THE trial of an Irish woman charged with the murder of her fiancé in Australia is set to get underway today.
David ‘Daithí’ Walsh, a father-of-three originally from Enniscorthy in Co. Wexford, died following an altercation at a property in Padstow, 22 kilometres outside Sydney between February 17 and 18 last year.
The 29-year-old construction worker died from a stab wound to the neck allegedly inflicted by his fiancée Cathrine 'Tina' Cahill, a traffic management worker also originally from Co. Wexford.
The couple met in Australia and had been engaged for just five weeks at the time of Mr Walsh's death.
Ms Cahill, 27, was remanded in custody pending the beginning of her trial today, which is expected to last between five and eight weeks in Sydney.
Mourners at Mr Walsh's funeral in Enniscorthy last year (Image: John Walsh Photography)Independent Wexford County Councillor and childhood friend to Mr Walsh, John O'Rourke, told The Irish Post in February last year that the local community in Enniscorthy was "numb" at news of his killing.
"I knew David personally, I worked with David when he worked with Ajax Athletic here in Enniscorthy and again when he played for Enniscorthy United," he said.
"The David I knew was boisterous, outgoing, friendly, and sport orientated.
"The community is in deep shock and numb, the community in Moran Park will rally together and support his family as much as they possibly can at this very sad time."
Mr Walsh's father, John 'Jonners' Walsh, passed away 10 months after his son's death in December 2017.
Police in Australia have made enquiries about potential witnesses living overseas and have assessed the possibility they could return to Sydney to provide evidence in Ms Cahill's trial.
