Hertova’s two-year-nine-month sentence for manslaughter criticised by victim’s daughter

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Olesja Hertova pleaded guilty to manslaughter after being charged with unlawfully killing James Ryan. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced her to two years and nine months in prison, backdated to when she entered custody in August 2024.

Judge Martin Nolan said Hertova lost her temper and pushed Ryan forcefully, but he did not believe she intended to kill him. He cited her guilty plea and cooperation with gardaí and said he did not believe she would reoffend. Ryan’s daughter later criticised the sentence as too lenient.