Courts / Cork / Report
Convicted murderer who viciously attacked wife avoids jail despite quashing of suspended sentence
Summary
Marius Rucinskas, 45, a former Lithuanian murderer now living in Cork, was convicted of a brutal domestic assault on his wife Renata Rucinskeine on 1 January 2020. He dragged her by the hair, struck her head off a table, punched, kicked, tried to pull her eyelashes off and threatened to kill her. He pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and criminal damage in September 2021. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed the 18‑month suspended sentence, arguing it was unduly lenient. The Court of Appeal quashed the original sentence, increased it to three‑and‑a‑half years, but suspended the final two years. Rucinskas was released after serving 13 months in custody and entered a good‑behaviour bond. The case highlights the court's assessment of the severity of the assault and the need for a harsher penalty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Convicted murderer who viciously attacked wife avoids jail despite quashing of suspended sentence. Charges or matters: a Section 3 assault causing harm against Ms Rucinskeine and a count of criminal damage when he appeared before Judge Ó Donnabháin at Cork Circuit Criminal Court in September 2021. Procedural stage: appeal
When:
- January 1, 2020 Incident
- September 2021 Incident
- 2022-03-29 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: a Section 3 assault causing harm against Ms Rucinskeine and a count of criminal damage when he appeared before Judge Ó Donnabháin at Cork Circuit Criminal Court in September 2021 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Marius Rucinskas (45), formerly of Lithuania but now residing in Cork city, had received an 18-month suspended sentence for the three-hour attack which took place on January 1, 2020, at a house he shared with Renata Rucinskeine on Main Street, Castletownbere, Co Cork. Mr Kelly also told the court that Rucinskas had previously served 15 years for murder in his native Lithuania and moved to Ireland in 2015 on his release. "Looking at the entirety of the sentence imposed, it was unduly lenient," he said.
Places mentioned
- Court of Appeal
- Cork
- Cork Circuit Criminal Court
- Main Street
- Castletownbere
- Cork
Topics
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