Garda killer Pearse McAuley has been jailed for eight years for beating and stabbing his wife during a two and a half hour attack last Christmas.
The 50-year-old has previously spent time behind bars for his part in the killing of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe in 1996.
In 2009, Pearse McAuley walked out of prison having served 10 years of a 14 year sentence for the manslaughter of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe who was shot dead after being ambushed while on duty in Adare, Co. Limerick in 1996.
This afternoon, he returned to jail as a 50-year-old man for subjecting his estranged wife Pauline Tully to a brutal two and a half attack in her Cavan home last Christmas Eve. The court heard he punched and kicked her and stabbed her 13 times before she managed to escape and raise the alarm.
Last week, Ms. Tully described how one of their sons has nightmares after witnessing his Daddy stabbing her, and said sheÂ’d spend the rest of her life in fear.
She sat at the back of the courtroom this afternoon as Judge John Aylmer commended her for delivering her Victim Impact Statement with courage and dignity.
He sentenced McAuley to twelve years in prison with the final four suspended.
Our Courts Correspondent Frank Greaney reports:
