Moldovan man found guilty of manslaughter for stabbing sister's partner in Sallins
A 24-year-old Moldovan man, Valeriu Melnic, stabbed his sister's partner, Ion Daghi, 39, with a kitchen knife following a dispute at The Close, Sallins Park, Sallins, Co Kildare, around 3am on 12 May 2024. Melnic was arrested at 3.30am that morning on suspicion of assault causing harm and later pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter. In July 2025, a Central Criminal Court jury before Mr Justice David Keane found him not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter after six hours and 27 minutes of deliberation over three days. The judge remanded Melnic in custody, with sentencing expected on 3 November 2025.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court16 Jul
- Convicted22 Jul
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A 24-year-old Moldovan man, Valeriu Melnic, stabbed his sister's partner, Ion Daghi, 39, with a kitchen knife following a dispute.
- Where
- The stabbing occurred at The Close, Sallins Park, Sallins, Co Kildare.
- When
- The incident occurred around 3am on 12 May 2024.
- Cause
- A pathologist stated Daghi died from a single stab wound to the chest measuring 13cm in depth.
- Weapon
- A kitchen knife was used.
- Investigation
- Melnic was arrested at 3.30am on 12 May 2024 on suspicion of assault causing harm and was deemed unfit for interview, not questioned until 15 hours later.
- Charges
- Melnic pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter.
- In court
- A Central Criminal Court jury before Mr Justice David Keane found Melnic not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter after six hours and 27 minutes of deliberation over three days.
- Sentence
- The judge remanded Melnic in custody until sentencing, expected on 3 November 2025.
- Other details
- Melnic is a Moldovan national with an address at Calliaghstown Lower, Rathcoole, Co Dublin.
31 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe accused is a 24-year-old Moldovan national from Rathcoole, Co Dublin (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe accused told officers at Naas Garda station that he and the victim had been drunk and an argument started (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe accused stated a lot of drink was taken and his memory was very hazy (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe pair started fighting with their fists (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe accused remembered a moment where he was on the floor and the victim was trying to choke him (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe accused worked in a granite and concrete factory and had been a heavy drinker over the years (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe accused was rambling at times in another language and other times in English (irishtimes.com)
- whatWhen cautioned, the accused said he may have killed someone because the victim was stupid (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe accused was bleeding from the back of the head with gashes, a badly swollen eye and cuts on his knee (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe doctor agreed it was fair to say the accused had suffered a beating (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe defence also argued the partial defence of provocation (irishtimes.com)
- whatA pathologist said Daghi died from a single stab wound to the chest measuring 13cm in depth (irishtimes.com)
- whatDeath would have been very rapid (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe stabbing occurred at The Close, Sallins Park, Sallins, Co Kildare, on 12 May 2024 (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe incident occurred at The Close, Sallins Park, Sallins, Co Kildare (irishtimes.com)
- whereMelnic has an address at Calliaghstown Lower, Rathcoole, Co Dublin (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe accused was arrested at 3.30am on 12 May 2024 on suspicion of assault causing harm (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident occurred on 12 May 2024 (irishtimes.com)
- whenA dispute arose between Melnic and Daghi around 3am (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe pathologist stated the victim died from a single stab wound to the chest (irishtimes.com)
- weaponA kitchen knife was used (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe accused was deemed unfit for interview and was not questioned until 15 hours after arrest (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe accused pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is before Mr Justice David Keane and a jury of eight men and four women (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury took six hours and 27 minutes over three days to reach the verdict (irishtimes.com)
- courtSentencing is expected to take place on 3 November 2025 (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge remanded the defendant in custody until sentencing (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe presiding judge was Mr Justice David Keane (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury was a panel of eight men and four women (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge exempted the jury from further jury duty for the next ten years (irishtimes.com)
- otherMelnic is a Moldovan national (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 22 Jul2025Man (24) who stabbed sister’s partner with kitchen knife found guilty of manslaughter
The jury unanimously rejected the murder charge and returned a manslaughter verdict after six hours and 27 minutes over three days. The defence had argued intoxication (three bottles of whiskey) and partial provocation. Sentencing is scheduled for 3 November 2025 before Mr Justice David Keane.
victim, Ion Daghi, 39, male, non-irish (judged from name)Ion Daghiconvicted, Valeriu Melnic, 24, male, Moldovan, named, non-irishValeriu Melnic - 16 Jul2025Murder accused told gardaí he couldn’t remember stabbing man as he was so drunk, jury hears
Trial testimony details including the accused's statements to gardaí about being too drunk to remember, his injuries documented by Garda Meaney and Dr Shafi, the pathologist's cause of death, and the prosecution's opening address. Trial continues before Mr Justice David Keane.
victim, Ion Daghi, 39, male, non-irish (judged from name)Ion Daghiaccused, Valeriu Melnic, 24, male, Moldovan, named, non-irishValeriu Melnic