Friday 30 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. 11343Murder · Co. Laois

Robert Corbet, convicted of murdering Aoife Phelan, dies in Mountjoy Prison

Robert Corbet, a man from Portlaoise, killed Aoife Phelan, a woman, sometime between October 25 and November 7, 2012, and buried her remains in a deep hole on his land on the outskirts of Portlaoise, Co. Laois. Corbet told gardaí he snapped and punched her after she threatened to ruin him if he walked away from her and her pregnancy. In 2014 the Central Criminal Court found him guilty of murdering his former girlfriend, and he was serving a life sentence for her killing, though sources differ on whether he was found guilty of murder or pleaded guilty to manslaughter. On January 26, 2026, the Irish Prison Service confirmed a person in custody died at Mountjoy Prison; a report names the dead prisoner as Corbet, but the Service did not confirm his identity.

  1. Reported
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Robert Corbet, a man, killed Aoife Phelan, a woman, in 2012.
When
The murder happened sometime between October 25 and November 7, 2012.
Where
  • Corbet buried Phelan's remains near his home, and her body was found in a deep hole at a property on his land on the outskirts of Portlaoise.
  • One report places the burial on the Kildare-Laois border, while other sources place it on Corbet's land on the outskirts of Portlaoise, County Laois.
Cause
Corbet told gardaí he snapped and punched Phelan shortly after she threatened to ruin him if he walked away from her and her pregnancy.
In court
Corbet was found guilty in the Central Criminal Court in 2014 of murdering his former girlfriend, but sources differ: one says he pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to manslaughter when the case came to court.
Sentence
Corbet was serving a life sentence for the murder of Aoife Phelan.
Investigation
  • All deaths in custody are investigated by the Irish Prison Service, the Inspector of Prisons and An Garda Síochána, where circumstances warrant.
  • The cause of death is determined by the Coroner's Office.
Other details
  • The Irish Prison Service confirmed a person in custody died at Mountjoy Prison on January 26, 2026.
  • Leinster Express and Kildare Now reported the dead prisoner is Robert Corbet, but the Irish Prison Service did not confirm the identity.
10 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatRobert Corbet killed Aoife Phelan in 2012 and was later jailed for her murder. (kildarenow.com)
  • whereCorbet's body was buried near his home, and Aoife Phelan's remains were buried near his home in 2012. (kildarenow.com)
  • whereAoife Phelan's body was found buried in a deep hole at a property on Corbet's land on the outskirts of Portlaoise. (kildarenow.com)
  • whenThe murder happened sometime between October 25 and November 7, 2012. (kildarenow.com)
  • causeCorbet told gardaí he snapped and punched Aoife Phelan shortly after she threatened to ruin him if he walked away from her and her pregnancy. (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationAll deaths in custody are investigated by the Irish Prison Service, the Inspector of Prisons and An Garda Síochána, where circumstances warrant. (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationThe cause of death is determined by the Coroner's Office. (kildarenow.com)
  • courtCorbet was found guilty in the Central Criminal Court in 2014 of the murder of his former girlfriend. (kildarenow.com)
  • courtCorbet pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter when his case came to court. (kildarenow.com)
  • otherThe Irish Prison Service confirmed a person in custody died at Mountjoy Prison on January 26. (kildarenow.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 27 Jan2026
    Otherkildarenow.com, follow-up
    Death in prison of murderer who buried victim on Kildare-Laois border

    Reports that the dead prisoner is Robert Corbet, serving a life sentence for murdering Aoife Phelan in 2012. The article covers the death in custody and the background of the murder case. The Irish Prison Service did not confirm the identity.

    convicted, Robert Corbet, male, named, irish (judged from name)Robert Corbetvictim, Aoife Phelan, irish (judged from name)Aoife Phelan