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. 0822Manslaughter · Co. Dublin · 11 Dec 2023

Twin brothers Eric and Sean Farrell jailed for manslaughter of mother's partner Nicolae Diaconu in Tallaght

Twin brothers Eric and Sean Farrell, 21, stabbed their mother's non-Irish partner Nicolae Diaconu, 45, eight times and struck him with a blunt object at the family home in Castle Park, Tallaght, Dublin, on 11 December 2023. The incident followed a dispute in which Diaconu had grabbed Sean, and there were allegations of abuse in the relationship in the days before. The twins initially pleaded not guilty to murder but later pleaded guilty to manslaughter, a plea accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions. In June 2026, Judge Tony Hunt at the Central Criminal Court sentenced both to seven years and six months with the final 18 months suspended.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced15 Jun
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Twin brothers Eric and Sean Farrell, 21, with no previous convictions, stabbed their mother's partner Nicolae Diaconu, 45, eight times and struck him with a blunt object.
  • The twins and Diaconu had purchased food, alcohol and cigarettes before returning home, and the incident flared up out of a dispute in which Diaconu grabbed Sean.
  • There were allegations of abuse or mistreatment in the relationship in the last few days of Diaconu's life.
Where
The killing took place at the family home in Castle Park, Tallaght, Dublin.
When
The incident occurred on 11 December 2023, and Eric called emergency services at 8.36pm.
Investigation
Gardaí were called to the house and a neighbour saw Sean crouching and making striking motions through the living room window.
Charges
The twins pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter, and the DPP accepted the manslaughter pleas.
In court
Judge Tony Hunt at the Central Criminal Court identified aggravating factors including the level of violence and use of knives and a hammer, and mitigating factors including youth, genuine remorse and lack of previous convictions.
Sentence
In June 2026, both were sentenced to seven years and six months with the final 18 months suspended.
Other details
Both men received favourable probation reports and were considered at low risk of reoffending.
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe defendants are 21-year-old twin brothers with no previous convictions (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe victim was Nicolae Diaconu, aged 45 (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe victim was stabbed eight times and struck with a blunt object (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe twins and Diaconu purchased food, alcohol and cigarettes before returning to the family home (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe aggravating factors were the level of violence and the use of knives and a hammer (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe mitigating factors included their youth, genuine remorse and lack of previous convictions (irishtimes.com)
  • whatBoth men received favourable probation reports and were considered at low risk of reoffending (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThere were allegations of abuse or mistreatment in the relationship in the last few days of Diaconu's life (irishtimes.com)
  • whatEric also had blood on his hands, face and clothes and was visibly upset, crying and sobbing (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe deceased was lying in a pool of blood in the living room (irishtimes.com)
  • whatEric said he stabbed the deceased because Diaconu had grabbed Sean during a dispute relating to their mother (irishtimes.com)
  • whatEric admitted to stabbing Diaconu and said he ruined it for both of them (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA neighbour saw Sean through the livingroom window crouching down and making striking motions on the floor (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe killing took place at the family home in Castle Park, Tallaght (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe incident occurred on 11 December 2023 (irishtimes.com)
  • whenEric called emergency services at 8.36pm saying someone had been stabbed (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe fatal incident flared up out of the clear blue sky (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí were called to the house and arrested Diaconu following reports he had been acting aggressively (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe twins pleaded not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe Director of Public Prosecutions accepted the manslaughter pleas (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 15 Jun2026
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Twins, who act like ‘two halves of one person’, jailed after fatal stabbing of mother’s partner

    Reports the sentencing of the Farrell twins, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter after previously pleading not guilty to murder. The judge noted the incident flared up out of the clear blue sky and identified aggravating and mitigating factors.

    victim, Nicolae Diaconu, 45, male, non-irish (judged from name)Nicolae Diaconuconvicted, 21, male, irish (judged from name)convicted, Sean Farrell, 21, male, named, irish (judged from name)Sean Farrell