Man avoids jail after admitting he poisoned his partner of 30 years with enough Valium to 'knock out a horse'

"Mark O'Neill admitted to gardaí that he wanted his long-term partner to relax because she'd been stressed and thought he was acting in her best interests."

"The court heard that O'Neill used enough Valium to 'knock a horse out for hours,' illustrating the severity of his actions and their potential consequences."

"Helen Nolan discovered the Valium tablets in the sandwich after tasting a 'metallic' flavor, leading her to stop eating and subsequently fall asleep."

"Judge Eugene O'Kelly imposed an 18-month suspended sentence, highlighting the seriousness of the poisoning while considering the circumstances surrounding the offender's motivations."

Mark O'Neill was sentenced for poisoning his partner, Helen Nolan, with Valium, claiming he wanted her to relax due to her recent stress. He told gardaí he thought he was doing the right thing after he mixed enough Valium in a sandwich to 'knock a horse out for hours.' Nolan discovered the tablets when she sensed a metallic taste and chose not to continue eating. The judge handed down an 18-month suspended sentence, recognizing the serious nature of O'Neill's actions while considering his intentions.

Read at Independent