Husband pleads guilty to murdering wife at family home

A man who strangled his estranged wife to death in her home has admitted carrying out her murder.

Rachel McDaid had a bootlace wrapped around her neck when she was discovered in Nottingham Road, Eastwood.

The lace belonged to her husband Michael McDaid, who then proceeded to use it to kill Rachel during a visit to the house.

Despite them living separately Michael would often return to the home to see their three sons and collect his work tools.

It was during one of these visits on the morning of 19 April 2024 that McDaid strangled his former partner to death on the ground floor of her home.

He then left the house, before returning a few minutes later to find one of his sons outside the property and unable to get in.

After watching him try unsuccessfully to open the door, McDaid coldly warned his son ‘you can’t go in the house because I’ve killed her’.

Rachel’s body was discovered by her son soon afterwards, with McDaid driving away in his van and calling the police to tell them his wife was dead and he was responsible.

The 60-year-old was arrested in Nottingham Road minutes later, while a boot with its laces missing was recovered from a narrowboat he was living on. 

McDaid, of Acre Lane, Aston-on-Trent, Derby, was charged with murder soon after that.

He pleaded guilty to this offence during an appearance at Nottingham Crown Court today (5 July).

McDaid is due to appear at Nottingham Crown Court to be sentenced next Friday (12 July). 

Detective Chief Inspector Clare Dean, of the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, said: "Michael McDaid's actions that day destroyed the lives of the family members he was supposed to care about the most.

"I cannot even begin to comprehend the pain Rachel's loved ones were put through and what they will no doubt still feel today because of his despicable decision to murder his former partner.

"Michael McDaid admitting what he did in court means the family will thankfully not now have to relive all the details of the ordeal, which I hope provides them with some small degree of comfort."