Marcus O'Neill jailed for life for murder of Gillian Curran
O'Neill received the mandatory life sentence at the Criminal Courts of Justice, Dublin.
A man has received a mandatory life sentence for the murder of Tramore woman Gillian Curran.
Marcus O'Neill, formerly of O'Brien Street, Waterford City, murdered Ms. Curran at his home on January 25, 2025.
A three-week trial was held in May 2026 at Waterford Courthouse. Jurors heard testimony from forensic specialists and the State pathologist about the violent nature of Gillian's death. The jury of seven women and five men returned a majority guilty verdict.
The trial marked the first time Garda body camera footage was used during criminal proceedings.
On Monday, October 12, O'Neill was given a mandatory life sentence at the Criminal Court of Justice in Dublin.
Gillian's family attended the hearing. Her brother Michael Curran gave a statement outside the court after the sentence was passed: "Our sister, Gillian, was brutally taken from us at the age of 47. She was an intelligent, loving, kind, and vivacious woman who left behind four sisters, a brother, nephews, nieces, brothers-in-law, and a sister-in-law. She is deeply missed by her family, her friends, and her work colleagues. Gillian, like many vulnerable women across Ireland, did not deserve her violent end.
"Her murder and the subsequent trial have had a profound effect on us all. As a family, we did not deserve to be dragged through the awful details of her death because of the cowardly decision of her callous killer not to plead guilty. Trying to shift the blame to Gillian for his violence against her, resulting in her horrible death, was doubly cruel. His complete lack of remorse for the 140-plus injuries he inflicted on her is beyond evil. It was incredibly difficult attending court every day and seeing first hand his complete indifference.
"Knowing what she went through in her last 24 hours constantly plays on our minds and is extremely distressing. We are frequently overwhelmed by feelings of loss, anxiety, and deep, deep sadness. Our mother died in May, shortly before the trial commenced, and we have been unable to grieve her properly due to the ongoing stress of the court case. We are only grateful that both our parents were not alive and spared the ordeal of the trial.
"Gillian's nieces and nephews, at their young ages, are incredibly upset and bewildered at the loss of their aunt and what happened to her, and she will now miss all the major milestones in their lives.
"We would like to thank the gardaí, the DPP's office and the judiciary for their professionalism and kindness and for dealing with our family with such sensitivity during this difficult time.
"Today's sentence is a step towards justice for Gillian, but we must also remember all the other victims of domestic abuse and their families. We must make sure their voices are heard and that no one is forgotten."
