The Daily Star Ireland
A Dublin man has been handed a life sentence for the murder of his wife, after investigators uncovered harrowing footage of the crime that had been secretly recorded on his mobile phone. The footage, which captured the events before, during, and after the fatal stabbing, became central to the prosecution’s case.
Stephen Mooney, 53, from Kilbarrack Road, initially denied killing his wife, 43-year-old Anna Mooney, in the early hours of 15 June 2023. His trial was scheduled for March 2025, but that changed when critical digital evidence emerged. Gardaí were able to access a mobile device previously locked by a passcode thanks to updated forensic phone analysis software. What they found was a 90-minute recording revealing not only the murder itself but also the build-up and aftermath.
The footage showed Mooney stepping out of the room and then returning with a 16-centimeter curved blade—the weapon used in the attack. The location of the device, mounted in an elevated position and aimed toward the main living area, suggested it had been placed there to spy on his wife. Authorities believe Mooney was attempting to catch Anna entering her phone PIN, as he suspected her of infidelity.
Details of the Crime and Aftermath
Mooney killed his wife in the kitchen/living room of their Kilbarrack home, while their two children, then aged 17 and 11, were asleep upstairs. When emergency services arrived following Mooney’s 999 call, they found him leaning over Anna’s body. The knife was still embedded in her chest.
Paramedics reported that Mooney admitted responsibility on the scene, saying, “I’ve killed her,” and expressing remorse. He later told gardaí that he had seen explicit messages on her phone and had “freaked out.” He described the murder as something that “got out of control” and lamented that “everyone’s lives [were] ruined.”
A post-mortem confirmed Anna Mooney died from multiple stab wounds. Detective Sergeant Basil Grimes testified in court that the audio captured by the device confirmed the sequence of events. He also explained that the hidden recording setup was intended to surveil Anna, reinforcing the conclusion that Mooney had been monitoring her phone usage in an effort to verify her extramarital relationship. The investigation subsequently confirmed that she had been involved with a man in Germany.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
During the sentencing hearing, no formal victim impact statement was presented. However, Anna Mooney’s brother, Anton Shuplikova, attended remotely from Ukraine, where she was originally from.
Mooney addressed the court directly, offering a public apology to Anna’s family and to their children. He acknowledged the gravity of his actions, calling the incident a heavy burden he carried every day and night. Despite his remorse, he was handed the mandatory life sentence for murder by Mr. Justice Paul McDermott.
The judge described the killing as a profound tragedy, expressing condolences to the Mooney family and noting the significant emotional harm and trauma the crime had caused.
