Alleged murder victim was physically abusive when drunk, wife tells court

Alison O'Riordan

A woman has told the trial of the man accused of murdering her husband that her partner was an alcoholic who was physically abusive when drunk and that she had lived "in a constant state of fear" of being killed by him.

Witness Emma Farrell on Thursday told the Central Criminal Court jury that her husband's violence could "erupt spontaneously without any provocation" on her part and the deceased was "the type of guy who had no fear".

Ryan Kearney (39), with an address at Loughnamona Drive, Leixlip, Co Kildare has pleaded not guilty to murdering Jeffrey Jackson (50) at The Lamps, School Street, Kilcock, Co Kildare on February 8th, 2024.

Mr Jackson's partner, Breda Kearney, has given evidence that when she returned home after a brief trip to the shop she was met by her bloodied nephew Ryan Kearney, who told her he had stabbed her partner in the neck and thought he was dead.

In his Garda interviews, Mr Kearney said that he took a knife off his aunt's enraged partner after a scuffle and gave him "a few jabs with it", telling detectives that he had no intention to kill and was in fear for his life.

"It was either going to be me sitting here today or him sitting here today," the accused told officers.

Ms Farrell, who on Thursday gave evidence via video-link from Sheffield in the UK, told Brendan Grehan SC, prosecuting, that she had known Mr Jackson since 2010 and they got married in 2019.

Asked in what circumstances had they moved from Ireland to Sheffield, the witness said her father had died and Mr Jackson "was free of cancer but it was probably going to come back".

She said Mr Jackson had been receiving treatment for metastasized malignant melanoma, which was life-threatening. She said they decided to move back to her mother in Sheffield and with the "free treatment in the NHS".

Ms Farrell said her husband had always been a drinker since they met and agreed it was a problem. She said Mr Jackson was an alcoholic and would use his illness benefit to fund his drinking. The witness said she had worked full time in a manager's position and supported him.

Asked about what Mr Jackson was like when he drank excessively, Ms Farrell said sometimes he could be "OK" but at other times he could be aggressive, depending on the alcohol he drank and his mood prior to drinking.

She said her husband had been aggressive towards her and eventually their relationship had broken down. She said she had decided to end the relationship and Mr Jackson later moved back to Ireland.

Under cross-examination, Ms Farrell agreed with Michael Bowman SC, defending, that Mr Jackson's drinking had reached a stage in 2015 where he was drinking "whatever money" he was getting as well as what she was earning. She said he effectively viewed alcohol as medicine for his illness.

Ms Farrell told the jury that her husband was physically abusive to her when he was drunk but the emotional and verbal abuse would happen regardless.

She agreed she had told gardai in a statement in February 2024 in relation to this case that her husband would have his hands up around her throat, throttling her.

"It could be up against a wall or a couch but it appeared to be consistent and ongoing?" asked Mr Bowman, which the witness agreed with.

Mr Bowman put it to Ms Farrell that she had recalled a particular incident in her statement in 2015 involving Mr Jackson wanting a curry when she was in bed and she had ordered it.

"It was too spicy, he dragged you out of the bed, pulled you down the stairs, he said 'you did that you fat bastard' and made you sit in the corner for two hours and you didn't move out of fear for what would happen otherwise?" asked counsel. The witness agreed that this had been the case.

Mr Bowman put it to the witness that her husband had her hands up around her throat in 2020 and she had looked into his eyes and that this was the end of the relationship. Ms Farrell agreed, saying she had "walked out the same day".

The witness also agreed she had "grave concerns" for her safety and life at this stage. She further agreed that if Mr Jackson was drunk he could be violent and in her view was "the type of guy" who had no fear.

The witness agreed with the lawyer that despite loving her husband she lived in "a constant state of fear". She said she found it difficult to balance affection for him against an honest fear that she could be killed by him.

She said she reached out to police in 2020 and made a formal statement but at this stage Mr Jackson had moved back to Ireland. She agreed she had made it known to her husband that she had spoken to the police.

She agreed with Mr Bowman that she only "countenanced any period of re-engagement" with Mr Jackson on account he could remain sober for six months and get help for his mental health issues but she had no expectations he would meet those conditions.

Ms Farrell also agreed her husband's violence could "erupt spontaneously without any provocation" on her part at all.

In re-examination, Ms Farrell told the prosecutor that she and the deceased had separated but never got divorced. She said Mr Jackson was still her husband at the time of his death and that she had never sought medical treatment for any of "those incidents". She told the jury she was now getting counselling for complex post-traumatic stress disorder.

In his opening speech, Mr Grehan told the jury that evidence of 16 separate knife injuries suffered by Mr Jackson during what the prosecution say was a "ferocious attack" in the apartment did not fit with Mr Kearney's account of having stabbed the deceased in self defence.

The trial continues on Friday before Mr Justice Paul Burns and a jury of three men and nine women.