The twin daughters of a man who was murdered by his partner two years ago say they had a "feeling" she would murder him.

On October 14th, 2022, Tony Browne was stabbed in the neck by Wiktoria Maksymowicz in the home they shared in Belfast. 

He was only 54 years old at the time and was a loving father to his three children Bobbi-Leigh, Shannon and Ryan.

Maksymowicz, who the court heard had subjected Mr Browne to domestic abuse before his death, was sentenced to a minimum of 14 years by Belfast Crown Court last week.

Speaking to Lunchtime Live, Shannon McIlwaine described her late father as “the most caring, kind person I’ve ever met in my life”. 

“He would have done anything for anyone,” she said. 

“He wouldn’t have even questioned it - which is how Wiktoria ended up living with him because she was homeless.” 

Mr Browne met Maksymowicz when she was sitting on a road, crying after her boyfriend had kicked her out of the home they shared. 

The pair had friends in common and Mr Browne was eager to help her. 

“My Dad just said to her, ‘I have a spare bedroom, you don’t need to be homeless, you can come and stay with me,’” she said. 

Supplied: Tony Browne and his daughters.

Straight away, Mr Browne’s children struggled to develop a good relationship with her.

“There was something we just couldn’t put our finger on with her,” Shannon said. 

“When we went around initially to meet her, she was this completely different person. 

“She was so friendly, she was giving us hugs and offering us tea and coffee. 

“My Dad really, really wanted us to get close - I remember one time he actually asked me to sit beside her on the sofa so that she wouldn’t feel left out.” 

Tony Browne. Image by: Shannon and Bobbi-Leigh McIlwaine

Despite this, they quickly realised that the relationship had changed their father and he “wasn’t himself at all”. 

“I had a very overwhelming gut feeling,” Shannon said. 

“To the point that I went home and told my Mum that I had a feeling she was going to murder my Dad. 

“Everyone just said to me, ‘Look, Shannon, there’s no way that’s going to happen’ - and I put it down to me watching too much true crime.’” 

Shannon said that Maksymowicz was “jealous” of Mr Browne having a relationship with anyone else - including his own children. 

“She hated my Dad speaking to us, she hated my Dad speaking to my brother,” Shannon said.

“If there was even a mention of my Mum, she would storm out of the room.” 

It was, she said, “very sad” to see the hold Maksymowicz had over her father and other family members were worried as well. 

Shannon’s twin, Bobbi-Leigh, said she still remembers “everything” about the day of the murder.

They pair were at the cinema and came home afterwards to find their mother on the phone. 

“She walked into the kitchen and she was saying, ‘Okay, okay, yes, okay, I’m on my way right now,’” Bobbi-Leigh said. 

Tony Browne and his daughter. 09/07/2024. Image by: Shannon and Bobbi-Leigh McIlwaine

Their mother told them police and emergency services were outside their father’s home and that Maksymowicz had been taken away in handcuffs.

“We started freaking out and we got into my Mum’s car,” Bobbi-Leigh said. 

“My Dad lives a minute’s drive around the street from us and… his whole street was just lit up with blue lights.” 

They drove onto the local hospital where staff told them their father had been stabbed in the neck and that he had passed away. 

“Even still now, I’m in a blur,” Bobbi-Leigh said. 

“I don’t believe it… Multiple times a week, we will still go around to my Dad’s house even though he doesn’t live there. 

“Someone else lives there but we just drive past it because it doesn’t seem real.”

Tony Browne and his daughters. 09/07/2024. Image by: Shannon and Bobbi-Leigh McIlwaine

Last week, Maksymowicz received a minimum sentence of 14 years which the judge said been “'aggravated by reason of involving domestic abuse”. 

Since then, Shannon has been working to raise awareness about domestic abuse inflicted upon men and has some advice for those who think they know someone who is experiencing it. 

“If they themselves are experiencing domestic abuse or think that there’s someone else who they love who is experiencing domestic abuse, try and speak to them,” she said.

“Try and speak to them.

"If it’s a friend or family, try and speak to them. 

“There’s also a support group that I am a part of called Men’s Alliance. 

“They’re not just for men, they’re for everyone, they’re for families of victims of domestic abuse, they’re for women, they’re for men and they can help.” 

Men’s Alliance NI operates for victims in Northern Ireland and victims in the Republic can receive support from Men’s Aid.

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Main image: Tony Browne. Supplied by: Shannon and Bobbi-Leigh McIlwaine.