Man used hammer in bid to murder sleeping wife

A man has been found guilty of attempting to murder his sleeping wife by hitting her over the head with a hammer on her birthday.

Andrzej Benko, aged 42, of Ladyswell Rd, Mulhuddart, admitted hitting Joanna Benko’s head with a lump hammer at least three times but had pleaded not guilty to her attempted murder at that address on July 5, 2010.

The four-day trial heard Ms Benko is confined to a wheelchair most of the time due to her injuries.

Now 35, she has communication difficulties and will depend on full-time care for the rest of her life.

The Central Criminal Court heard the couple had marital problems, with the accused telling gardaí his wife had been taking and dealing drugs and spending all his money.

Despite this, he went out and bought her 10 red roses on the morning of her 32nd birthday, and was planning to take her out to dinner that evening.

But he said she was in a deep sleep and didn’t wake when he tried to talk to her on his return. He said he was disappointed.

He saw a lump hammer while looking for a vase for the flowers. Instead of bringing her the roses, he carried the hammer upstairs and hit her with it three times as she slept.

Benko then drove to Blanchardstown Garda Station, calling emergency services on the way.

He said his wife’s drug taking had made his and their three-year-old son’s life hell, adding that the toddler had found a bag of her ecstasy tablets.

The jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict. Sentencing is on April 7.