Courts / Meath / Report
'Sorry saga' as accountant who stabbed partner falls out with lawyers
Summary
In a 2017 Circuit Court trial, 43‑year‑old accountant Sidney Sutton of Ashbourne was convicted of four counts of assault, one count of assault causing harm and one count of producing a knife capable of inflicting serious injury. The offences occurred on the early hours of 6 February 2016 when Sutton, after a wedding in Slane, returned home with his partner Edele Aherne. He allegedly pushed her into a taxi, then punched and kicked her in their home, dragged her to the floor, stamped on her legs and finally stabbed her in the leg and shoulder with a knife. Sutton pleaded not guilty, claiming Aherne had assaulted him and self‑harmed. The Court of Appeal heard that he had fallen out with several solicitors and granted an adjournment to 26 April, warning that failure to proceed would result in the appeal being disposed of as abandoned.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Sorry saga' as accountant who stabbed partner falls out with lawyers. Charges or matters: four counts of assault, one of assault causing harm and one count of producing a knife capable of inflicting serious injury following a Circuit Court trial in 2017; all charges and accused Ms Aherne of assaulting him and inflicting her own injuries through self-harm. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted
When:
- February 6, 2016 Incident
- April 26 Adjournment
- 2021-01-18 Publication
Why: " It is unusual for the court to hear an undue leniency application before hearing a conviction appeal but Mr Justice Birmingham said it was necessary because of Mr Sutton's "reluctance or inability to get the appeal against conviction on. CNI source report
Case subjects
Background Person
Charges: four counts of assault, one of assault causing harm and one count of producing a knife capable of inflicting serious injury following a Circuit Court trial in 2017; all charges and accused Ms Aherne of assaulting him and inflicting her own injuries through self-harm (Proven)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; The Court of Appeal previously ruled that Sutton's original sentence of two years in prison with the final 12 months suspended was unduly lenient and ordered him to serve a further 16 months.
Places mentioned
Topics
Related court reports
- Trainee pilot jailed for raping sleeping college student
- 'Monster' Derek Boyd gets life for murder, with sentence for killing sister referred back to circuit court
- Getaway drivers jailed for involvement in Limerick shootings, including attack that ended up on social media
- Derek Boyd now a double killer as jury finds him of guilty of murder
- Man fatally stabbed in Derek Boyd's home had admitted assaulting girlfriend, trial hears
- Limerick 'enforcer' and dealer to be sentenced over drug gang feud shooting
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request