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Man who killed daughter's partner sentenced to life
Friday, 17 Dec 2021 12:26
A 48-year-old man who was "high on a cocktail of drugs" when he stabbed his daughter's partner to death in Dublin over two years ago has been sentenced to life in prison.
Mark Whelan, with an address at Castlecurragh Heath in Mulhuddart, had pleaded not guilty to the murder of Noel 'Noelie' Whelan, 22, at his home in Castlecurragh Heath on 30 March 2019 but was convicted by a jury.
His daughter, who was pregnant at the time, said her father had "ruined" her life and that her partner would never get to see his child.
Ms Justice Tara Burns said the case clearly shows the dangers of drugs which turned "a gentle giant" into "a demonic murdering hulk".
Mark Whelan was high on drugs when he stabbed and slashed his daughter's partner 18 times at his home in Mulhuddart.
Detective Sergeant Shane McCartin said that Whelan then left his home, topless and covered in blood, and went to his brother-in-law's home nearby, where he was given a lift to Finglas.
With blood spattered on his hands, face and clothes, he then went into Finglas Garda Station where he behaved in a strange manner and told the gardaÃ: "I shouldn't have done that, it's me you want."
The 48-year-old tried to claim he was psychotic through intoxication but the Director of the Central Mental Hospital said he found no mental disorder in the man and the jury found Mark Whelan guilty of murder.
His own daughter Shannon said her father had ruined her life by killing her partner Noel who had "a big smile on his face" when he first saw scans of his baby daughter, but he would never get to see, or hold her.
Noel's sister, Nicola, said Mark Whelan had targeted her brother, the father of his grandchild, because he was younger, softer and lighter, was defenceless against a man armed with his weapon of choice and had no escape.
Ms Justice Tara Burns described it as a shocking and horrifying case in which a man carrying out "a kindly act" while "checking on the accused" was murdered for "absolutely no reason".
The level of violence was "immense", she said, adding that the victim suffered "a ferocious assault".
The judge told Mark Whelan directly that he had no one to blame but himself and his continued use of drugs.
"The State services have not failed you," she said. "You have failed yourself."
"Because of drugs you have lost your wife, your happy home, and your continued use of drugs has deprived your daughter of a partner, your granddaughter of a father.
"Apparently you are a nice man, described as a gentle giant."
"This case highlights the dangers of drugs where a gentle giant can turn into a demonic murdering hulk."
Ms Justice Burns also said she was particularly touched by the family's victim impact statements.
"Noel was clearly a special person who touched everybody's heart," she said.
"I only hope the pain will ease for you."
Mark Whelan was sentenced to the mandatory term of life in prison.