A bartender, 41-year-old Irish native Sarah McNally, was fatally stabbed during her shift at the Céilí House pub in Maspeth, Queens, New York, following the end of the happy hour around 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 30, 2024.
The assailant, identified as 36-year-old Marcin Pieciak of Queens, the boyfriend of the victim, also sustained severe, self-inflicted injuries and was later charged with second-degree murder and possession of a weapon. He stands accused of stabbing the Irish bartender in the neck.
Both he and McNally were transported to NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, where McNally was declared dead and Pieciak was treated for injuries. After his recovery, the suspect was arrested by New York City police at 12:38 p.m. on April 1. He faced arraignment from his hospital bed.
According to a witness, Pieciak, armed with two knives and refusing to disarm despite police commands, was eventually slowed down with stun guns and subdued by a patron. The New York Police Department has characterized the incident as stemming from a domestic dispute, though further details on the motive remain undisclosed.
McNally, originally from County Longford, Ireland, had lived in New York City for over a decade, as recounted by her mother, Dorrie O’Connor, who mournfully described her daughter’s death as a plain act of murder. Patrons of the pub, including Mike Green, expressed disbelief and sorrow, highlighting McNally’s warm personality and the tight-knit relationship she shared with Pieciak.
A fundraising campaign on GoFundMe has been established “to cover the funeral expenses and associated costs for Sarah McNally’s family.”
Emma Hayes, the campaign’s initiator, stated: “Sarah was a cherished bartender from Queens whose life was tragically cut short. We are gathering funds to aid Sarah’s family back in Ireland and to pay tribute to her memory here in New York. Those who knew Sarah are aware of her extraordinary kindness and her ability to recall the subtle details about the people she encountered. Her warmth was felt by her Ceili House family and the wider community. To date, the GoFundMe effort has received over $3,600.
A notice on RIP.ie, an Irish online service that provides current information on death notices, fondly remembers McNally as being dearly missed by her family, her mother Dorrie, father Des, grandmother Kathleen O’Connor, aunts, uncles, relatives, and a broad network of friends in Longford and New York.
This incident marks the second loss of an Irish woman in Queens within a six-month span, heightening community concerns regarding safety and violence. Remembering for her kindness and community involvement, McNally had been a recent addition to the Céilí House team. Her background as a corrections officer in Ireland contrasted sharply with the circumstances of her passing.
The local community, including residents like Mike Lambe, voiced concerns over safety and crime in Maspeth, particularly in light of recent events.
