Sunday 1 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 1650Murder · Co. Wicklow · 24 Dec 2021

Man jailed for life for Christmas Eve murder in Enniskerry

Bahaalddin Alshwawrah, a man aged 45, was sentenced to life in prison at the Central Criminal Court on 19 May 2025 for the murder of his wife Zeinat Bashabsheh, a woman aged 42, at their home in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow. On 24 December 2021, Alshwawrah stabbed Bashabsheh 14 times with a single-edged blade in the kitchen and recorded her on his mobile phone as she lay dying. Two neighbours found the victim slumped on the floor with multiple stab wounds to her torso. A plea was entered in April 2025, replacing a trial originally fixed for 12 May, and Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed the mandatory life sentence.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court11 Jan
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced19 May
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Bahaalddin Alshwawrah, a man aged 45 (reports differ: 43), was charged with the murder of his wife Zeinat Bashabsheh, a woman aged 42.
  • Alshwawrah recorded his wife on his mobile phone as she lay dying and made allegations that she had an affair.
  • Two neighbours found the victim slumped on the kitchen floor with multiple stab wounds to her torso.
  • In 2018 the victim obtained an interim barring order against her husband, alleging he had stabbed her with a knife.
  • The couple met online, she travelled to Jordan to meet him, and they married and relocated to Ireland, where they had three children together.
Where
The murder took place at Park Na Sillogue Court, Enniskerry, Co Wicklow.
When
The murder occurred on 24 December 2021.
Cause
The cause of death was stab wounds to the chest.
Weapon
The victim was stabbed 14 times with a single-edged blade.
Investigation
Gardaí seized and analysed the defendant's phone, which contained videos showing the victim slumped on the floor during the final throes of life.
In court
A plea was entered in April 2025, replacing a trial originally fixed for 12 May 2025.
Sentence
Mr Justice Tony Hunt imposed the mandatory sentence of life in prison at the Central Criminal Court on 19 May 2025.
Other details
The judge said the fact that fatal wounds were inflicted while the defendant was recording and sharing the attack defied belief.
33 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe accused is Bahaalddin Alshwawrah, aged 43, with an address at Park Na Sillogue Court, Enniskerry, Co Wicklow. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe defendant recorded his wife on his mobile phone as she lay dying. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatTwo neighbours found the victim slumped on the floor in a corner of the kitchen with multiple stab wounds to her torso. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHe made allegations that his wife had an affair and said he was videoing the incident to send to another man. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe defendant did not offer any assistance to his wife while she was dying. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatIn 2018 the victim obtained an interim barring order against her husband, alleging he had stabbed her with a knife. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe defendant has two previous convictions from Jordan, one for simple injury in 1999 and one for simple injury/threats in 2004. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe couple met online, she travelled to Jordan to meet him, and they married and relocated to Ireland. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThey had three children together and the victim had two children from a previous relationship. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatIn interview the defendant suggested he had been a victim of violence by his wife, but no evidence of this was found. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe killing happened at the couple's address in Park Na Sillogue Court, Enniskerry, Co Wicklow. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe murder took place at Park Na Sillogue Court, Enniskerry, Co Wicklow. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe murder occurred on 24 December 2021 at the same address. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe killing happened on Christmas Eve 2021. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe murder occurred on Christmas Eve, 24 December 2021. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe cause of death was stab wounds to the chest. (irishtimes.com)
  • weaponThe victim was stabbed 14 times with a single-edged blade. (rte.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí seized and analysed the defendant's phone. (rte.ie)
  • investigationThe videos on the phone showed the victim slumped on the floor during the final throes of life. (rte.ie)
  • chargeHe is charged with the murder of his partner Zeinat Bashabsheh, aged 42. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe defendant was charged with the murder of his wife, Zeinat Bashabsheh, aged 42. (rte.ie)
  • chargeA plea was entered in April, before the trial date set for 12 May. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe barrister for the accused is Michael Bowman SC. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe accused was required to see a psychiatric doctor and this was taking a long time. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtA number of trials were listed before the court and none was ready to proceed. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge said the State should ensure the Central Mental Hospital has adequate resources. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe matter was adjourned to 7 February 2023. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe sentence was imposed by Mr Justice Tony Hunt at the Central Criminal Court. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe sentencing took place at the Central Criminal Court before Mr Justice Tony Hunt. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtA trial date was originally fixed for 12 May 2025 before a plea was entered in April. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceMr Justice Hunt imposed the mandatory sentence of life in prison. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge imposed the mandatory sentence of life in prison. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe judge said the fact that fatal wounds were inflicted while the defendant was recording and sharing the attack defied belief. (rte.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 19 May2025
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    ‘Our beloved Zeinat was brutally taken from us’: Man who stabbed wife 14 times on Christmas Eve jailed for life

    Sentencing hearing at the Central Criminal Court; mandatory life sentence imposed by Mr Justice Tony Hunt. A plea was entered in April 2025, replacing a trial originally fixed for 12 May 2025.

    victim, Zeinat Bashabsheh, 42, female, non-irish (judged from name)Zeinat Bashabshehconvicted, Bahaalddin Alshwawrah, 45, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Bahaalddin Alshwawrah
  2. 19 May2025
    Sentencedrte.ie, its first report
    Man jailed after stabbing wife and filming her dying

    Reports the sentencing: life imprisonment imposed at the Central Criminal Court, the phone videos found on the defendant's device, the family's victim impact statement and the defendant's letter of apology.

    victim, Zeinat Bashabsheh, 42, female, non-irish (judged from name)Zeinat Bashabshehconvicted, Bahaalddin Alshwawrah, 45, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Bahaalddin Alshwawrah
  3. 11 Jan2023
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Judge criticises ‘intolerable’ delay in preparing psychiatric report for murder case

    High Court hearing in which Judge Paul McDermott criticised the State for failing to ensure the Central Mental Hospital had adequate resources to prepare a psychiatric report for the accused, adjourning the matter to 7 February 2023.

    victim, Zeinat Bashabsheh, 42, female, non-irish (judged from name)Zeinat Bashabshehaccused, Bahaalddin Alshwawrah, 43, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Bahaalddin Alshwawrah