Restorative justice is ‘not feasible' in rape case of Spanish tourist, court hears
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Journal
8 hours ago
- The Journal
Man repeatedly stabbed ex-partner after putting tracking device on her car, court hears
A MAN ELECTRONICALLY tracked his former partner's car and put on a disguise while he followed her around Dublin before attempting to murder her by stabbing her in the neck, back and abdomen, the Central Criminal Court has heard. Det Sgt Mark Murphy today told the court that the victim, Lucia Nezbalova (43), had the 'extraordinary good luck' that a doctor who lived nearby had just arrived home from work when she heard screaming and came to help. The doctor kept Nezbalova alive until an ambulance arrived, he said. The defendant, 37-year-old Pedro Cifali, a Brazilian with a former address in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, previously pleaded guilty to attempting to murder Nezbalova at the front door of her home in Garnish Square, Waterville, Dublin 15 on 10 May 2024. In a statement written by Nezbalova and read by prosecution senior counsel Shane Costelloe, she said she bears the physical and emotional scars of an 'unthinkable' assault by her ex-partner and the father of her daughter. She said she had to learn to live in 'a body that no longer feels like my own' and now suffers post traumatic stress disorder, severe anxiety and depression. 'This has been a painful ongoing battle to reclaim my life,' she said. Justice Eileen Creedon will hear pleas in mitigation on behalf of Cifali on 20 October before passing sentence. At today's hearing, Det Sgt Murphy told Costelloe that the relationship between the accused and Nezbalova ended in April 2024. Following the break-up, he placed an electronic tag under the bumper of her car which allowed him to follow her. On the day of the attack, CCTV harvested by gardai showed Cifali arriving at a garage in Blanchardstown in his distinctive blue work van minutes after Nezbalova. He then tracked her to Blanchardstown Shopping Centre and parked about 100 metres from her car. He stood at the shopping centre entrance while Nezbalova went to the McDonald's restaurant inside. CCTV footage showed Cifali's attempts to disguise his appearance, Sgt Murphy said. He wore a baseball cap pulled down over his forehead, a blonde wig and his beard was lighter than its natural colour. Advertisement Members of the public noticed Cifali acting suspiciously and told security that he appeared to be carrying a knife. Security officers searched for Cifali but he left the area a short time later and travelled to Nezbalova's home at Garnish Square to wait for her return. She arrived about 15 minutes after Cifali. She would later tell gardai that as she approached her front door, Cifali appeared and told her: 'Don't worry, I just want to talk.' However, he almost immediately pulled out a knife and stabbed her. The wound to her abdomen was so severe that her organs were visible, Sgt Murphy said. Doctors described her injuries as life-threatening and said her life was saved by the intervention of a doctor at the scene and surgery in hospital. She is undergoing ongoing treatment and requires further surgery later this year. Cifali left the scene in his van. The following morning, he phoned a garda station and agreed to surrender himself. In interviews, he admitted to stabbing Nezbalova and after being charged he indicated early on that he would plead guilty, Sgt Murphy said. Costelloe said the Director of Public Prosecutions puts the attempted murder at the higher end for such offences, warranting a headline sentence of 15 to 20 years. He said the offence was aggravated by the extreme violence and risk to life, the level of planning and premeditation and that it took place in the context of domestic abuse. Costelloe asked the court to take into account further charges of harassing Nezbalova by stalking her and the production of a knife during an assault. In her statement, Nezbalova said she is a 'survivor of an unthinkable act by my ex-partner, the father of my daughter.' He stabbed her in the neck, behind the ear, in the back of the head, in the stomach and arms and she suffered defensive wounds on her face and hands, she said. She described her permanent scars as 'cruel reminders of the violence that changed our lives'. She was left in constant pain with limited mobility and struggled to carry out simple tasks, such as tying her daughter's shoelaces. She said she was forced to return to work before she had fully healed because she is now the only provider for her children and lacks family support in Ireland. She said she is 'terrified of being around people' and gets overwhelmed by anxiety. The attack 'shattered' her sense of safety in her own home. 'What he destroyed cannot simply be rebuilt, it lingers in our everyday lives,' she said.
Irish Times
12 hours ago
- Irish Times
Man tracked ex-partner's car before attempting to murder her, court hears
A man tracked and followed his former partner's car around Dublin while he disguised himself before attempting to murder her by stabbing her in the neck, back and abdomen, the Central Criminal Court has heard. Det Sgt Mark Murphy on Monday told the court that the victim, Lucia Nezbalova (43), had the 'extraordinary good luck' that a doctor who lived nearby had just arrived home from work when she heard screaming and came to help. The doctor kept Ms Nezbalova alive until an ambulance arrived, he said. The defendant, Pedro Cifali (37), a Brazilian with a former address in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, previously pleaded guilty to attempting to murder Ms Nezbalova at the front door of her home in Garnish Square, Waterville, Dublin 15 on May 10th, 2024. READ MORE In a statement written by Ms Nezbalova and read by prosecution senior counsel Shane Costelloe, she said she bears the physical and emotional scars of an 'unthinkable' assault by her ex-partner and the father of her daughter. She said she had to learn to live in 'a body that no longer feels like my own' and suffers post traumatic stress disorder PTSD), severe anxiety and depression. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon will hear pleas in mitigation on behalf of Mr Cifali on October 20th before passing sentence. At today's hearing, Det Sgt Murphy told Mr Costelloe the relationship between the accused and Ms Nezbalova ended in April 2024. Following the break-up, he placed an electronic tag under the bumper of her car which allowed him to follow her. On the day of the attack, CCTV showed Cifali arriving at a garage in Blanchardstown in his work van minutes after Ms Nezbalova. He then tracked her to Blanchardstown Shopping Centre and parked about 100 metres from her car. He stood at the shopping centre entrance while Ms Nezbalova went inside. CCTV footage showed Cifali's attempts to disguise his appearance, Sgt Murphy said. He wore a baseball cap pulled down over his forehead, a blonde wig and his beard was lighter than its natural colour. Members of the public noticed him acting suspiciously and told security he appeared to be carrying a knife. Security officers searched for Cifali but he left the area a short time later and travelled to Ms Nezbalova's home. . She would later tell gardaí that as she approached her front door, Cifali appeared and told her: 'Don't worry, I just want to talk', however, he almost immediately pulled out a knife and stabbed her. The wound to her abdomen was so severe that her organs were visible, Sgt Murphy said. The following morning, Cifali phoned a garda station and agreed to surrender himself. In interviews, he admitted to stabbing Ms Nezbalova. Mr Costelloe said the Director of Public Prosecutions puts the attempted murder at the higher end for such offences, warranting a headline sentence of 15 to 20 years.
Irish Daily Mirror
12 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Man tracked ex's car, put on disguise and tried to murder her
A man electronically tracked his former partner's car and put on a disguise while he followed her around Dublin before attempting to murder her by stabbing her in the neck, back and abdomen, the Central Criminal Court has Sgt Mark Murphy today told the court that the victim, Lucia Nezbalova (43), had the "extraordinary good luck" that a doctor who lived nearby had just arrived home from work when she heard screaming and came to help. The doctor kept Ms Nezbalova alive until an ambulance arrived, he defendant, 37-year-old Pedro Cifali, a Brazilian with a former address in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 , previously pleaded guilty to attempting to murder Ms Nezbalova at the front door of her home in Garnish Square, Waterville, Dublin 15 on May 10, a statement written by Ms Nezbalova and read by prosecution senior counsel Shane Costelloe, she said she bears the physical and emotional scars of an "unthinkable" assault by her ex-partner and the father of her daughter. She said she had to learn to live in "a body that no longer feels like my own" and now suffers post traumatic stress disorder, severe anxiety and depression. "This has been a painful ongoing battle to reclaim my life," she said. Ms Justice Eileen Creedon will hear pleas in mitigation on behalf of Cifali on October 20 before passing sentence. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week At today's hearing, Det Sgt Murphy told Mr Costelloe that the relationship between the accused and Ms Nezbalova ended in April 2024. Following the break-up, he placed an electronic tag under the bumper of her car which allowed him to follow the day of the attack, CCTV harvested by gardai showed Cifali arriving at a garage in Blanchardstown in his distinctive blue work van minutes after Ms Nezbalova. He then tracked her to Blanchardstown Shopping Centre and parked about 100 metres from her car. He stood at the shopping centre entrance while Ms Nezbalova went to the McDonald's restaurant footage showed Cifali's attempts to disguise his appearance, Sgt Murphy said. He wore a baseball cap pulled down over his forehead, a blonde wig and his beard was lighter than its natural of the public noticed Cifali acting suspiciously and told security that he appeared to be carrying a knife. Security officers searched for Cifali but he left the area a short time later and travelled to Ms Nezbalova's home at Garnish Square to wait for her arrived about 15 minutes after Cifali. She would later tell gardai that as she approached her front door, Cifali appeared and told her: "Don't worry, I just want to talk." However, he almost immediately pulled out a knife and stabbed wound to her abdomen was so severe that her organs were visible, Sgt Murphy said. Doctors described her injuries as life-threatening and said her life was saved by the intervention of a doctor at the scene and surgery in hospital. She is undergoing ongoing treatment and requires further surgery later this left the scene in his van. The following morning, he phoned a garda station and agreed to surrender himself. In interviews, he admitted to stabbing Ms Nezbalova and after being charged he indicated early on that he would plead guilty, Sgt Murphy Costelloe said the Director of Public Prosecutions puts the attempted murder at the higher end for such offences, warranting a headline sentence of 15 to 20 years. He said the offence was aggravated by the extreme violence and risk to life, the level of planning and premeditation and that it took place in the context of domestic Costelloe asked the court to take into account further charges of harassing Ms Nezbalova by stalking her and the production of a knife during an her statement, Ms Nezbalova said she is a "survivor of an unthinkable act by my ex-partner, the father of my daughter."He stabbed her in the neck, behind the ear, in the back of the head, in the stomach and arms and she suffered defensive wounds on her face and hands, she described her permanent scars as "cruel reminders of the violence that changed our lives". She was left in constant pain with limited mobility and struggled to carry out simple tasks, such as tying her daughter's said she was forced to return to work before she had fully healed because she is now the only provider for her children and lacks family support in Ireland. She said she is "terrified of being around people" and gets overwhelmed by anxiety. The attack "shattered" her sense of safety in her own home. "What he destroyed cannot simply be rebuilt, it lingers in our everyday lives," she said. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
