Suspended sentence for stabbing offence
A homeless and pregnant woman who was born in Mountjoy Prison has been given a suspended sentence a for stabbing a Polish man in Pearse street Garda station.
Lisa Kennedy (aged 24) spent the first three weeks of her life in the prison and spent the majority of her childhood in foster care after both her parents died of drug related illnesses by the time she was 12-years-old.
Kennedy a mother of two currently living in the Regina Ceoli Hostel on Morning Star Avenue, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Roman Majewski causing him harm on February 25, 2006 and to criminal damage of the tyre of a garda patrol car the same night.
Judge Katherine Delahunt noted the Probation Service report that she was taking positive steps to get her life in order and stated: "The court is happy to go along with her current regime".
She sentenced Kennedy to three years,imprisonment but suspended it in full for four years on condition she remained under the supervision of the Probation Service.
Garda Colin Murrin told prosecuting counsel, Ms Karen O'Connor BL, that Kennedy was pregnant at the time of the offence in Pearse Street garda station
She became very abusive and shouted "you bastard" before stabbing Mr Majewski after she and up to 20 other homeless people who had been sleeping in the public office were asked by gardai to leave the station as it was too crowded.
Mr Majewski had trouble breathing and an ambulance took him to hospital where the wound was dressed and it was confirmed that none of his internal organs had been injured. He had since made a full recovery.
Garda Murrin said Kennedy was arrested after another Polish national pointed her out as the culprit.
A Swiss Army knife was found outside and gardai also noticed that the tyre of the patrol car had been slashed.
Kennedy admitted she owned the knife and had stabbed Mr Majewski as well as slashing the tyre with it.
She told gardaí she was annoyed at being asked to leave the station and claimed it was because "the Polish nationals were being noisy that we were all told to get out".
Garda Murrin said she had 16 previous convictions that had all been dealt with in the District Court and included public order and theft offences.
He said Kennedy had a history of drug abuse and that night had sniffed three cans of butane gas which is used for cigarette lighters.
Garda Murrin agreed with defence counsel, Mr Patrick Reynolds BL, that Kennedy's remorse was genuine and that she said she hadn't meant to hurt Mr Majewski but was angry at being kicked out in the cold.
