Athy woman’s murderer sentenced to life in prison
Jason Daly (40), centre, leaving Birr District Court in April 2011 after an initial court appearance following his arrest for the murder of Diane Burroughs.
A man has been sentenced at the Central Criminal Court to life in prison for the murder of his 29-year-old Athy woman in her flat in Co Laois last year.
Jason Daly, 42, of PJ Delaney Flats, Main Street, Mountrath, but originally from Sandyford in Dublin, strangled Diane Burroughs in her bedroom on April 16, 2011 and tried to make it look like a suicide.
The pair, who were neighbours, had an on-off relationship.
He then tried to make her death look like suicide.
Daly admitted killing Ms. Burroughs but pleaded not guilty to her murder and gave no reason for ending her life.
Ms Burroughs, from Athy, had an on-off relationship with her neighbour Jason Daly.
On April 16, the pair were drinking and listening to music when Mr. Daly stabbed the victim with a glass.
He then strangled her with her nightdress.
Mr. Justice Barry White heard evidence that Mr. Daly had attempted to make it look like suicide by putting the broken glass he had used into her hand,
Ms. Burrough’s family expressed their pain in a victim impact statement. The victim’s older brother, John Burroughs, told the court that no words would bring his sister back.
He said that knowing how much she suffered brought feelings of shock, anger and despair.
“I feel sorry I was not there to protect my sister when she needed me,” he added. “I’m really sorry, Diane.”
A statement by John Burroughs Snr, the victim’s father revealed that Daly’s ‘brutal crime’ had affected his family’s daily functioning and that he had trouble sleeping.
“I have continuous nightmares of Diane calling me to help her,” he said, adding that he also had nightmares of following her and that this led to him sleep walking.
“My trust in people is no-longer there,” he said. “I live in fear of a knock on the door like the one that came when Diane was murdered.”
“I think of what she went through,” he said.
“Mr Daly took Diane’s life,” he said. “She lays in the ground alone.”
Through his barrister, Mr. Daly expressed his remorse and apologised.
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