The court was told on Tuesday's sentence hearing for Ann Phelan that she had her own "demons with drugs" and led a "disruptive life". Her barrister said Phelan was "tortured by her actions" and had genuinely cared for the deceased. Tuesday's sentencing also heard that the pair were "in a relationship of sorts" for two to three years where drugs were "sadly" a feature.
Ann Phelan was originally charged with the murder of David Ennis 36 at Claddagh Court in Ballyfermot on the night of November 8th, At the outset of Tuesday's sentence hearing before the Central Criminal Court, Eoghan Cole SC, prosecuting, said this was a case of excessive self-defence with a suggested headline sentence of between four and ten years in prison.
The detective said witness Martin Higgins lived at Claddagh Court, where the event took place in the early hours of November 8th, The witness said Phelan and Mr Ennis were known to each other and had previously been in a relationship for a considerable period of time.
Both the defendant and the deceased were suffering with a drug addiction and had related problems in their lives. Phelan arrived at the same location around am on the morning of November 8th.
Mr Higgins had considered Mr Ennis to be "a dangerous person". The elderly man had also given the defendant money to share with the deceased for methadone. The detective agreed with counsel that Mr Higgins wanted the pair out of his life because they always wanted money from him. Mr Higgins told officers that Mr Ennis had followed Phelan into the bedroom on the night and given her "a few slaps", said the detective.
