Former boyfriend accused of murdering Sarah McNally ‘cruelly and brazenly’ stabbed Longford woman 19 times
New York prosecutors describe a frenzied attack
The late Sarah McNally.
The late Sarah McNally.
The former boyfriend of murdered Longford woman Sarah McNally “cruelly and brazenly” took the life of the much loved bartender by stabbing her up to 19 times before cutting his own throat, prosecutors have alleged.
Marcin Pieciak (36), of 76th Street in Glendale, was arraigned today at a sitting of Queens Supreme Court in New York charged with second degree and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree.
The accused had formally been indicted by a Grand Jury earlier this month in his absence as a result of self-inflicted stab wounds following the incident at the Ceili House Bar in Maspeth, Queens on March 30.
District Attorney Melinda Katz said the violent nature of the incident was one which had still to fully sink in for communities on both sides of the Atlantic.
“The defendant is accused of cruelly and brazenly taking the life of someone he purported to care for and doing so in front of her colleagues and bar patrons.
“We are grateful to the grand jury for returning these serious charges and we will work to seek justice for Sarah McNally.”
According to the charges, Pieciak entered the bar where Ms McNally had been working at approximately 6:30pm.
Prosecutors say CCTV footage taken from the scene shows Pieciak walk behind the bar and towards Ms McNally before suddenly stabbing the Longford woman 19 times in the neck, back and chest.
The late Sarah McNally.
Moments later, Pieciak allegedly can be seen cutting his own throat several times before a customer bravely attempts to detain the accused from fleeing the scene.
The charges go on to allege that when police detectives arrived soon afterwards, they managed to disarm Pieciak just as the accused emerges from behind the bar brandishing two knives.
Both Pieciak and Ms McNally were rushed to the nearby Elmhurst Hospital where the deeply admired Longford native passed away from her injuries.
News of Pieciak’s latest court appearance comes just over a week since countless tributes were paid to the car loving enthusiast at her funeral mass at St Mel’s Cathedral in Longford town.
“She had a heart of gold,” said her best friend Áine Wade. “She loved everyone and she made a lasting impression on people and one that we will all remember forever.”
Her uncle, local publican Eddie Valentine, whom the late Ms McNally fondly referred to as her ‘Uncle Ed’ insisted the legacy of one of Longford’s brightest and most “beautiful” of daughters would live on.
“Sarah, you were a beautiful, unique, very special, kind and very loving girl with the most beautiful smile,” he said.
“You lit up the room everywhere you went. We all loved you so much and we still will, all of us, and we’re going to miss you, so, so much.”
Supreme Court Justice Ushir Pandit-Durant, meanwhile, remanded Pieciak into continuing custody, ordering him to return to court on June 18.
