A man who “propelled” his partner down stairs, leaving her with permanent and severe brain damage which ended her life, was on Thursday told he will spend at least 16 years of his life sentence in jail before he is considered for release. Michael O’Connor (34) appeared at Downpatrick Crown Court, sitting in Belfast, via videolink from prison. “As a direct result she sustained catastrophic brain injuries from which she never recovered,” said the judge. “By then there was no prospect of any form of meaningful recovery,” said Judge Miller. He told the court the 16 months until her life support was turned off and she sadly passed way, “was a traumatic time for Joleen’s family”.

Source: The Irish Times July 02, 2020 12:34 UTC