Courts / Dublin / Report
Woman who stabbed former partner tried to punch him at hospital
Summary
Deborah Malcolmson, 43, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after stabbing former partner Brian Kelly, 56, with a kitchen knife during a domestic dispute in Rathfarnham on 29 July 2019. The attack left Kelly seriously injured, requiring intensive care and a colostomy bag. Malcolmson also pleaded guilty to threatening Kelly's son and assaulting Kelly in St James Hospital on 11 September 2019, where she swung a punch at him. The court noted both parties had serious alcohol problems and periods of homelessness, and that their relationship had been described as "dysfunctional" and "combustible." Judge Martin Nolan, after considering mitigating factors and the absence of a medical report, set a starting point of five years but indicated a three‑year imprisonment sentence would be imposed on the next hearing. The sentencing was adjourned to 19 July to allow Kelly to give victim impact evidence if he wished.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Woman who stabbed former partner tried to punch him at hospital. Charges or matters: assault causing harm to Mr Kelly at his home in Rathfarnham on July 29, 2019; making a threat to Mr Kelly's son and assaulting Mr Kelly at St James Hospital on September 11, 2019. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- July 29, 2019 Incident
- September 11, 2019 Incident
- July 19 Adjournment
- 2020-06-19 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: assault causing harm to Mr Kelly at his home in Rathfarnham on July 29, 2019; making a threat to Mr Kelly's son and assaulting Mr Kelly at St James Hospital on September 11, 2019 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He adjourned the finalisation of sentencing until July 19, next to allow Mr Kelly an opportunity to give victim impact evidence should he wish.
Defendant
Charges: assault causing harm to Mr Kelly at his home in Rathfarnham on July 29, 2019; making a threat to Mr Kelly's son and assaulting Mr Kelly at St James Hospital on September 11, 2019 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He adjourned the finalisation of sentencing until July 19, next to allow Mr Kelly an opportunity to give victim impact evidence should he wish.
Places mentioned
Topics
Related court reports
- Serial offender with 'appalling' 137 previous convictions gets fully suspended sentece
- Court grants Irish Times access to ex-TD's character reference for convicted sex offender
- 'A man's liberty is at stake here': Judge dismisses claim boxing instructor breached terms of suspended sentence
- 'Exceptional' Mary Cash avoids jail over bid to obtain fake passport for on-the-run ex
- Judge refuses to name former TD who provided character reference for sex offender
- Octogenarian huntsman shot man meditating in back garden
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request