Cork man directed for murder trial over fatal stabbing in city centre

A 42-year-old man from Cork will be tried at the Central Criminal Court on a murder charge following the death of a Ukrainian national last year.

Cork man directed for murder trial over fatal stabbing in city centre

A man from east Cork is set to be tried before the Central Criminal Court on an allegation that he killed a young father from Ukraine.

Jonathan Hennessy, aged 42 and living at Dr Patrick O'Sullivan Terrace in Upper Aghada, stands accused over the death of Oleksandr Zhyvytskyi. The incident is said to have taken place on the evening of March 16, 2023, at Knapp's Square in Cork City.

According to earlier testimony, the victim suffered a knife wound to his chest during a confrontation around 7.50pm. He walked back to his residence at Camden Court on Carroll's Quay, where his partner raised the alarm. Emergency responders tried to revive him, but he was declared dead less than an hour later.

At a hearing on Wednesday in Cork District Court, Sergeant Aisling Murphy told the judge that the prosecution service had issued instructions for the matter to proceed to the superior court. The DPP also agreed that a formal admission of guilt could be recorded at the lower court before sentencing takes place at the higher level.

Hennessy's legal representative, Eddie Burke, asked for the compilation of prosecution papers. Judge John King reminded those present that investigators have a six-week window to assemble this material. Sergeant Murphy stated this could not be completed within a fortnight and sought the longest possible detention order of four weeks, yet the defendant would agree only to a fourteen-day extension. The hearing was postponed until the start of July, with Hennessy remaining behind bars.

Detective Garda Kevin Motherway had previously lodged the charge against him under common law. A probe began straight after the deadly violence erupted near the victim's home, reportedly as he went out to collect food.

Source: Irish Examiner

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