Courts / Dublin / Report
14-year jail sentence for man who tried to murder former partner
Summary
A 50‑year‑old man, Denis Leahy, was sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment for attempting to murder his former partner, Rose Kenny, on 23 September 2014 at School Street Flats, Dublin 8. Leahy had pleaded guilty to the attempted murder charge and to a separate charge of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Ms Kenny at the same address on the same date. The attack occurred in the stairwell of her apartment complex while she was heading to work at a local creche. Ms Kenny sustained three stab wounds to her neck and three to her chest, one of which pierced the front of her larynx. The judge, Mr Justice Paul Butler, noted the ferocity of the assault, the lack of remorse shown by Leahy, and the severe injuries sustained by Ms Kenny. He imposed the 14‑year term, back‑dated to the date of the offence, and declined to suspend any portion of the sentence.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 14-year jail sentence for man who tried to murder former partner. Charges or matters: attempting to murder Rose Kenny at School Street Flats, Dublin 8 on September 23, 2014; the attempted murder of Rose Kenny after the case had opened to the jury at the Central Criminal Court on June 22; intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Ms Kenny at the same address on the same date. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- September 23, 2014 Incident
- June 22 Incident
- May 2015 Incident
- April 2016 Incident
- 2016-07-21 Publication
Why: "My eyes were closed through the whole attack but I opened my eyes then and I never let them close again because if I closed my eyes then I would have died and I did not want to die," she said. CNI source report
Case subjects
Accused
Charges: attempting to murder Rose Kenny at School Street Flats, Dublin 8 on September 23, 2014; the attempted murder of Rose Kenny after the case had opened to the jury at the Central Criminal Court on June 22; intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Ms Kenny at the same address on the same date (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Today Mr Justice Paul Butler sentenced Leahy to 14 years imprisonment and backdated it to September 23, 2014. At the sentence hearing prosecuting counsel said that there was "no indication" from gardai that Rose Kenny had informed gardai about drugs being in his house "in any way." Referring to this, Ms Kenny said this rumour "wasn't true at all." Ms Kenny said she tries her best "not to think" about Leahy now. "I want to get back to where I was.
Places mentioned
- Queen Street
- Dublin
- School Street
- Central Criminal Court
Topics
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