Man tells jury he killed his partner but denies dismembering her

Olivia Kelleher

A man charged with the murder of his partner has told the jury at his trial that he killed her whilst denying that he tried to dismember the body at their apartment in Co Cork.

Adam Corcoran (31) is on trial at the Central Criminal Court in Cork, having pleaded not guilty to the murder of Daena Walsh, who was found dead at a burning apartment in Midleton on August 2nd, 2024.

The 27-year-old had 11 stab wounds, 14 incised wounds and a partially amputated left arm.

Corcoran also denied damaging by fire the property he shared with Walsh at John Barry House in Connolly Street in Midleton on the same date.

Corcoran opted to give evidence at his trial on Monday. Whilst under cross-examination by Donal McCarthy, SC, for the prosecution he admitted “Yes, I killed her, yes.” He also accepted that it wasn’t in self-defence.

However, he denied a suggestion put to him by Donal O’Sullivan that he tried to dismember the body of his long-term partner.

He also replied “no” when he was asked if he had started a fire at the apartment on the day his partner was found dead.

O’Sullivan put it to the accused that he had “attacked Daena” stabbing her so “repeatedly and ferociously” that the knife went through her breast bone four times. Corcoran insisted, “that is not what happened.”

He was asked why he had informed the operator who answered his 999 call that Walsh had attempted suicide. He said that is what he believed at the time.

He insisted that at that point he “didn’t know what had happened.” Corcoran said that it took a “period of time” of “months” for him to remember what had occurred.

Meanwhile, whilst being questioned by defence barrister, Brendan Grehan, SC, Corcoran said that he and Walsh had two children together and that he loved her.

The native of Ballincollig in Co Cork said that they both had issues with substance abuse.

Corcoran said that he and Walsh were drinking and taking cocaine and prescription drugs “non-stop, everyday” in the fortnight before her death.

He recalled the morning of August 2nd, 2024. He claimed that the pair were attempting to sleep, having been up all night.

He stated that they couldn’t sleep so they decided to go to Cork city to get a “couple of Benzos” as they only had “fifteen or so left.” He stated that they also wanted to look at engagement rings.

Corcoran said that he and Walsh had been unable to board the bus to Cork as they didn’t have change. He claimed that she accused him of looking at one of the girls on the bus.

He stated that they returned to their apartment where they had more alcohol and cocaine. He said that he went into the bedroom and called out to Walsh who didn’t reply.

“ I went into the kitchen. Daena was over by the cooker. She had a red knife in her hand. She was self-harming. She was shouting at me saying that I was cheating on her."

"She was screaming at me...(she said) she was sick of it - she was going to end it all."

Corcoran claimed that he went to grab Walsh by the wrists.

"She was swinging at me. She was hitting me and head-butting me and lashing out. I did not know where the knife was. I was lashing out at her."

He claimed that Walsh fell over and he toppled onto her.

"I hit her twice in the chest and she stopped moving. I was out of breath. I was very dizzy. When I came around I felt my shirt was wet.”

Corcoran replied “no” when asked by his counsel as to whether he intended to kill or cause serious injury to his partner that day. He said that he loved her “very much.”

When asked if he recalled how Walsh got her injuries that day he replied “no.” When further questioned he said “I must have done them.”

Grehan further asked his client about a conversation he had with a garda at the scene that day in which he is alleged to have said that her tried to save Walsh.

He also told the garda that his partner had said she loved him and that it (her alleged suicide attempt) wasn’t his fault. Corcoran said that he “didn’t really remember that.”

The jury previously heard that Corcoran had described Walsh as his “soulmate.” In his garda interviews, he stated that he planned to marry her and that they were going to buy a house together.

Walsh was a native of Roundwood in Co Wicklow.

The case will continue on Wednesday in front of a jury of eight men and four women. It is being presided over by Judge Siobhan Lankford.