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Police offer possible motive for why Queens bartender was stabbed to death, allegedly by her boyfriend, as patrons watched

Scene where Queens bartender was stabbed to death
Google Street view of The Ceili House, located at 69-56 Grand Avenue.

A Queens bartender’s boyfriend allegedly stabbed her to death at her workplace over the weekend, then turned the knife on herself, because she planned on returning to her native Ireland, police reported Wednesday.

Authorities believe 41-year-old Irish native Sarah McNally was the victim of a deadly domestic assault on Saturday at the hands of her former boyfriend, identified as Marcin Pieciak.

Cops say the incident unfolded around 6:35 p.m. on March 30 at the Ceili House Pub on Grand Avenue in Maspeth.

According to information Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny provided on April 3, McNally was working as a bartender at the pub when police say 36-year-old Marcin Pieciak, who frequents the establishment, entered and greeted patrons — then launched into the bloody attack with two knives.

“Once he makes his greetings, he simply walks behind the bar, he takes out two knives and starts to stab her repeatedly around her upper body,” Chief Kenny said. “After he is done stabbing her he then tries to slit his own throat.”

Queens murder victim Sarah McNally
Sarah McNallyPhoto via X/@RemyVicious

Both individuals were rushed to Elmhurst Hospital where McNally died of her wounds. Pieciak, on the other hand, remained in medical care for several days before being charged on Monday.

Police say that the couple had originally met in the bar and had been living together at a home on 78th Street in Glendale. However, McNally had apparently told friends that she was considering moving back to Island since she believed her relationship wasn’t working.

Cops are investigating whether learning of this information led Pieciak to allegedly snap.

Pieciak is charged with murder and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon. At his arraignment hearing Wednesday, which he attended from his hospital bed, Pieciak was ordered held without bail and to return for a hearing on April 5, according to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz.

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