A 34-year-old gravedigger from Dublin has been jailed for twelve-and-a-half years for killing his girlfriend at her home in Coolock in July 2017.

Martin Hayes, from Poddle Close in Crumlin, had claimed Amadea McDermott had died by suicide.

Following a Central Criminal Court trial last November, a jury found him guilty of her manslaughter after deliberating for over thirteen hours.

In the week leading up to her death, Amadea McDermott texted Martin Hayes, pleading with him to stop being violent towards her.

She was afraid he was going to kill her and sadly her worst fear came true.

Aside from the physical abuse, Hayes was also very controlling.

He even installed a hidden app on her phone to track her.

He admitted using violence on the 27-year-old mother of two but denied killing her, claiming right from the beginning that she stabbed herself.

The jury didn’t believe him.

They acquitted him of her murder but found him guilty of manslaughter.

He was jailed today for 12-and-a-half years.

Before passing sentence, Mr Justice Paul McDermott told Hayes he had an “unhealthy obsession” with an unfounded belief that she was with someone else – which wasn’t true.

The judge also urged others in violent and controlling relationships to come forward.

If you are impacted by any of the issues discussed in this article you can contact the Women’s Aid 24hr National Freephone Helpline on 1800 341 900.

You can access local domestic violence services here.