Stab Killer Jailed For Death Of Belfast Mum

A Co Laois man was yesterday given a life sentence for killing his Belfast-born former girlfriend in a jealous rage.

Gordon Molloy, 24, of Ballickmoyer, stabbed his ex-girlfriend Ciara Ní Chathmhaoil in front of her four-year-old child.

Yesterday at Dublin's Central Criminal Court a jury rejected his defence claim that he suffered from a borderline personality disorder which diminished his responsibility for the killing.

After almost five hours of deliberations, they convicted him unanimously of her murder.

The court had heard that Molloy stabbed her 27 times in a rage in the vicious attack at her home in Ardmore Gardens, Carlow, in November 2007.

He then stabbed himself before writing the words "I loved her but she cheated" in his blood on the living room door.

The 22-year-old mother of one, who was born in Belfast, and Mr Molloy had ended a two-year relationship five weeks earlier.

The prosecution said Molloy stabbed her in a "jealous, drunken rage" after learning that she had met another man.

It happened after he went to her house after drinking more than ten pints and waited for her to return.

After the fatal attack, he placed her body in the bath and stabbed himself, later trying to claim the victim had initially attacked him.

(BMcC/JM)