Gralton given ten years for Mayo Abbey killing

Ten-year sentence for man who killed partner


A 23-year-old man was sentenced to ten years in prison yesterday (Monday), for the manslaughter of a mother-of-two in Mayo Abbey two years ago.
Ray Gralton, with an address at Mount Prospect, Roscommon, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of 28-year-old Sara Staunton at her home at Portagh, Mayo Abbey, Claremorris on December 13, 2013.
At the Central Criminal Court yesterday, Gralton was sentenced to ten years, with the final two suspended.
Last month’s trial heard that following a post-mortem it was discovered that the mother-of-two sustained severe blunt force trauma to the head region and damage to the brain.
Counsel for the DPP, Paddy McCarthy SC, told the trial that Gralton admitted to hitting Ms Staunton, but that the strike of beer cans to Ms Staunton’s head was the ‘likely cause of death’.
Gralton and Ms Staunton had been in what was described in court as a ‘turbulent relationship’ in the 12 months before the killing.
Ms Staunton had two children with her former partner, who were living with their father in Claremorris at the time of her death.
During the trial last month, Brendan Grehan SC, counsel for the accused, read out a letter from his client, which described Sara Staunton as a ‘kind, funny and beautiful person’.
Gralton wrote that he would ‘never forgive’ himself and that he prays to Ms Staunton, often in ‘tears of forgiveness’.
“I don’t expect Sara’s family to ever forgive me and this was a tragic event that will haunt me for the rest of my life,” read the letter.