The Daily Star Ireland
In a recent development at the Central Criminal Court, 52-year-old Stephen Mooney has confessed to the murder of his wife, Anna Mooney, aged 46, at their residence on Kilbarrack Road, Kilbarrack, Dublin, on June 15, 2023.
Anna Mooney, a Ukrainian mother of two, was found with fatal stab wounds in the kitchen of their shared home.
Initially, Mooney was scheduled to stand trial for the murder. However, on February 7, 2024, prosecution senior counsel Desmond Dockery informed the court of a significant breakthrough in the case. Gardaí had seized the accused’s phone at the crime scene but were previously unable to access its contents due to the lack of a PIN code or password.
The Cellebrite software, utilized by gardaí for mobile phone analysis, had recently been updated, enabling them to unlock phones without a password. Upon accessing Mooney’s phone, they discovered highly relevant video and audio footage capturing the moments leading up to and including the fatal incident.
In light of this new evidence, Mooney’s senior counsel, Michael Bowman, sought immediate consultation with his client. Subsequently, on the date initially set for his trial, Mooney was arraigned and pleaded guilty to the charge of murdering Anna Mooney.
While Mooney faces the mandatory life sentence for murder, Mr. Justice Paul McDermott adjourned sentencing to allow members of the victim’s family the opportunity to make statements to the court. Mooney remains in custody, with the case scheduled to be mentioned on June 18, when a sentencing date will be determined.
