Man pleads guilty to manslaughter in first degree of Longford town native Sarah McNally

The man who fatally stabbed his girlfriend and Longford town native Sarah McNally at her place of work in New York last year has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the first degree. 

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced yesterday (Thursday, October 30) that Marcin Pieciak pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the first degree for fatally stabbing Ms McNally, at a Maspeth tavern on March 30, 2024.

Described as 'a wonderful young woman, bright, vivacious, witty and charismatic', Sarah, was working as a bartender when Pieciak stabbed her and he then slit his own throat.

Sarah (41), previously worked in Valentine's public house, Main Street, Longford town where she was very well liked.

She later joined The Irish Prison Service in Longford for some years before deciding on immigrating to New York.

She enjoyed music and in her younger years she appeared on stage in a number of musical productions with St Mel's Musical Society. 

Educated at St Emer's national school and Meán Scoil Mhuire in Longford town, Sarah's friends remembered her as 'a lovely soul'.

Also read: Longford remembers victim of New York stabbing, Sarah McNally as 'a vivacious and wonderful young woman'

District Attorney Katz, in a statement, outlined, “Marcin Pieciak walked into Sarah McNally’s place of employment and viciously attacked the 41-year-old. The defendant stabbed the victim 19 times, severing her spine, and then stabbed himself as he tried to escape the premises.

"Thankfully, a brave bar patron stopped the defendant and detained him until police arrived. This murder shocked the community and McNally’s loved ones. With this guilty plea, the defendant has been held accountable for his actions.”

Pieciak, 37, of 76^th Street in Glendale, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the first degree in satisfaction of the charges against him.

Also read: Mourners at funeral of Longford woman Sarah McNally hear she was a ‘shining light’

Supreme Court Justice Ushir Pandit-Durant is expected to sentence the defendant on November 21 to 24 years in prison to be followed by five years of post-release supervision.

DA Katz said that, according to the charges, on March 30, 2024, at approximately 6:30pm, Pieciak arrived at the Céilí House Bar at 69-56 Grand Avenue in Maspeth.

The defendant walked toward Sarah McNally as she worked, went behind the bar and stabbed her 19 times in the neck, back and chest causing significant wounds and bleeding.

Pieciak then cut his own throat several times with a second knife and attempted to flee, but a patron intervened and prevented him from leaving the premises.

Also read: Tributes paid to 'lovely soul' as NYPD release name of Longford woman who died in horrific pub attack

When police arrived, Pieciak exited the premises with the two knives and brandished the weapons toward the officers. Police safely disarmed him and recovered the knives.

The victim suffered a damaged carotid artery and severed spine and was pronounced deceased at a local hospital.

Assistant District Attorney Gabriel J. Reale of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Assistant District Attorney Veronika Podoprigora under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys John Kosinski, Bureau Chief, and Karen Ross and John Selkowe, Deputy Bureau Chief, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Shawn Clark.