Murder accused told gardai he stabbed man 'in own defence'

A murder trial at the Central Criminal Court concluded in March 2023 following the death of a 24-year-old man in Swinford, County Mayo on 16 November 2020. Matusz Batiuk, a 33-year-old Polish national formerly resident at Carrabeg Estate, pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael McDonagh, who died from a single stab wound to the abdomen. The accused maintained throughout proceedings that he acted in self-defence…