A man who confessed to kicking and stamping his partner to death in a public toilet changed his plea and admitted her murder.
Patrick Ballard’s barrister Mark Nicholas SC had previously told the Central Criminal Court that his client accepted his actions caused the death of the mum-of-two and that her killing was unlawful.
However, on Wednesday Ballard, 35, initially pleaded not guilty to murdering Sharon Bennett, 29, in the Market area of Ennis, Co Clare, on January 28, 2021. Ms Bennett died in hospital in Limerick two weeks later on February 10, 2021, due to her injuries.
