A Sickening Insult’: Family of Jasmine McMonagle Reacts to Killer’s Release Timeline

 Donegal | June 13, 2025 — The family of Jasmine McMonagle, a young mother who was brutally murdered in her home in 2019, has expressed deep anguish following the announcement of her killer’s expected release date.

Jasmine, a 28-year-old mother of two, was found dead in a "pool of blood" in her home in Killygordon, County Donegal, on January 4, 2019. She had been battered and strangled by her former partner, Richard Burke, during a violent altercation.

Following his conviction, Burke was sentenced to 14 years in prison and ordered to undergo psychiatric assessment and treatment. Now, with his earliest release projected for July 2029, Jasmine’s family says the timeline represents a “sickening insult” to her memory and a broader failure of the justice system.

“It is a lifetime sentence for the family for what Richard Burke did,” a family spokesperson said this week.

“Jasmine's life was stolen. Burke is set for release in July 2029—just four years from now. It is a disgusting reflection on the legal system that he could be free to walk the streets again after serving only a decade. Thank you to everyone for your continued support.”

Trial Revealed Harrowing Details of Attack

During the murder trial, the court heard that Jasmine endured a “brutal death” at the hands of Burke, who had been her on-and-off partner. The jury was told she suffered multiple blows before being strangled with a rope. Emergency services were alerted when Jasmine managed to call 999 during the attack.

Burke later told gardaí that he “went ballistic” upon discovering she had called the police. In recorded interviews, he said:

“I have a real bad temper. I just blanked. I went ballistic. Absolutely fking ballistic.
Because I hate guards, I just went ballistic. Started punching the fk out of her, then strangling her with a rope. I was only trying to make her see sense.”

Mental Health and Sentencing

The court found that Burke’s responsibility for the killing was “substantially diminished” by a mental disorder, with medical experts noting that the condition may have been triggered or worsened by drug use.

In addition to his custodial sentence, Burke must comply with a medical regime and undergo psychiatric evaluation before being considered for release.

Justice and Reform Questions Resurface

The case has reignited public debate about sentencing in cases involving violent domestic abuse and the treatment of mental illness in the justice system. Jasmine’s family continues to advocate for justice reform and greater support for victims of gender-based violence.

As the fourth anniversary of her death approaches, her family’s message remains clear: the pain of loss does not diminish, and accountability must reflect the severity of the crime.