Wednesday 28 October 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. 4534Manslaughter · Co. Kildare · 12 May 2024

Man jailed for manslaughter of sister's partner at Sallins, Co Kildare

Valeriu Melnic, 24, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court to 10 years in prison, with the final two years suspended, for the manslaughter of Ion Daghi, 39, who was stabbed with a kitchen knife at Sallins, Co Kildare, on 12 May 2024. The judge said Melnic was heavily and voluntarily intoxicated, which he treated as an aggravating factor.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced20 Nov
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
13 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatMelnic was convicted of manslaughter of Ion Daghi. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe stabbing took place at The Close, Sallins Park, Sallins, Co Kildare. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe killing took place on 12 May 2024. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeMelnic was heavily and voluntarily intoxicated on the night. (irishtimes.com)
  • weaponMelnic stabbed Mr Daghi with a kitchen knife. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeMelnic pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtA jury found Melnic not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter on 22 July 2025. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge found that Melnic was not under deadly attack by Mr Daghi that night. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge said the aggravating factor was that Melnic armed himself with a knife. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of 13 years. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceMelnic was sentenced to 10 years in prison, with the final two years suspended for two years. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe sentence was backdated to when Melnic went into custody on 15 May 2024. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe judge treated Melnic's guilty plea to manslaughter at the start of the trial as a significant mitigating factor. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 20 Nov2025
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Man who fatally stabbed sister’s partner while drunk jailed for eight years

    Sentencing report on a jury verdict of manslaughter. The article's headline says 'jailed for eight years', but the body says a 10-year sentence with the final two years suspended. The body gives a 13-year headline sentence.

    victim, Ion Daghi, 39, male, non-irish (judged from name)Ion Daghiconvicted, Valeriu Melnic, 24, male, Moldovan, named, non-irishValeriu Melnic