Norma Phillips jailed for manslaughter at Central Criminal Court

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

Norma Phillips was sentenced for manslaughter at the Central Criminal Court on 20 February 2017, receiving three and a half years in prison.

The proceedings were reported on 20 February 2017. Phillips had been charged with murder, but a jury convicted her of the lesser offence of manslaughter.

Phillips pleaded guilty to manslaughter, but the Director of Public Prosecutions rejected the plea.

Justice Margaret Heneghan backdated the sentence because Phillips had already spent nine months in custody, with a further two years suspended.

On release, Phillips must pay a €300 bond and remain of good behaviour and keep the peace for two years.

The report said Phillips initially told emergency services and gardai that an Irishman had stabbed Stefan Neanu and fled.

Phillips later said Neanu had pulled a knife, and that she pushed his hand away in self-defence, turning the blade into his chest.

Professor Marie Cassidy said the fatal wound could have been caused as Phillips described, although the knife was pushed with some moderate force.

Justice Heneghan considered Phillips’s good character, remorse and rehabilitation, while treating her initial lies as aggravating factors.