Ireland Case No. 7334Murder · Co. Dublin · 20 Jul 2017
Murder trial of Martin Hayes hears witness account of Amadea McDermott's death in Coolock
Martin Hayes (34) is charged with murdering Amadea McDermott (27), a mother of two, at her home on Rathvale Drive, Ayrfield, Coolock, on or about 20 July 2017. She died from a stab wound to the abdomen, and Hayes told emergency services and paramedics that she had stabbed herself. Hayes was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court on 16 October 2023 and pleaded not guilty. The trial opened on 17 October 2023 before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of eight men and four women, and is expected to last up to four weeks. The latest reported development is the victim's sister giving evidence on 18 October 2023, and no verdict has been reported.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court16 Oct
3 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Martin Hayes is charged with murdering Amadea McDermott.
- Where
- The killing is alleged to have happened at Ms McDermott's home on Rathvale Drive, Ayrfield, Coolock.
- When
- The charge gives the date as on or about 20 July 2017, while the victim's sister's evidence refers to 19 July 2020.
- Hayes phoned emergency services in the early hours of 20 July 2017.
- Cause
- Ms McDermott died from a stab wound to the right side of the abdomen.
- Weapon
- A knife retrieved from a table in the living area could be the weapon that inflicted the injury.
- Investigation
- Evidence is expected of a DNA match between the victim and a small amount of blood on the knife.
- Gardaí interviewed Hayes with his consent, and the investigating garda said he was visibly intoxicated.
- Other details
- Hayes told paramedics and gardaí that the victim had stabbed herself, saying she came into the bedroom with a knife and said she was going to kill herself.
- Ms McDermott and Hayes were in a relationship, which the prosecution described as difficult, volatile and abusive.
- The defence said Hayes was working as a gravedigger in Mount Jerome cemetery at the time of the death.
- The prosecution is led by senior counsel Seán Gillane and the defence by Ronan Munro SC.
- The victim's sister, Eucharia McDermott, told the court she punched Hayes after he smirked at her outside a hospital resuscitation room.
- In court
- Hayes was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court on Monday 16 October 2023 and pleaded not guilty.
- The trial opened on 17 October 2023 before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of eight men and four women, and is expected to last up to four weeks.
- Sentence
- No verdict or sentence has been reported.
35 statements extracted from the articles
- whatMartin Hayes is charged with murdering Amadea McDermott. (irishmirror.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whereThe killing is alleged to have happened at Ms McDermott's home in Ayrfield, Coolock. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe killing is alleged to have happened at Ms McDermott's home on Rathvale Drive, Ayrfield, Coolock. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe killing is alleged to have happened at the victim's home in Rathvale Drive, Ayrfield, Coolock. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe murder is alleged to have occurred on or about 20 July 2017. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe alleged murder happened on or about 20 July 2017. (irishtimes.com)
- whenHayes phoned emergency services in the early hours of 20 July 2017. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe charge alleges the murder happened on or about 20 July 2017. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe sister's evidence refers to the events of 19 July 2020. (irishtimes.com)
- causeMs McDermott died from a stab wound to the right side of the abdomen. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe victim had suffered a stab wound to the abdomen. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponA knife retrieved from a table in the living area could be the weapon that inflicted the injury. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationEvidence is expected of a DNA match between the victim and a small amount of blood on the knife. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí interviewed Hayes with his consent. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe accused said he rang 999 for an ambulance. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe investigating garda said the accused was visibly intoxicated. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeMartin Hayes has pleaded not guilty to murdering Amadea McDermott. (irishtimes.com)
- courtHayes was arraigned before the Central Criminal Court on Monday afternoon. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtHayes pleaded not guilty when the indictment was read to him. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe trial was due to begin on Tuesday morning before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and last up to four weeks. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtA jury of eight men and four women was sworn in. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe trial is before the Central Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- courtHayes has pleaded not guilty to the charge. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury, and is expected to last up to four weeks. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and a jury of eight men and four women. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe prosecution is led by senior counsel Sean Gillane and the defence by Ronan Munro SC. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMs McDermott and the accused were in a relationship at the time. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe defence said Hayes was working as a gravedigger in Mount Jerome cemetery at the time. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe victim was 27 years old. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHayes told paramedics that the victim had stabbed herself. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe prosecution described the relationship as difficult, volatile and abusive. (irishtimes.com)
- otherHayes was working as a gravedigger in Mount Jerome cemetery at the time of the death. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe victim's sister said she punched the accused after he smirked at her outside a resuscitation room. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe accused told gardaí that the victim came into the bedroom with a knife and said she was going to kill herself. (irishtimes.com)
- otherDoctors at Beaumont Hospital later told the victim's sister that Amadea had died. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 18 Oct2023Woman punched murder accused for ‘smirking’ at her after sister died in hospital
Trial report from the Central Criminal Court. The charge gives the date as on or about 20 July 2017, but the sister's evidence refers to 19 July 2020, so the article contains a date conflict. The accused's account to gardaí and the victim's family's evidence are reported as the defence and prosecution case, not as established fact.
accused, Martin Hayes, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Martin Hayesvictim, Amadea McDermott, 27, female, irish (judged from name)Amadea McDermott - 17 Oct2023Gravedigger accused of murdering partner claims she stabbed herself after argument
Trial opening at the Central Criminal Court. The prosecution outlined its case, and the accused's account is that the victim stabbed herself. The trial is expected to last up to four weeks, so no verdict is reported.
accused, Martin Hayes, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Martin Hayesvictim, Amadea McDermott, 27, female, irish (judged from name)Amadea McDermott - 16 Oct2023Gravedigger accused of murdering former partner to stand trial this week
Reports that Hayes was arraigned on Monday 16 October 2023, pleaded not guilty, and that his trial was due to start on Tuesday before a jury of eight men and four women. Adds the prosecution and defence counsel and says the couple were in a relationship at the time.
accused, Martin Hayes, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Martin Hayesvictim, Amadea McDermott, 27, female, irish (judged from name)Amadea McDermott