Courts / Dublin / Report

Man who admitted trying to murder wife is denied permission to bring new appeal

Date
2021-01-15

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Tallaght

County
Dublin

Summary

An Algerian man, Lounes Ouachek, 50, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty in 2014 to attempting to murder his wife, Ruta, by striking her with a kettlebell on 23 August 2012. He was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended, and the sentence was reduced by one year in 2015. In January 2021, Ouachek applied to the Court of Appeal for permission to bring a new appeal after the statutory period had passed. He claimed he was misled by his legal team, that Garda evidence was fabricated, and that he had not understood English or had an interpreter at his hearing. The Court of Appeal, hearing arguments from the Director of Public Prosecutions, found no basis to extend the time and refused his application. The appeal was therefore denied. The case remains at the stage of a denied appeal application.