This article is from page 11 of the 2013-12-03 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 11 JPG
A VICIOUS stabbing that left an Ennis woman in a critical condition has caused “tremendous difficulties” for the young victim, a court has heard.
Nicole Keane (23) was stabbed 22 times by her then friend Charlene Sherlock (23) during a frenzied assault in the grounds of the Holy Family Primary School in Ennis on April 13.
Ms Sherlock, with an address at Dromard, Lahinch Road, Ennis, attacked Ms Keane because she believed Ms Keane had been unfaithful to her then boyfriend Brendan Sherlock (20), who is Ms Sherlock’s brother. Ms Keane suffered slash and stab wounds to her neck, face and torso. She was rushed to hospital and received life-saving treatment in Cork. The horrific attack carried out by Ms Sherlock was captured on CCTV shown at Ennis Circuit Criminal Court last Monday.
Ms Keane was not present in court and declined to give a victim impact statement. Two days later Ms Keane, with an address at Bridge View, Roslevan, appeared at Ennis District Court where her solicitor outlined some of the effect the assault has had.
Ennis-based solicitor William Cahir said, “She was the victim of an unprovoked attack and it has set her back. It has caused tremendous difficulties for her,” he added.
Mr Cahir was speaking in court after Ms Keane pleaded guilty to two public order offences at the Summerhill area of Ennis on September 16, 2013. Inspector Michael Gallagher told the court gardaí received a call to go Summerhill.
He said they found Ms Keane and another person sitting on the ground drunk. The court heard Ms Keane was verbally abusive to gardaí.
Mr Cahir explained his client has been “a very bad alcoholic” since she was a teenager.
“More often than not she has been unable to conquer her demons,” he added. Mr Cahir said he was not offering Ms Keane’s problems as an excuse for her behaviour on September 16. Mr Cahir said his client would be a suitable candidate for community work. Judge Patrick Durcan said he had sympathy for Ms Keane.
He added, “Well done, Ms Keane, that you did live and you didn’t die. That’s the reality, you now know how close it is, the step between living and dying.”
Imposing a 120-hour community service order, Judge Durcan said, “It is not acceptable for someone to sit on the ground and tell gardaí to get lost.”