A CORK woman received a suspended three-year prison sentence yesterday for stabbing her husband in the back less than one year after the couple married.
Unemployed hairdresser Laura Egan (25) had previously been convicted of assault causing serious harm arising from the incident in which she attacked Gerry Egan with a carving knife at Castlepark Drive, Mallow, Co Cork, on June 14th last year.
Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard that both parties had consumed large amounts of alcohol on the night in question, nine months after they had wed.
The marriage effectively ended after the attack, which left Mr Egan with life-threatening injuries. The court heard testimony that the couple had been out on the night leading up to the assault, with the defendant consuming about seven pints of cider and six glasses of wine.
An argument took place upon their return home, with Mr Egan eventually declaring that he was leaving. His wife’s response was to go to the kitchen, get a carving knife and stab him in the back.
She quickly called emergency services, but at first maintained her husband had been stabbed earlier in the night, during a nightclub fracas. However, it was added that the attempted deception was dropped before long, and she told gardaí the truth about how her husband sustained his injuries.
The court heard testimony that the marriage had been coming under strain for some time prior to the incident, but that this was the first time their domestic issues came to the attention of gardaí.
Marjorie Farrelly, for the defendant, stressed that her client had experienced problems with alcohol following the September 2007 marriage.
“Alcohol became a major player in their marriage. Ms Egan used it as a crutch and was drinking excessively to match her husband’s alcohol consumption,” she said.
She said her client continued to abuse alcohol in the wake of the marriage break-up, but had since sought help and was no longer drinking. It was stressed that she was now living with her parents, who were very supportive.
Mr Egan made a full recovery from his injuries, but it was stated that he still carries psychological scars after the incident.
Judge Cornelius Murphy noted that the defendant had no previous convictions and suspended the three-year sentence on condition that she keeps the peace for two years.