Ireland Case No. 4964Manslaughter · Co. Wicklow · 10 Feb 2022
Sentenced to eight years for manslaughter in Co Wicklow
Nicola Brennan, a 33-year-old woman, stabbed Juris Viktorovs, a 36-year-old Latvian man, once in the chest with a knife at their shared home in Shillelagh, Ballyconnell, Co Wicklow on 10 February 2022. She pleaded not guilty to murder in December 2023, but the jury failed to agree a verdict after a month-long trial at the Central Criminal Court. In June 2024, the DPP accepted her guilty plea to manslaughter. On 14 October 2024, Mr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced her to eight years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended for two years, backdated to 19 July 2022.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court24 Nov
7 reports - Convicted10 Jun
2 reports - Sentenced14 Oct
3 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Nicola Brennan stabbed Juris Viktorovs once in the chest with a knife at their shared home.
- Where
- The killing took place at the home the two shared at Shillelagh, Ballyconnell, Co Wicklow.
- When
- The killing occurred on 10 February 2022.
- Cause
- The judge said Brennan had no reason to stab the victim, was not provoked, and that alcohol and a lack of consequential thinking were factors.
- Weapon
- Brennan threw a knife across the bedroom before picking it up and stabbing Viktorovs in a downward motion.
- Investigation
- The prosecution relied on eyewitness evidence from Brenda Kane and forensic evidence including Viktorovs's blood on the cuff of Brennan's pyjama top.
- Charges
- Brennan pleaded not guilty to murder in December 2023, and the DPP accepted her guilty plea to manslaughter in June 2024.
- In court
- The month-long murder trial before Mr Justice Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court ended when the jury of eight men and four women failed to agree a verdict after seven hours and 33 minutes of deliberation.
- Sentence
- Mr Justice Paul McDermott set a headline sentence of 12 years, reduced it to nine years, and suspended the final 12 months for two years, backdating the sentence to 19 July 2022.
- Other details
- Brennan has 49 previous convictions, 31 of them for road traffic matters, and is of no fixed abode.
- Gardaí were satisfied that Viacestaus Narnickis, the other man in the house, was not involved in the stabbing and no charges were brought against him.
122 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA witness told the jury she saw the accused stab the deceased while he was rolling a cigarette. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe deceased tried to get up after being stabbed but fell at the end of the bed. (irishtimes.com)
- whatNicola Brennan pleaded not guilty to the murder of Juris Viktorovs. (irishtimes.com)
- whatNicola Brennan pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of her former lover at the Central Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatBrennan has 49 previous convictions, 31 of them for road traffic matters. (irishtimes.com)
- whatBrennan stabbed her housemate to death. (rte.ie)
- whatBrennan stabbed Viktorovs using a downward motion. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe stabbing happened at Shillelagh, Ballyconnell, Co Wicklow. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe killing is alleged to have happened at Shillelagh, Ballyconnell, Co Wicklow. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe death occurred at Shillelagh, Ballyconnell, Co Wicklow. (rte.ie)
- whereThe killing happened at Shillelagh, Ballyconnell, Co Wicklow. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe killing happened at Shillelagh, Ballyconnell, County Wicklow. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe killing happened at the home the two shared at Shillelagh, Ballyconnell, County Wicklow. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe killing took place at the home they shared at Shillelagh, Ballyconnell, Co Wicklow. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe killing took place at a home in Shillelagh, Ballyconnell, County Wicklow. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe killing took place at the home the two shared in Shillelagh, Ballyconnell, Co Wicklow. (rte.ie)
- whereThe killing happened at the home the two shared at Shillelagh, Ballyconnell, Co Wicklow. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe killing happened at the home the two shared in Shillelagh, Ballyconnell, Co Wicklow. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe death occurred on 10 February 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe killing is alleged to have happened on February 10th, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe killing took place on 10 February 2022. (rte.ie)
- whenThe killing happened on February 10th, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe killing happened on February 10, 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe killing happened on 10 February 2022. (irishmirror.ie, thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident occurred on 10 February 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe killing took place on February 10th, 2022. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe prosecutor said all four occupants of the house drank heavily on a regular basis. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe deceased suffered a single stab wound to the chest. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe deceased and the accused had been drinking heavily before the killing. (irishtimes.com)
- causeJuris Viktorovs was stabbed once in the chest. (rte.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- causeMr Viktorovs was stabbed once in the chest. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe DPP accepted Brennan's plea that she unlawfully killed but did not murder Juris Viktorovs. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeBrennan stabbed Mr Viktorovs in the chest. (irishtimes.com)
- causeThe judge said Brennan had no reason to stab the victim. (rte.ie)
- causeAlcohol and a lack of consequential thinking were factors in what happened, the judge said. (rte.ie, irishtimes.com)
- causeThe judge said Brennan had no reason to stab the victim to death. (thejournal.ie)
- causeThe judge said alcohol and a lack of consequential thinking were factors in what happened. (thejournal.ie)
- causeThe judge said Brennan had no reason to stab Viktorovs and was not provoked. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponThe witness said the accused brandished a dark-handled knife. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponThe prosecution said Ms Brennan put a knife into Mr Viktorovs. (irishtimes.com)
- weaponA witness said she saw the accused put a knife into Viktorovs. (irishmirror.ie)
- weaponBrennan introduced a knife into a situation where she was under no threat. (rte.ie)
- weaponBrennan threw a knife across the bedroom towards the victim before picking it up and stabbing him. (thejournal.ie)
- weaponBrennan threw a knife across the bedroom in the direction of Viktorovs before picking it up and stabbing him. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe prosecution relied on the evidence of an eye-witness and on what it alleged were lies told by the accused. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe prosecution said forensic evidence, including the deceased's blood on the cuff of the accused's pyjama top, supported the eye-witness account. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí were satisfied that Viacestaus Narnickis was not involved in the stabbing and no charges were brought against him. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe prosecution relied on the eye-witness evidence of Brenda Kane, who said she saw Brennan put a knife into Viktorovs. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí were satisfied the other man in the house was not involved in the stabbing and no charges were brought against him. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí described the scene at the house on arrival as one of chaos. (rte.ie)
- investigationBrennan was too drunk to be interviewed by gardaí. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie)
- investigationGardaí described the scene at the house as chaotic when they arrived. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeNicola Brennan has pleaded not guilty to the murder of her housemate, Juris Viktorovs. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeNicola Brennan has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Juris Viktorovs. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeBrennan pleaded not guilty to the murder of Juris Viktorovs. (rte.ie)
- chargeNicola Brennan pleaded not guilty to the murder of her housemate, Juris Viktorovs. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeA woman was accused of murder. (extra.ie)
- chargeBrennan pleaded not guilty to murder, and the jury could not agree a verdict. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe DPP accepted Brennan's guilty plea to manslaughter in June. (irishtimes.com, rte.ie)
- chargeBrennan pleaded not guilty to murder in December 2023. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie)
- chargeThe jury could not agree a verdict after a month-long trial, and the DPP later accepted a guilty plea to manslaughter. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeThe Director of Public Prosecutions accepted Brennan's plea of guilty to manslaughter in June after a jury could not agree a verdict on murder. (irishtimes.com)
- courtEvidence was heard at the Central Criminal Court on a Friday. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is before a jury of eight men and four women. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial continues before Mr Justice Paul McDermott and is expected to last up to three weeks. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury began considering its verdict in the trial. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury of eight men and four women spent nearly two hours deliberating on Thursday and will resume on Friday. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge told the jury that murder requires proof beyond reasonable doubt that the accused inflicted the fatal wound and intended to kill or cause serious harm. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury of eight men and four women spent seven hours and 33 minutes considering its verdict. (rte.ie)
- courtThe jury failed to agree a verdict after a month-long trial at the Central Criminal Court. (rte.ie)
- courtThe judge said he would accept a majority verdict if at least ten jurors agreed. (rte.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe jury returned saying there was no possibility of reaching a verdict. (rte.ie)
- courtThe prosecution relied on eye-witness evidence from Brenda Kane. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury was told that a majority verdict would be accepted if at least 10 jurors agreed. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury returned saying there was no possibility of a verdict being reached. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury failed to agree a verdict after a month-long trial. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge remanded Ms Brennan in custody until January 24th, when a date will be set for a new trial. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe defence asked for a verdict of not guilty of murder. (irishtimes.com)
- courtBrennan's month-long trial was held at the Central Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe jury deliberated for seven hours and 33 minutes. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe jury returned and said there was no possibility of a verdict being reached. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe trial ended without a verdict. (extra.ie)
- courtBrennan had pleaded not guilty to murder in December of the previous year, and the jury could not agree a verdict after a month-long trial. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtBrennan pleaded guilty to manslaughter at the Central Criminal Court on Monday. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned the case for a sentencing hearing on 7 October. (irishtimes.com)
- courtShe pleaded not guilty to murder in December 2023. (irishtimes.com)
- courtAfter a month-long trial the jury could not agree a verdict. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMr Justice McDermott said a finding of murder requires proof beyond reasonable doubt that Brennan inflicted the fatal wound and intended to kill or cause serious harm. (irishtimes.com)
- courtMr Justice Paul McDermott adjourned sentencing until Monday, October 14th. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe jury could not agree a verdict after a month-long trial. (rte.ie)
- courtThe sentence was handed down by Mr Justice Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court. (rte.ie)
- courtThe sentence was imposed at the Central Criminal Court by Mr Justice Paul McDermott. (thejournal.ie)
- courtMr Justice Paul McDermott sentenced Brennan at the Central Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe jurors were exempted from further jury service for ten years. (rte.ie)
- sentenceThe judge remanded Brennan in custody until January 24, when a date will be set for a new trial. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceMr Justice Paul McDermott requested probation and prison governor reports and adjourned sentencing to 7 October. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe DPP said the offence merited a headline sentence of ten to 15 years. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceBrennan was jailed for eight years. (rte.ie, irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of 12 years and reduced it to nine years after considering her guilty plea and remorse. (rte.ie, irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe final 12 months of the sentence were suspended for two years on conditions. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe sentence was backdated to 19 July 2022, when Brennan first went into custody. (rte.ie, thejournal.ie, irishtimes.com)
- sentenceNicola Brennan was jailed for eight years. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe headline sentence was 12 years, reduced to nine years after considering the guilty plea and remorse. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe judge suspended the final 12 months of the sentence for two years on conditions. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe witness made a 999 call to emergency services. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe witness said the accused later told her the deceased had suffered a heart attack. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe jury has heard that another housemate was not involved in the stabbing and no charges were brought against him. (irishtimes.com)
- otherDefence counsel urged the jury to find the accused not guilty because the prosecution's primary witness could not be relied on. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe accused told gardaí she had previously had a fling with the deceased but denied killing him in a fit of jealousy and rage. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBrennan is of no fixed abode. (rte.ie)
- otherA date will be set for a new trial. (rte.ie)
- otherDefence counsel argued the eyewitness evidence was unreliable and that the circumstances were chaotic. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherBrennan has been in Dochas women's prison since June 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherBrennan is 33 and of no fixed abode. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBrennan was going out with Viacestaus Narnickis and living in the same house as the deceased and his girlfriend Brenda Kane. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBrennan denied being jealous of the deceased's relationship with Brenda Kane. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe prosecution relied on the eyewitness evidence of Brenda Kane. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBrenda Kane said she was asleep in bed when Narnickis entered the room and asked Viktorovs to roll him a cigarette. (irishtimes.com)
- otherKane said she saw Brennan throw something across the room before coming into the room. (irishtimes.com)
- otherBrennan's barrister said she has turned her life around while in prison. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe reason for the killing is unknown. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe judge said the killing was not a blameless accident but a stabbing involving a high degree of recklessness. (thejournal.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 14 Oct2024Woman who stabbed former partner to death while drunk jailed for eight years
Sentencing at the Central Criminal Court. The judge set a headline sentence of 12 years, reduced it to nine years, and suspended the final 12 months for two years. The sentence is backdated to 19 July 2022.
victim, Juris Viktorovs, maleJuris Viktorovsconvicted, Nicola Brennan, 33, female, named, irish (judged from name)Nicola Brennan - 14 Oct2024Eight years for mother-of-three who stabbed and killed housemate
Reports the sentence of eight years imposed by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, after a headline sentence of 12 years was reduced to nine with the final 12 months suspended. Adds the judge's remarks on the motive, the knife, the alcohol and the backdating of the sentence to 19 July 2022.
victim, Juris Viktorovs, male, non-irish (judged from name)Juris Viktorovsconvicted, Nicola Brennan, 33, female, named, irish (judged from name)Nicola Brennan - 14 Oct2024Woman jailed for eight years over death of man in Wicklow
Reports the sentencing: eight-year prison term with the final 12 months suspended, the judge's remarks on the motiveless stabbing and on her remorse and rehabilitation, and the backdating of the sentence to 19 July 2022.
victim, Juris Viktorovs, male, non-irish (judged from name)Juris Viktorovsconvicted, Nicola Brennan, 33, female, named, irish (judged from name)Nicola Brennan - 7 Oct2024Woman who stabbed former lover to death has ‘turned her life around’, barrister tells Central Criminal Court
Sentencing hearing at the Central Criminal Court. Defence mitigation and a headline sentence range of ten to 15 years proposed by the DPP are reported. Sentencing adjourned to 14 October 2024.
convicted, Nicola Brennan, 33, female, named, irish (judged from name)Nicola Brennanvictim, Juris Viktorovs, 36, maleJuris Viktorovs - 10 Jun2024Woman pleads guilty to manslaughter of former lover in Co Wicklow
Reports the guilty plea to manslaughter following a hung jury on the murder charge, the DPP's acceptance of the plea, and the adjournment for sentencing.
convicted, Nicola Brennan, 33, female, named, irish (judged from name)Nicola Brennanvictim, Juris Viktorovs, 36, male, non-irish (judged from name)Juris Viktorovs - 10 Jun2024Nicola Brennan - who denied murdering ex-lover - pleads guilty to manslaughter
Reports a guilty plea to manslaughter accepted by the DPP at the Central Criminal Court on 10 June 2024, after a murder trial ended in a jury disagreement. Sentencing is adjourned to 7 October.
convicted, Nicola Brennan, 33, female, named, irish (judged from name)Nicola Brennanvictim, Juris Viktorovs, 36, maleJuris Viktorovs - 19 Dec2023Woman Accused Of Murder Sobs As Trial Ends In No Verdict
Only the headline has content; the article body is an empty template. It reports that the trial ended with no verdict.
accused, female - 18 Dec2023Woman who denies murdering ex-lover sobs as jury fails to agree a verdict
Reports that the jury could not agree a verdict after seven hours and 33 minutes of deliberation at the close of a month-long trial. Brennan was remanded in custody until January 24, when a date for a new trial will be set.
victim, Juris Viktorovs, 36, Latvian, non-irishJuris Viktorovsaccused, Nicola Brennan, 33, named, irish (judged from name)Nicola Brennan - 18 Dec2023Jury fails to agree verdict in trial of Nicola Brennan for murder of former lover
The jury could not agree a verdict after seven hours and 33 minutes of deliberation. The judge remanded Ms Brennan in custody until January 24th, when a date will be set for a new trial.
accused, Nicola Brennan, 33, female, named, irish (judged from name)Nicola Brennanvictim, Juris Viktorovs, 36, male, Latvian, non-irishJuris Viktorovs - 18 Dec2023Jury fails to agree verdict in Brennan murder trial
Reports that the jury of eight men and four women could not agree a verdict after a month-long trial, that the judge said he would accept a majority verdict of at least ten, and that a new trial date will be set. Brennan broke down in tears, and jurors were exempted from service for ten years.
accused, Nicola Brennan, 33, female, named, irish (judged from name)Nicola Brennanvictim, Juris Viktorovs, 36, male, Latvian, non-irishJuris Viktorovs - 14 Dec2023Jury begins deliberating in trial of woman accused of murdering former lover
Reports that the jury has begun deliberations in the murder trial, with the defence closing argument, the prosecution closing argument and the judge's directions to the jury. Adds the jury composition, the forensic evidence relied on by the prosecution and the defence's challenge to the witness evidence.
accused, Nicola Brennan, 33, female, named, irish (judged from name)Nicola Brennanvictim, Juris Viktorovs, 36, male, non-irish (judged from name)Juris Viktorovs - 24 Nov2023Murder accused had been drinking all day when she stabbed housemate
Reports prosecution witness evidence from the murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, including the witness's account of the stabbing and the accused's reported later remarks. The accused has pleaded not guilty.
accused, Nicola Brennan, 33, female, named, irish (judged from name)Nicola Brennanvictim, Juris Viktorovs, 36, male, Latvian, non-irishJuris Viktorovs