‘I thought I was going to die': Woman describes being attacked by husband using boiling water and hammer
Jackie Twomey said the attack by Noel Twomey (64) at their home at Carbery Grove, Knocknaheeny, in
Cork
on January 19th, 2024, left not just physical scars but also psychological scars that continued to haunt her.
'He had boiling water and a claw hammer with him and attacked me with both. It was beyond cruel and evil what he did to me. He poured the boiling water on me and hit me a number of times over the head with the hammer,' Ms Twomey said in her Victim Impact Statement at
Cork Circuit Criminal Court
.
'He didn't seem to care about the damage he was doing to me. I thought I was going to die. I remember the pain and screaming I couldn't believe what was happening.'
READ MORE
The accused had earlier pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to his wife by pouring boiling water on her and to assault causing harm to her by hitting with the claw hammer, both offences contrary to Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act 1997.
Thanking the gardaí, the paramedics, her own GP and the staff at Cork University Hospital where she spent six days, Ms Twomey said she never thought she would find herself in a courtroom reading her statement.
'The nightmares return every night. The pain and memories are there all the time but worse at night. It's hard to put in words how my life has changed and the anxiety and that have become part of my life,' she said.
Earlier Det Garda Mick Dolan said Noel Twomey attacked Ms Twomey after she returned home from being out socialising with family members.
Ms Twomey managed to escape the house. Her husband also left the house and was arrested by gardaí on the way to the scene with his shirt covered in blood and carrying a bloodstained hammer. He was arrested and made admissions that he had assaulted his wife.
[
Man who hit ex-partner in 'extremely bad assault' has jail term suspended on appeal
Opens in new window
]
Prosecution barrister, Emmet Boyle, read out a medical report from consultant plastic surgeon Dr Jason Kelly, in which he said that it was only 'happenstance' that Ms Twomey did not die as a result of the hammer attack on her skull.
Mr Boyle said that it was the Director of Public Prosecutions' (DPP) view that the offence was at the higher end of the scale for assault causing harm and merited a custodial sentence of between 10 and 15 years.
Defence Counsel Seamus Roche SC said the accused had written a letter of apology to his wife, and that he would prefer to have sentencing put back for a psychiatric report because the attack was extraordinary and clearly had a psychiatric overlay.
Judge Sheehan said it was important that he give serious consideration to the DPP's view but it was also important that he have the benefit of a psychiatric report before finalising the matter. He adjourned the case until June 26th and remanded Mr Twomey in custody.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Times
an hour ago
- Irish Times
Elderly man secures safety order against ‘angry' son
An elderly man has secured a three-year safety order against his 'angry' son who he fears will 'do bad things' to his family. The man broke down while giving evidence at Dublin District Family Court as he sought a protective order from his son, who is aged in his 20s. He told Judge William Aylmer that while he loved his son, he and his family are 'afraid of him'. He told the court his son stole his bank card, used drugs, broke the door at the family home and vandalised his car. He claimed he was 'hurting his siblings and me and my wife'. READ MORE 'We are at his mercy. We are afraid of him, that maybe someday he will do bad things to us. I don't want that to happen,' he said, before becoming emotional in the witness stand. 'He doesn't respect me,' he said, adding that when his son returns home, he lets him inside. 'We love him; we give him food.' He told Judge Aylmer on Friday that his son left school before completing his Leaving Cert exams during the Covid-19 pandemic when remote classes were introduced. Since then, he claimed, his son 'started creating trouble in the family', began to use drugs and 'gets angry'. The son was arrested during a recent altercation at the family home, during which he breached an existing safety order held by his mother. The man claimed that last month, his son stole his bank card and took 'all the money', saying it was almost €200. He later allegedly stole a further sum of money in the region of €150 on the day of his arrest. 'Last night, he was banging the door until 3am, we had no sleep because of him,' he said, adding: 'All I want for him is to be good.' His son, who also attended the court on Friday morning, confirmed he has been charged with breaching the safety order held by his mother. He was told that if convicted for such a charge, this could result in a year-long sentence. Asked if he had been in prison before, he said he was but 'can't remember' what for. The son told the judge he has been trying to become 'financially stable' by 'messing around with social media and stuff'. He acknowledged there has been 'trouble in the house and outside the house'. Judge Aylmer granted the father a three-year safety order, which prohibits the son from committing or threatening violence towards his father. The judge told the son: 'Clearly, you have been causing him to be in fear of you. That's unacceptable.' Noting he will not be prohibited from being at the family home, the judge said the father could bar him himself as 'you're an adult'.
Extra.ie
5 hours ago
- Extra.ie
Mum and kids killed in Fermanagh shooting are 'together and finally safe', funeral hears
Crowds turned out in the Co Clare village of Barefield for the funeral of a murdered mother and her children. Veterinary surgeon Vanessa Whyte, 45, and her children James Rutledge, 14, and Sara Rutledge, 13, died in a shooting incident at their home in Maguiresbridge, Co Fermanagh, in July. Agricultural contractor Ian Rutledge, 43, who died on Monday, is understood to be the only suspect in the shooting of his family. Vanessa, James and Sara were laid to rest on Saturday. Pic: Noel Sweeney/PA Wire Police in Northern Ireland have said a triple murder and attempted suicide was a line of inquiry. Following a service of removal in Maguiresbridge on Wednesday, a funeral service took place for Vanessa and her children in Barefield, where she was originally from. Crowds travelled to attend the funeral at the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Saturday. Many of the mourners wore GAA jerseys and bright colours as requested by the family as they lined the main street to watch the three hearses pass by. Symbols were placed at each of the three victims' coffins by their family and friends to remember them for what they loved. Cattle tags and a blue card were laid at veterinarian Vanessa's coffin to celebrate the 'unique and irreplaceable' life she led. A hurley was placed at James' coffin as 'the pitch was his second home'. His spirit of 'loyalty, dependability and kindness' was what he carried with him on and off the pitch. A toy cat was given as a tribute to Sara to demonstrate her love for animals and to represent how she was 'calm, quietly attentive and always there.' Vanessa's sister, Regina, then read a heartbreaking and touching eulogy for all three of the victims. Regina began: 'From an early age, Vanessa was destined to become a vet. As a child, Vanessa grew to love the land and more specifically, the animals that roamed it. 'She had a keen interest in the well-being of animals, which was highlighted by the purchase of a donkey with her newfound wealth from making her First Holy Communion… 'Vanessa was a witty, bright, kind and determined young lady. She would sit for hours nursing sick lambs, kittens and calves.' The three victims were huge GAA and animal lovers. Pic: Noel Sweeney/PA Wire Regina told a story about how Vanessa left her job in a local shop at 15 because she saw the owner mistreating a bird. She also explained her sister's love for the GAA led her to travel up to Dublin for the All-Ireland final in 1997 despite not having a ticket. This proved not to be an issue for Vanessa as she secured herself a ticket within 'an hour of reaching the capital.' Vanessa also loved to return to her native Clare, and it was where she 'truly relaxed'. Regina then moved on to the eulogies of Vanessa's 'world' – her children. She said: 'From a young age, James was exposed to the GAA… 'Over the last number of days, the GAA community have acknowledged James as the kind, bright, determined young teenager we as a family know so well. 'His vibrance and divilment in training often resulted in extra laps and push-ups but ultimately deeper friendships. 'James' smile was infectious and his loyalty was strong.' Recently, James was a part of the Fermanagh under-15 hurling team that narrowly lost the All-Ireland league final. Regina added: 'Although word on the street is that James wore his Clare jersey coming and going from the dressing room.' She recalled playing hurling with James in the local pitches and that he was never seen without his hurley or Gaelic football. His family find comfort that James got to witness his beloved Clare hurling team win the All-Ireland last year. Regina then told the church about 13-year-old Sara and her love for animals. She said: 'Her dream was to follow in her mother's footsteps and become a veterinary surgeon. 'When Sara is mentioned, the immediate association is with her beloved cats – Rosie in particular – and their well-being became our responsibility in recent times. 'Sara will be delighted to know that their new home and family will love and take care of them, as did she.' The community has been shaken 'to its core'. Pic: Noel Sweeney/PA Wire Sara played football and hurling just like her brother and although she was 'quiet and reserved', Sara had 'a smile that would light up a room'. Regina described her as a 'normal, happy 13-year-old teenager whose friends attest to her kindness, warmth and passion for life'. She also never left home without 'Bunny', a small toy dog. Regina continued: 'Over the years, there were many searches for Bunny in many houses over the country. He was often found in the bottom of her schoolbag or the pocket of the car door. 'When you saw Sara, Bunny was in close proximity and he will remain with her on her final journey.' Sara also learned a lot about the farm and always followed her mother and brother out to look after her herd. Regina concluded: 'Vanessa, James and Sara were taken from this world in a cruel and vicious manner. 'There are no words available to express how this has impacted our family and their friends. 'We as a family have been robbed of both our relationship with our sister and the chance to see James and Sara grow up and they have been robbed of the remainder of their lives. 'It has taken us 11 days to be in a position where we can have Vanessa, James and Sara back in Clare. 'This was supposed to be a happy and joyous occasion, where Vanessa would see her new nephew and Sara and James would meet their baby cousin Harry Joe for the first time. 'Instead, we are in the position of choosing coffins, final burial places and funeral hymns. 'For us, as a family, the only comfort we have is that Vanessa, James and Sara are together and finally safe. 'Vanessa will have her children at either side of her forever, as they were when they were alive.' Vanessa, James and Sara are to be buried together in Templemaley Cemetery.
Irish Times
6 hours ago
- Irish Times
Mother and two children killed in Co Fermanagh shooting are ‘irreplaceable', funeral told
The funeral of a mother and her two children killed in a suspected murder-suicide last week has heard they played an 'irreplaceable' part in the lives of their families, community and beyond. Vanessa Whyte (45), her 14-year-old son James and 13-year-old daughter Sara were shot during the incident at their home in Maguiresbridge, Co Fermanagh , on the morning of Wednesday, July 23rd. The sole suspect, Ian Rutledge (43), died in hospital several days after the shooting. Mr Rutledge was married to Ms Whyte and was the father of her two children. Mourners were asked to wear bright colours to the Mass in the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Barefield, Co Clare , where Ms Whyte is from. READ MORE Bishop of Ferns Ger Nash told those gathered in the church, outside and viewing online that many are 'heartbroken at the tragic and unspeakable loss of three lives with so much to give to the world'. 'Every story and shared memory since their deaths reminds us of the irreplaceable part they played in the lives of their families, their community, their schools, workplaces, teams and clubs,' he said. He said there is no easy answer for why tragic events such as this occur. 'Here in Barefield church today with Vanessa, James, and Sara, we are in the land of 'I don't know',' he said. 'The tragic events of last week, and the ripping away of three people from their family and friends leave us searching for answers and coming back again and again to the only answer that is completely true: 'We don't know.'' The funeral Mass Vanessa Whyte, her son James Rutledge, and daughter Sara Rutledge was held on Saturday. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA The coffins of shooting victims Vanessa Whyte and her children Sara and James Rutledge. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA Wire The coffins of shooting victims Vanessa Whyte and her children Sara and James Rutledge. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA Wire He said Ms Whyte brought immense gifts to her adopted county Fermanagh and the Maguiresbridge community. Bishop Nash said tributes paid to Ms Whyte and her children on came from people who knew them well but also from strangers who signed their messages: 'A Waterford mammy', 'A Cork granny', 'A Wicklow mother' and 'A Dublin family'. 'There were some with both dads and mams mentioned, but there were many where a woman spoke from her own heart. They don't know you, nor you them. But they know your story, and if they hug their teenagers more tightly and call a ceasefire in the perpetual war about tidy rooms, then they have learned that life is precious, and we must be grateful for every day given to us and to those we love,' he said. 'Over and over, I could see that women and mothers, as individuals, reached out in their shock and sadness at the loss of a mother and children ... The messages highlighted the vulnerability of women to pain inflicted by others and [there were] were signs of solidarity in the face of that pain.' Addressing Sara and James's friends, he encouraged the young people to 'talk often about our absent friends and to seek help and support when the sorrow becomes too heavy'. Police Service of Northern Ireland detectives are continuing their murder investigation.
