15 years for attacking wife with hammer

A father of one has been jailed for 15 years for trying to kill his wife by hitting her over her head with a hammer on her birthday while she slept.

Andrzej Benko, aged 42, of Ladyswell Road, Mulhuddart, had admitted hitting Joanna Benko’s head with a lump hammer at least three times. He had pleaded not guilty to her attempted murder at that address on July 5, 2010. However, last month, the jury took under three hours to reach a unanimous verdict of guilty.

Ms Benko is confined to a wheelchair most of the time as a result of her injuries, the Central Criminal Court heard. Now 35, she also has communication difficulties, will depend on full-time care for the rest of her life and is no longer able to look after her son.