A 63-year-old man has admitted trying to murder his partner Donna Foster by attacking her with a knife at their home in Cork last year.

Patrick O'Rourke of Cooline Drive, Ballyvoloon in Cobh changed his plea to guilty just before the trial was due to begin this afternoon.

From the stand, he apologised "sincerely and unconditionally" to Ms Foster and wished her every "health, happiness and success".

He described the years they spent together as the "happiest" of his life and said he prayed she would make a full recovery.

The court heard they were living together in Cobh, but were having relationship difficulties and there was talk of separating.

During an argument on the morning of August 11th last year, he took a sharp boning knife from their kitchen and stabbed her repeatedly.

The most serious wound was a few inches long and ran down the centre of her throat.

Detective Garda Bill Dillane found her kneeling on the kitchen floor with her face on an armchair.

He went outside to Mr O'Rourke who said: "I'm in trouble Bill. I did it. Is she alive?".

Sobs could be heard from the back of the courtroom, as the evidence was being heard.

A full sentence hearing will take place on Friday week.