Man slashed as he seized knife from ex in row

By Andrew Phelan

A MOTHER of four pulled a kitchen knife out from her sleeve during an argument with her ex-boyfriend, lacerating his finger as he attempted to grab it from her.

Amanda Delaney (28) injured the father of her children accidentally in a row after what was described in court as a "stormy relationship".

She admitted assaulting him in the argument that "got out of hand" after the victim's mother became involved.

Dublin District Court heard Delaney had only intended to threaten with the knife and her ex-partner "basically wounded himself" when he grabbed it.

bandage

Judge Patricia McNamara put her on a bond to keep the peace for a year after hearing the accused had immediately used her jumper to bandage the victim's wound.

Delaney, with an address at Ferrycarrig Drive, Coolock, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to the man at Beaver Street, Dublin 1, on May 9 last year.

A related weapons charge was withdrawn by the prosecution.

The court heard gardai were called to a domestic disturbance at the victim's mother's house at 12.35pm on the day.

They saw the accused walk out of the house with a large knife in her hand following the assault.

She apologised "numerous times" after her arrest and showed remorse during interview, a garda said.

Delaney and the victim had been in a relationship for 12 years and it had been stormy, particularly just before their break-up a year before the incident, her barrister said.

On the day, Delaney had been to the victim's house by arrangement. When she left, they had a heated argument on the phone and she returned "in a moment of passion".

She wanted to speak to him and continue the argument in person.

The kitchen knife was from her own house and she never intended to use it, her barrister said.

"Foolishly, she thought she could frighten or threaten the injured party with it," he said. "She recognises that was a very poor error of judgment."

During the row in the garden, the victim was "calm and civil" to the defendant and she was initially not going to produce the knife.

However, his mother became involved and "things got very out of hand".

jumped

Delaney took the knife from the sleeve of her jumper and the victim "jumped on the knife" to take it from her.

"I injured myself, basically," he told the court, adding that he accepted Delaney's apology.

He also explained that she was the first person to come to his medical aid, using her own jumper on the wound.

The defendant's only previous convictions were for motoring offences.

Judge McNamara said she wanted to ensure that the accused "wouldn't go and do it again".

She noted that the victim had said there was no intention to cause him harm.

hnews@herald.ie