logo
Man who recorded murder of his wife after finding out about affair learns fate

Man who recorded murder of his wife after finding out about affair learns fate

A father of two who inadvertently recorded the moment he stabbed his wife to death told paramedics and Gardaí at the scene that the deceased was having an affair and he "freaked out" after seeing "something on her phone about sex", a court has heard.
Stephen Mooney, 53, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court on Monday to the mandatory term of life imprisonment for the murder of his 43-year-old wife Anna Mooney (nee Shuplikova). At the hearing, Mooney took the stand to apologise to his wife's family and their two children.
Mooney pleaded guilty to his wife's murder earlier this year after Gardaí hacked into his phone and discovered video footage of the build-up to the murder and an audio recording of the murder itself.
Outlining the evidence, Detective Sergeant Basil Grimes told prosecutor Desmond Dockery SC that Mooney called emergency services at 1.09am on June 15, 2023. He reported that a person had been stabbed at his home on Kilbarrack Road, Kilbarrack, Dublin 5 and when asked who did it, he replied: "I did."
A Dublin Fire Brigade officer was first on the scene and found Mooney kneeling over his wife's lifeless body, speaking to emergency services on the phone. She had a knife lodged in her chest.
The defendant told the paramedic: "I've killed her... She's my wife. This has been going on for years. I'm really sorry, she's been having an affair."
A Garda who arrived a short time later took a note of Mooney saying: "She's having an affair, it got out of control, I tried to save her, everyone's lives are ruined."
He added: "It's awful, I'm sorry to put you through this. I saw something on her phone about sex and everything else and freaked out."
He later said: "There is no suspect. I am the guilty one. There's nothing worth this."
Detective Garda Jeanette O'Neill carried out a technical exam of the home and found blood pooling on a couch and blood spatter on the wall immediately behind it. Ms Mooney was lying on her back on the kitchen floor when paramedics arrived.
The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
Pathologist Dr Sallyanne Collis said the stab wound to Ms Mooney's chest tracked to 13.3cm and pierced the heart, diaphragm and abdominal cavity. The knife that had been lodged in her chest had a 16cm single-edged blade and a wooden handle.
There were further stab wounds to the lower left side of her back, the left upper arm and further incised wounds to her left hand and arm. She had "quite a considerable amount" of alcohol in her system. The pathologist concluded that death was caused by multiple sharp force injuries.
Detective Garda Grimes said that weeks before Mooney was due to go on trial this year, Gardaí accessed his phone for the first time using updated software that allows phones to be hacked even when they are protected by a password or pincode.
Analysis of the phone uncovered a 90-minute video clip which included footage of the murder, he said.
He said Mooney can be seen leaving the room where the murder happens and returning with the murder weapon. The moment when Ms Mooney died happened off-camera, he said, but the audio records "all events leading to her death".
Detective Garda Grimes said the video then goes quiet before Mr Mooney can be seen returning to the kitchen where he drinks three glasses of water and runs water over his hands while making the 999 call.
The detective said it appears that Mooney himself had set the phone to record in an elevated position with a view of the kitchen table. Detectives believe that Mooney set it up that way to record his wife entering her pin number into her own phone so that he could then take her phone and find out who she was contacting.
The recording was still running when Mooney attacked his wife.
The detective confirmed that Mooney has worked as an estate agent and has no previous convictions. Under cross-examination, he agreed with defence counsel Michael Bowman SC that Ms Mooney moved to Ireland from Ukraine in 2004 and the pair married in 2005. They have two children together.
Detective Garda Grimes agreed that the investigation had confirmed that Ms Mooney was having a relationship with a man in Germany.
Neither of the Mooney children were in court for Monday's hearing but Ms Mooney's brother, Anton Shuplikova, listened to the proceedings from Ukraine using a video-link and an interpreter.
Following the detective's evidence, Mooney took the stand to apologise to his wife's family. "I am truly sorry for what happened that night," he said. "It is the burden I go to bed with every night and wake up with every day.
"I loved Anna. I want to say sorry to Anton and his extended family."
He finished by saying: "I wish to apologise to my kids for the terrible suffering I have caused everybody. I hope one day everybody will be able to forgive me."
Mr Justice Paul McDermott imposed the mandatory sentence of life imprisonment. He said that while the family did not make a victim impact statement, from the evidence and the nature of the offence, he understands the "huge damage and trauma that has been caused".
He said he has no discretion in sentencing and Mooney's future will be determined by a parole board.
Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Gardaí question three men following seizure of €345,000 in cash
Gardaí question three men following seizure of €345,000 in cash

Irish Times

time2 hours ago

  • Irish Times

Gardaí question three men following seizure of €345,000 in cash

Three men in their forties are being questioned by Gardaí in connection with the seizure of €345,640 in cash following the search of a vehicle in Drumcondra in Dublin on Friday. The search was carried out as part of an operation targeting an organised crime group involved in money laundering and the sale and sale of drugs in Dublin. Members of the Dublin Crime Response Team (DCRT) searched three male passengers in the vehicle and their luggage and located and seized the cash. The men are being detained in garda stations in the Dublin region. Assistant Commissioner Paul Cleary, Dublin Metropolitan Region said that this 'significant seizure' of cash not only removes ill-gotten gains from the hands of criminals, but also deprives them of money they would have used to 'fund further criminal activities and cause harm in our communities.'

Man in his 40s in serious condition after brutal assault
Man in his 40s in serious condition after brutal assault

Irish Daily Mirror

time3 hours ago

  • Irish Daily Mirror

Man in his 40s in serious condition after brutal assault

A man has been hospitalised with serious injuries following an assault in Dublin's north inner city on Friday night. The attack occurred near the junction of Sean McDermott Street and Gardiner Street around 10pm. The victim, a man in his 40s, was taken to Beaumont Hospital where he remains in a serious condition. Gardai have not made any arrests yet and are appealing for witnesses to come forward. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week A garda spokesperson stated: "Gardaí are investigating an incident of assault that took place on Sean McDermott Street Dublin 1 at approximately 10pm last night, Friday 25th July 2025. A man, aged in his 40s, was taken to Beaumont Hospital to be treated for serious injuries." They added: "No arrests have been made. Enquiries are ongoing." The Gardai are requesting anyone with information about the incident to contact Mountjoy Garda Station on 01 666 8000 or the Garda Confidential line on 1800 666 111, reports Dublin Live. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.

Man who was pepper sprayed at Longitude and urinated in a cell after abusing Garda tells court cannabis ‘isn't a drug'
Man who was pepper sprayed at Longitude and urinated in a cell after abusing Garda tells court cannabis ‘isn't a drug'

Irish Independent

time4 hours ago

  • Irish Independent

Man who was pepper sprayed at Longitude and urinated in a cell after abusing Garda tells court cannabis ‘isn't a drug'

Paul Davis (38), of Deanstown Road, Finglas, Dublin 11, pleaded guilty at Tallaght District Court to criminal damage at Rathfarnham Garda Station and to threatening and abusive behaviour and intoxication in a public place at Marlay Park on June 29, 2024. The court heard Davis was highly intoxicated at the festival when Gardaí observed him arguing with security staff around 5:55pm. He was slurring his speech and acting in an aggressive and confrontational manner. When approached by Garda Stephen Walsh and asked to calm down, Davis called the garda a 'c**t' repeatedly and continued to be aggressive. He was pepper sprayed and arrested before being brought to Rathfarnham Garda Station. While in custody, he urinated on a cell door. The court heard that Davis has 54 previous convictions, including those for public order and criminal damage. The court had previously heard in May that Davis had been drug-free for 10 months, regularly attended AA and NA meetings, and was engaging with Cuan Mhuire services. However, he later admitted to the Probation Service that he still smokes cannabis daily and was found unsuitable for community service. When asked to explain this in court, Davis said: 'Cannabis isn't a drug - it's a plant.' Judge Patricia McNamara responded: 'Oh, well then you think heroin is just a plant?' Davis replied: 'Well no, heroin is chemicalised.' Judge McNamara said: 'There are plenty of chemicals in cannabis too. There are chemicals in it you'd find under your kitchen sink - it's not some little plant growing from your windowsill. You could be smoking rat poison." ADVERTISEMENT She added: 'That kind of attitude shows a complete naivety about drugs. Those are the kinds of plants that will ruin your life.' Davis paid €105 in court to cover the cost of cleaning the cell. Judge McNamara convicted Davis and imposed a three-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, while she also fined him €200, with four months to pay. She told him he must remain of sober habits and abstain from all illicit or non-prescribed drugs during the suspended period. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store