Vicious bully to spend at least 16 years in jail for killing partner
THE family of a woman who died after being attacked by her partner have spoken of their relief after he was jailed for at least 16 years.
Michael O’connor “propelled” Joleen Corr (27) down a flight of stairs, causing the severe brain damage that she would never recover from.
Yesterday he was told he would spend at least 16 years of his life sentence in jail before being considered for release.
O’connor (34), who appeared at Downpatrick Crown Court, sitting in Belfast, via videolink from prison, appeared to smile and rub his hands at the end of the hour-long hearing.
Judge Geoffrey Miller QC told the “physical and psychological” bully he would only be released under a lifelong licence when the Parole Commissioners considered it safe to do so.
Joleen’s grieving mum Carol said she felt “mixed emotions” over the sentencing.
“There’s relief that justice has been served,” she said.
“Whether he got 16 years or 25 years doesn’t make a difference. It’s not going to bring Joleen back and it won’t take away our pain.
“He is a serial woman beater and abuser who sought out vulnerable people. He is just evil.”
The December 2016 assault caused a brain injury so severe that doctors initially decided not to treat Joleen.
She was left in a vegetative state until a landmark ruling in 2018, when doctors withdrew life support. She died on April 26 that year.
The case represents the first time in Northern Ireland that a murder conviction has been achieved following the withdrawal of artificial nutrition and hydration by family and medical professionals.
Praising the “dignity and fortitude” of Joleen’s family, who watched proceedings by video call, the judge described the victim as a “bubbly young woman” whose life was “cruelly cut short” by the defendant.
The court heard O’connor punched Joleen in the face with such force that he broke her jaw. He then “propelled her down the stairs” at her home in Thomas
Russell Park in Downpatrick. “As a direct result, she sustained catastrophic brain injuries from which she never recovered,” Judge Miller explained.
He added that Joleen was not found until the following morning, when O’connor asked a neighbour to go and check on her and told the “shameful” lie that she had tried to hang herself the night before.
“By then there was no prospect of any form of meaningful recovery,” the judge said.
O’connor claimed that he and 27-year-old Joleen had been fighting over her mobile phone at the top of stairs on December 1, 2016, when he lashed out and knocked her down the stairs.
He said she then got up and vomited at the back door, adding that he had gone to bed and in the morning found her “snoring” beside him.
The court heard that despite likely being aware of how badly hurt Joleen was, he had a bath and then got a bus to Belfast with his five-year-old son, having a haircut and essentially leaving his victim to die.
O’connor was due to go on trial last February but, at the 11th hour, asked to be rearraigned.
He then pleaded to guilty to manslaughter. When that was not accepted by prosecuting QC Philip Mateer, he finally admitted murder.
Sentencing the defendant yesterday, Judge Miller said that O’connor’s actions that night had “to be seen in the context of a man who used violence, both physical and psychological, as a means of control”.
He said it was the culmination of a campaign of domestic violence against Joleen, who was vulnerable, waged with a child in the house.
“One shudders to think what that little boy witnessed or heard,” he added.
The only witness account came from the defendant, the judge noted, but he characterised it as “replete with unsupported assertion, contradictions and blatant and cruel lies.”
A senior PSNI officer welcomed the sentence.
Detective Superintendent Jason Murphy said: “Michael O’connor savagely attacked Joleen and then walked away, leaving her alone in her home.
“Following this attack, he took their young son, who was present in the home when his mother was attacked.
“For 16 months Joleen’s family had to watch her suffering and devotedly tended to all her needs. During that time, Joleen was unable to communicate with anyone.
“Although today’s sentencing will never bring Joleen back, I hope that it enables her family to take an important step in the grieving process.”
Appealing to victims of domestic abuse to speak out, Detective Superintendent Murphy added: “Today isn’t just about Joleen. Today is also about the very many sufferers of domestic abuse who are forced to live in silence.
“I would appeal to anyone who is experiencing domestic violence, please don’t suffer in silence.
“Domestic abuse is a terrifying and impactful crime and it is vital that victims know there is help and support available.”
Lynne Carlin, an assistant director in the Public Prosecution Service, said the attack was “a violent assault on a defenceless young woman in her own home”.
She added: “This is the first case in which a murder conviction has followed the withdrawal of artificial hydration and nutrition from a victim of a violent crime.
“Together with police, we built the strongest possible case against O’connor, which resulted in him pleading guilty to murder.”