Family of Jasmine McMonagle opt against proceeding with inquest

An inquest into the death of Killygordon mother-of-two Jasmine McMonagle has been formally closed.

Donegal coroner Dr Denis McCauley reopened the inquest briefly on Friday morning at Donegal Town courthouse.

The family of the 28-year-old hairdresser, who was found dead at her home at Forest Park, Killygordon in the early hours of January 4, 2019, opted not to proceed with the formal inquest.

In May, Richard Burke, Ms McMonagle’s on-and-off partner, was jailed for 14 years for her killing. In March, a jury at the Central Criminal Courts returned a verdict of not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.

An inquest into Ms McMonagle’s death was previously reopened in February of this year, but was adjourned under Section 25 (2) of the Coroner’s Act as criminal proceedings were still pending.

On Friday, Dr McCauley went through some formalities before bringing closure to the matter.

Dr McCauley said he spoke to Jasmine’s mother, Jacqueline, who indicated that, following consultation with other members of the family, they did not wish to proceed further.

“It has been a really traumatic period for the family,” Dr McCauley said. “Not only regarding the death of their daughter and sister, but there was an awful lot of evidence heard. I really don’t see any benefit, I don’t see that they can get any extra from the coroner’s court.”

Dr McCauley said that when the inquest was first opened and adjourned in November 2019, medical evidence was heard in the matter. Then, it was confirmed that Ms McMonagle died from cerebral anoxia, a lack of oxygen to the brain.

This allowed a coroner’s certificate to be issued and a death certificate be issued by the registrar of deaths.

Dr McCauley explained that when a criminal case takes place and evidence is heard with barristers present and arguments taken, it allows him the option of closing the inquest.

“Once I am aware that the full facts are discussed - and there was the potential there to argue or dispute evidence - I have the option to proceed or not with the formal inquest,” Dr McCauley said.

Detective Garda O’Sullivan, who is the family liaison officer with the McMonagle family, confirmed to the coroner that a full hearing took place and the facts of the case were not disputed. “The psychology of the incident rather than the facts,” Detective Garda O’Sullivan said were contested in the case. Detective Garda O’Sullivan said the McMonagle family were happy with whatever course the coroner believed was best.

Dr McCauley formally closed the inquest.

Burke, Ms McMonagle’s on-and-off partner, was jailed for 14 years for her killing in May.

Ms McMonagle was found in a pool of blood in the kitchen of her home following a three-hour standoff between Burke and gardaí.

Mr Justice Paul Burns noted the level of violence used against a defenceless woman that included the use of weapons. He also took into account that the victim was at home with her two children at the time.

Mr Justice Burns said that despite his condition, Burke knew that what he was doing was wrong, understood the nature of what he was doing and he could have stopped himself.

The court heard that Burke threatened to kill McMonagle before strangling her to death during a psychotic episode after taking unprescribed drugs.

Mr Justice Burns noted four other occasions where Ms McMonagle expressed fear for her safety and said the death had a ‘devastating impact’ on the whole family, in particular her two daughters who now live in separate homes ‘without the guidance of their loving mother’.

There was also evidence that Burke had previously used disparaging terms to refer to Ms McMonagle and said on different occasions that he would bury her, throw her in front of a bus, ‘kill the bitch’ and indicated that he wanted to strangle her.

In a statement issued after Burke was sent to prison, the McMonagle family said: ”Nothing will bring back our beautiful Jasmine and all we can do now is make sure she is never forgotten."