Courts / Dublin / Report

Woman who sliced civil servant's throat on walk home from work to stay in jail

Date
2020-10-01

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In a Dublin incident on 3 January 2017, Laura Kenna, a homeless woman aged 37, slit the throat of civil servant Fionnuala Bourke while walking home from work. Kenna was arrested the following day and later pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, citing a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder. She was convicted of attempted murder and assault causing harm, and in April 2019 the Central Criminal Court imposed a 15‑year prison term, of which five years were suspended. The Court of Appeal dismissed Kenna's appeal against both the conviction and the sentence. The appeal was rejected on the basis that the jury's verdict was supported by credible expert testimony, and the sentencing judge's decision was deemed proper for the gravity of the offence. Kenna must serve the 10‑year custodial term imposed by the court.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Woman who sliced civil servant's throat on walk home from work to stay in jail. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Not guilty by reason of insanity

When:

January 3, 2017 Incident
April 2019 Incident
2020-10-01 Publication

Case subjects

Laura Kenna

Appellant

Plea: Not guilty

Finding: Not guilty by reason of insanity

Outcome: Not guilty by reason of insanity; The court also threw out a separate appeal by Kenna against the severity of the sentence imposed on her by the Central Criminal Court in April 2019 following a jury trial. The ruling means Kenna, of no fixed abode, must serve the 10-year jail sentence handed by the Central Criminal Court after Ms Justice Tara Burns imposed a 15-year prison term but suspended the final five years.