SENTENCING TO BE FINALISED ON WEDNESDAY IN SALTHILL MANSLAUGHTER CASE

Date Published: 11-Mar-2013

A court has heard the daughter of a US national believes the Galway woman who stabbed her father to death should be given the chance to 'heal herself' and 'leave violence behind'.

31 year old Maura Thornton from Spiddal, was cleared by a jury in January of the murder of Kevin Joyce, but was found guilty of his manslaughter at an apartment she rented in Upper Salthill on Sunday, July 31st 2011.

Tears streamed down Maura Thornton's face at today's sentencing hearing as she described the man she killed Kevin Joyce as 'kind', 'boisterous, gregarious, funny'.

In a statement, the victim's daughter Michaela said she believes Maura Thornton should 'be given the chance to change the path of her own life'

Mr Justice Barry White will finalise sentencing on Wednesday.