Man pleads guilty to manslaughter of Irish woman in New York

Sarah McNally from Longford died after she was stabbed in a bar on Saturday 30 March last year

A man has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of an Irish woman who was killed in New York last year.

Sarah McNally, who was originally from County Longford, died after being stabbed at the Céilí House pub in Maspeth in Queens.

Marcin Pieciak, 37, stabbed Ms McNally 19 times before cutting his own throat.

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said it was a murder which "shocked the community and McNally's loved ones".

Ms McNally had been working as a bartender when Marcin Pieciak, who was her boyfriend, attacked her.

She was taken to hospital in critical condition but was later pronounced dead.

The stabbing happened in an Irish bar in Maspeth, Queens

Marcin Pieciak tried to flee the scene after stabbing himself with a second knife.

"Thankfully, a brave bar patron stopped the defendant and detained him until police arrived," Ms Katz said.

"With this guilty plea, the defendant has been held accountable for his actions."

The District Attorney's office said he is expected to be sentenced on 21 November to 24 years in prison to be followed by five years of post-release supervision.