The Dublin man who murdered mother-of-two Jennifer Poole, 24, has been jailed for life
A DUBLIN man who stabbed his partner seven times with a kitchen knife in their flat has been sentenced to life in prison for her murder.
The other of two Jennifer Poole, 24, was fatally assaulted at her home in Melville Drive, Finglas on April 17 last year.
Her partner of about a year, Gavin Murphy, 30, pleaded guilty to murder earlier this month.
The accused of Coultry Drive in Ballymun, Dublin was sentenced to life imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court this afternoon.
Evidence was presented that Ms Poole was observed with numerous injuries throughout the relationship and that Murphy had a criminal record for assaulting an ex-partner and for making a knife.
The court heard they had been in a relationship since last May and that there were “continuing difficulties”.
Det Sgt Damien Mangan told Dean Kelly SC, prosecutors, that friends and family noticed bruises on Ms Poole’s face and body in the months, weeks and days leading up to the murder.
Jennifer Poole’s son and daughter were four and seven years old at the time of their murders.
On the day of the incident, a neighbor of Ms Poole said she heard high-pitched screams “like never before” coming from the flat and the victim repeatedly shouting “stop, please don’t do this”.
As she walked into the apartment, she looked through the mailbox and saw that Murphy was holding a kitchen knife and appeared to be pulling it away from Ms Poole.
The witness told Gardaí she saw a bloodstain on the floor, Murphy took a white towel to wipe his hand or knife and went into a bedroom to get dressed.
The witness said gardaí she yelled at him to be let in, but he told her “fuck off”.
He then fled via the rear balcony before the emergency services were alerted.
An investigation was launched and when Murphy met with gardaí at his uncle’s home over an hour later, he said an argument had broken out at Ms Poole’s flat.
He claimed a knife was produced, he got his hands on it and used it “in a split second”.
He also told Gardaí he “passed out”, he “couldn’t even look at her” and that he then left and went to Poppintree Park, Ballymun.
In a prepared statement to Gardaí following his arrest, he claimed responsibility for the murder but added that he had no intention of killing Ms Poole and that he “really loved her”.
Murphy also told Gardaí, “I’m really sorry and I didn’t want that to happen.”
He was later charged and earlier this month pleaded guilty to murder.
The court was told that Ms Poole sustained seven stab wounds and that the cause of death was bleeding and shock from multiple stab wounds.
Det Sgt Mangan confirmed Murphy had 13 prior convictions, including phone custody, assault, burglary, fabrication of an article and criminal damage.
The court was told that Murphy assaulted a former partner and her mother and that a knife was found during the incident.
Jennifer Poole’s funeral last year in Finglas, Dublin. Photo: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin
David Poole, the victim’s brother, said their two children were “deprived” of their mother and their lives were changed forever.
Ms Poole’s son and daughter were four and seven years old at the time of her murder.
Mr Poole said his sister could not have been a more caring mum. He explained that she did everything for her children and now all they have are memories of their beautiful mother.
Jason Poole also issued a statement saying his sister was “beautiful inside and out” and had a “heart of gold.”
He said that finding out about the murder felt like a nightmare and that her children needed to be told their mother was murdered “by a man she no longer wanted.”
Jason Poole also said that no punishment compares to the pain the defendant inflicted on them. He said the family was distressed by the fact that Ms Poole spent her final minutes on earth “with the worst of humanity”.
Murphy sat with his head on the floor for most of the hearing.
Mr Judge Paul Burns said it was “another instance of a violent attack on a young woman” by a male partner with fatal consequences.
He offered his condolences to Ms Poole’s family and handed down a life sentence for the “vicious” murder.
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/dublin-man-who-murdered-mum-of-two-jennifer-poole-24-is-jailed-for-life-41600512.html The Dublin man who murdered mother-of-two Jennifer Poole, 24, has been jailed for life