The brother of a woman murdered by her neighbour has told a court of his sorrow at not being able to protect the mother of one.

Jason Daly of PJ Delaney Flats, Main Street, Mountrath in Co. Laois – but originally from Sandyford in Dublin – has been sentenced to life for killing 29-year-old Diane Burroughs on April 16th 2011.

Mr. Daly murdered Ms Burroughs and then tried to make the killing look like a suicide by putting the broken glass he had used to kill her into her hand.

He told Gardaí that they had an ‘on/off’ relationship and that they had ‘made love’ at her flat before he cut her with the drinking glass and squeezed her neck until she went blue.

The 42-year-old gave no reason for ending her life and was convicted of murder by a jury following a 4-day-trial earlier this month.

The older brother of the victim – John Burroughs – told the court today “The trial has opened my eyes to the pain members of the human race can inflict on other members of society”.

He said he felt sorry he was not there to protect his sister when she needed him and concluded “I’m really sorry, Diane”.

Jason Daly has been jailed for life.