Sentence adjourned in horrific death of Laois mum
Sharon Crean died after a frenzied stabbing at her apartment in Mountmellick. Picture provided by her family
SENTENCING of a Laois man who fatally stabbed a young mother in her apartment has been adjourned until next week.
The case against Seán Egan (39), who killed his then-partner Sharon Crean in a frenzied attack in Mountmellick, was adjourned until 21 May at the Central Criminal Court in Cork today.
From Lios na Slí, Rathmiles, Portarlington, Egan was found guilty last March of the manslaughter of 34-year-old Sharon but not guilty of murder by reason of diminished responsibility, following a two week trial.
He was remanded in custody until 15 May for victim impact statements, legal submissions, an updated psychiatric report and evidence regarding previous convictions.
The jury’s verdict last March was greeted with shock and dismay by members of Sharon’s family, who attended each day of the harrowing trial.
In court today, Garda Andrea Byrne read out victim impact statements from bereaved family members who included Sharon’s heartbroken mother Catherine, sisters Tara and Elaine and brothers, Nigel and Jason.
In her devastating statement, Catherine said the 42 injuries on her daughter’s body reflected the pain and terror she must have felt in her final moments. She was haunted by that image and by not being able to protect her child from having this cruel and violent end to her life.
Sharon’s death shortly before Christmas 2022 devastated her brothers and sisters Nigel, Jason, Brendan, Tim, Elaine and Tara and their mother, who lives in Mayo.
Sharon’s brothers Nigel and Jason Crean and sister-in-law Leanne Keogh, who all live in Portlaoise, attended each day of the trial together with their siblings and other family members. They will travel to Cork again next Thursday for the adjourned sentencing.
In his harrowing statement, Jason said: 'The moment the sheet was pulled back in Portlaoise hospital to show us Sharon’s face I felt my while body go numb. Seeing the harm that animal had done to my little sister turned my stomach.
'It’s so hard to see anyone, especially your little sister, in such a bad state. I still wake up in the middle of the night from the nightmares of reliving that day and seeing her the way I did.'
Judge Siobhán Lankford adjourned the case today in order to give full consideration to all victim impact statements and issues such as Egan’s previous convictions, before passing sentence.
Speaking to the following today’s hearing, Leanne said the family appreciated the fact that their statements regarding the profound impact of Sharon’s death would inform sentencing, although it was disappointing that the case was not finalised.
A jury of eight women and four men spent three hours deliberating before reaching a manslaughter verdict in March. Egan had been charged with murdering Sharon on 14 December, 2022 at her apartment on College Avenue, Mountmellick.
The trial heard that Sharon suffered 13 stab wounds and two incised wounds, with a number of fatal wounds in the chest cavity. She was also struck with a Himalayan rock candle holder. The mother-of-one suffered a slow and painful death.
Speaking following the verdict in March, Leanne said: “What he did to Sharon, you wouldn’t do to an animal. It should be a life for a life. We feel we did not get justice.” Leanne said that the family went through a horrifying ordeal in court, as they heard graphic details of Sharon’s appalling injuries and had to listen to her last, desperate 999 call.
She said: “It was awful, horrible. We could hear Sharon’s voice getting weaker and weaker. A neighbour also rang 999 at 5.03pm but Sharon didn’t die until 5.41pm.
“We heard that he hit her on the back of the head with a heavy candle holder before stabbing her a total of 13 times, including one deep into her heart. With all those awful injuries, she was lying bleeding and in pain for over 40 minutes before she died. It was devastating to hear that.” Originally from Arklow, Sharon had been living happily in Laois for years. The eldest daughter in her family, she adored her little son and is described by her siblings as bubbly, kind and caring.
Leanne said: “We know that the verdict will not change anything. It won’t bring Sharon back but we should have got justice. Seán Egan is still looked after, he is still fed and kept warm after taking Sharon’s life. Her little boy has to grow up without her now."
The jury at the trial was told that both the State and defence psychiatrists agreed that Egan had been suffering from a mental disorder at the time of the attack, although he was still able to know the nature of his actions.
In their reports, Sharon’s ‘on-off’ partner was described as having a ‘psychotic disorder with potential diagnosis of schizophrenia’. However, psychiatrists on both sides agreed that a verdict of not guilty by virtue of insanity was not applicable in the case.
Sharon was laid to rest in SS Peter and Paul’s Cemetery, Portlaoise five days after her death, following requiem mass in the parish church.
