'I knew he was dead': Partner of Cork postman tells murder trial of finding him in pool of blood

A 44-year-old Cork postman, Barry Daly, was found dead in a pool of blood outside his home in Rockview Terrace, Doneraile, on the early morning of 12 October 2025. His partner, Katie O’Reilly, testified before a jury at the Central Criminal Court in Cork, describing how she discovered him lying motionless on the ground with severe facial injuries. A 17-year-old boy, whose name cannot be disclosed due to legal protections, faces charges of murder but has pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter. The trial continues with evidence being presented regarding the circumstances surrounding Daly's death. On the night of 11 October 2025, Daly celebrated winning €600 in the lottery with friends at Eily’s Bar in Doneraile, where the local hurling team had recently won a Junior B final. O’Reilly, who had put their five children to bed earlier that evening, remained awake watching television, expecting Daly to return home after leaving the bar. Around midnight, she sent him a message but received no reply. Despite this, she anticipated him returning soon. In the early hours of the following morning, O’Reilly heard commotion outside and voices shouting. One voice said, “I am going to kill you,” followed by Daly’s voice pleading, “Stop.” She then heard what sounded like a violent impact. Rushing to the front door, she found Daly lying in a pool of blood, unresponsive. O’Reilly checked for a pulse and confirmed he was dead. She screamed for help, describing the scene as horrifying, with blood coming from Daly’s ears, mouth, and nose, and noting that the back of his head appeared severely injured. Despite knowing he was dead, she lay beside him, begging him to return. Katie O’Reilly’s mother, Joan O’Reilly, recounted hearing the doorbell ring in the early hours of 12 October. When she opened the door, a local youth informed her that Daly was lying on the floor outside. She described looking into Daly’s eyes and seeing them as “soulless.” An immediate call was made to emergency services, and her daughter Siobhan Ryall performed chest compressions on Daly until paramedics arrived. Joan O’Reilly helped move Katie inside to give the paramedics space to work on Daly. Local resident Seamus Hunter testified that he encountered two young men wielding golf clubs near Daly’s home during the early hours of 11 October. After confronting them, one of the men, identified as the 17-year-old defendant, headbutted him. Hunter returned home to clean his face but grew concerned the men might target Daly’s residence. He retrieved a baseball bat and began heading toward Daly’s house when he heard someone yell, “Come on, we have to get rid of these.” From his vantage point, Hunter observed the 17-year-old accused throwing a golf club over a wall. He also saw 21-year-old Alex Deady of Glenview, Convent Road in Doneraile, doing the same. The court session concluded with the jury of seven women and five men continuing their deliberations. Additional testimony and evidence are expected to be presented in subsequent days as the trial progresses. The prosecution seeks to establish the sequence of events leading to Daly’s death, focusing on the actions of the accused and any potential witnesses. The defense has yet to present its arguments, and further details will emerge as the proceedings unfold.