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- courtThe verdict was given at a sitting of the High Court in Cork in March. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- sentenceSentencing is expected in the coming months. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of 20 years. (thejournal.ie, rte.ie)
- sentenceThe judge imposed a jail sentence of 13.5 years. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe final year of the sentence was suspended for two years. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe sentence was backdated to 16 December 2022. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceSentencing was adjourned until 21 May. (thejournal.ie, rte.ie)
- sentenceThe judge imposed a jail sentence of 13 and a half years. (rte.ie)
- sentenceThe final year of the sentence was suspended for two years on condition Egan follows probation directions after release. (rte.ie)
- sentenceThe sentence was backdated to 16 December 2022, when Egan first entered custody. (rte.ie, irishtimes.com)
- sentenceJudge Lankford set a headline sentence of 20 years. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceEgan was sentenced to 13½ years with the final year suspended for two years with conditions. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceSean Egan was sentenced to 13 and a half years, with the final year suspended, on 21 May. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- sentenceThe headline sentence had been set at 20 years. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherThe case is due to be mentioned on April 13. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherThe victim's family said they did not get justice. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherConsultant psychiatrists for both sides agreed Egan was suffering from a mental disorder when he committed the offence. (thejournal.ie, rte.ie)
- otherThe judge described the attack as ferocious and completely unprovoked. (thejournal.ie)
- otherBoth the State and defence psychiatrists agreed Egan had a mental disorder at the time of the offence. (thejournal.ie)
- otherEgan was remanded in continuing custody until his next court appearance in Cork. (thejournal.ie, rte.ie)
- otherBoth sides agreed that a verdict of not guilty by virtue of insanity was not applicable. (rte.ie)
- otherA verdict of not guilty by virtue of insanity was not applicable. (irishtimes.com)
- otherEgan is a qualified electrician. (irishtimes.com)
- otherSharon Crean was the eldest daughter in a family of seven and the mother of a young child. (irishtimes.com)
- otherEgan admitted to gardaí that he had killed Crean. (irishtimes.com)
- otherEgan made little sense in the Garda interviews. (irishtimes.com)
- otherEgan left his partner alone at her home without calling for medical help. (rte.ie)
- otherSharon Crean's mother said her family got no justice and that the final sentence was not right. (leinsterexpress.ie)
- otherSharon Crean's sister said the family had been left angry and frustrated at the outcome. (leinsterexpress.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 22 May2026‘You’d see something like this on television' - Man jailed for death of Laois mum
The article gives two sentence lengths: the lead says 12 and a half years, while the body says 13 and a half years with the final year suspended. The article also says the headline sentence had been set at 20 years.
victim, Sharon Crean, 35, female, irish (judged from name)Sharon Creanconvicted, Sean Egan, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Sean Egan - 21 May2026Man who stabbed partner at least 13 times and hit her with lamp jailed for 12½ years
Sentencing report: Egan found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by diminished responsibility; sentenced to 13½ years with final year suspended for two years, backdated to 16 December 2022. Judge Lankford set a headline of 20 years and described the attack as 'ferocious' and a 'gross breach of trust'.
victim, Sharon Crean, 35, female, irish (judged from name)Sharon Creanconvicted, Sean Egan, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Sean Egan - 21 May2026Man jailed for more than 12 years for partner's death
Reports the Cork Circuit Court sentencing hearing on 21 May 2026 after the jury verdict: 13.5-year sentence with the final year suspended, backdated to 16 December 2022, and family reaction.
convicted, Sean Egan, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Sean Eganvictim, Sharon Crean, 35, female, irish (judged from name)Sharon Crean - 15 May2026Family ‘haunted’ by woman’s final moments after partner stabbed her 13 times and left
Sentencing hearing at Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork; victim impact statements from mother Catherine Crean and brother Jason Crean read into the record; Judge Siobhan Lankford adjourned sentencing to 21 May 2026; Egan remanded in continuing custody.
victim, Sharon Crean, 35, female, irish (judged from name)Sharon Creanconvicted, Sean Egan, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Sean Egan - 15 May2026'Every injury tells story of terror she endured' - mother
Reports the victim impact statements from Sharon Crean's family at the sentencing hearing in Cork and that sentencing was adjourned until 21 May. Adds the psychiatric evidence and Egan's admissions to gardaí.
victim, Sharon Crean, 35, female, irish (judged from name)Sharon Creanconvicted, Sean Egan, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Sean Egan - 1 May2026Family of woman stabbed 13 times 'haunted' by what her final moments must have been like
Reports the victim impact statements from Sharon Crean's family at the sentencing hearing, the court's adjournment of sentencing to 21 May, and Egan remaining in custody.
victim, Sharon Crean, 35, female, irish (judged from name)Sharon Creanconvicted, Sean Egan, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Sean Egan - 1 May2026Man who stabbed partner 13 times and left without calling for medical help jailed for 12.5 years
Reports the sentencing at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork, including the headline sentence, the suspended final year and the backdating to 16 December 2022. It also gives the trial verdict and the jury's account of the evidence.
victim, Sharon Crean, 35, female, irish (judged from name)Sharon Creanconvicted, Sean Egan, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Sean Egan - 10 Mar2026'Our hearts shattered' - Family of Laois woman who was killed say they've got no justice
Reports the 9 March 2026 High Court verdict finding Sean Egan guilty of manslaughter through diminished responsibility, after a not guilty verdict on murder. Sentencing is expected later, and the victim's family react to the verdict.
victim, Sharon Crean, female, irish (judged from name)Sharon Creanconvicted, Sean Egan, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Sean Egan