A young man will be sentenced next month for killing his mother’s partner in what he claimed was an act of self-defence.
Alexander Whelan pleaded guilty to stabbing Bruno Rolandi to death at their home in Ballymoran, Edenderry, Co Offaly, in November 2017.
When they arrived at the scene, gardaí said Alexander was in shock and shaking like a leaf, and accepted full responsibility there and then.
He told gardaí his mother was in an abusive relationship with Bruno Rolandi, and claimed he grabbed her inappropriately on the day in question.
He said he called his older brother, who came round to see what was going on. A fight broke out, during which Alex stabbed Mr. Rolandi three times.
His defence barrister described what happened as the result of a moment of madness by a 17-year-0ld who feared for his mother and brother’s safety.
He said it was over in a split second, and he pleaded with the judge to consider a custodial sentence as a last resort given the circumstances his client found himself in, and his young age at the time.
