No jail time for woman who stabbed friend in the breast
Carlow Courthouse Photo: Michael O'Rourke
A WOMAN who pleaded guilty to stabbing her friend twice in the breast received a fully suspended prison sentence of three years and three months from Judge Eugene O’Kelly at Carlow Circuit Court after he said he was pleased that she had “taken advantage” of the opportunities he had given her.
The defendant, Sandra Doyle (52) of Church Street, Graiguecullen, had produced a Stanley knife during a dispute at New Oak Estate, Carlow on 10 September 2021 and assaulted a woman, causing her harm. She was arrested on the same day. Ms Doyle originally pleaded not guilty to the two charges, but changed her plea after one day at trial, which began on 13 February 2024.
Judge O’Kelly noted the aggravating factors in the case were Ms Doyle’s use of a knife to cause “significant lacerations to the left breast of the victim”. He described the victim’s injury as a deep horizontal cut, approximately 7cm in length. There was a further laceration to her right breast.
He noted that Ms Doyle has “numerous previous convictions”, including four for assault and one for producing an article.
However, she had co-operated with gardaí, assisted with their investigation and ultimately entered a guilty plea, he said.
Regarding mitigation, Judge O’Kelly said defence barrister Tara Geoghegan BL had outlined at a hearing date in November 2024 that her client had very little recollection of the event as she was intoxicated at the time. She said that Ms Doyle took full responsibility for her actions, had engaged with probation services and not come to adverse attention since. She has a teenage son and felt she was in danger of losing her home at the time.
The first probation report dated 12 November 2024 outlined certain considerable difficulties in Ms Doyle’s childhood and Judge O’Kelly said he had “no doubt” that she had suffered violence and abuse “from some very unlikely persons who should have been providing her protection”.
He said these experiences had left her with PTSD, that she had substance misuse problems from a young age and physical health problems as a result.
A letter from her GP dated from November 2024 indicated that the defendant was ‘crippled’ with social anxiety at that time and was ‘essentially living a reclusive life’.
At the time, Judge O’Kelly said he had felt a term of imprisonment was appropriate but had ordered a second probation report to be prepared and adjourned the sentencing hearing for a year to give the defendant an opportunity to engage with support services.
“I have given her chances, which she has taken advantage of,” the judge noted at the most recent hearing.
He said Ms Doyle had written a letter of apology to the victim and furnished the court with a further letter of apology. Letters from St Catherine’s Community Services Centre and St Vincent de Paul further bolstered her claim to be living a pro-social life.
The second probation report, dated 18 February of this year, still deemed the defendant as being at a high risk of reoffending, but with the probation officer saying it was their opinion that Ms Doyle was addressing areas of concern.
Regarding subsequent letters from her GP, Judge O’Kelly said he was “very pleased” to see progress in Ms Doyle’s physical and mental health. She had maintained abstinence from alcohol and was attending AA meetings. In a letter dated 8 May 2026, the GP states that Ms Doyle has ‘done incredibly well’.
Judge O’Kelly set the headline sentence at four years’ imprisonment and reduced it by nine months on account of mitigating factors. “In view of the progress that she has made, and I accept this was an isolated incident, I am prepared to suspend that (three year and three month sentence) in full,” Judge O’Kelly concluded.
He ordered a further probation report to be prepared within the next two years and set conditions for the suspension of the sentence, including that Ms Doyle must attend all probation appointments, take up offence-focused work, engage with substance misuse services and attend GP appointments.
Ms Doyle accepted the sentence and entered into a €100 bond with the court.
