Lecturer stabbed love-rival with wine glass

A lecturer who stabbed a love rival in the face and neck with a broken wine glass has to do 240 hours of community service or serve a two year sentence.

Melanie Adams, aged 42, from Idrone Close, Templeogue pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting 40-year-old Caroline O'Hanrahan causing her harm on February 7, 2002.

She has no previous convictions.

Judge Desmond Hogan remanded her on continuing bail to March 18 when the court will be told of her suitability for doing community service in lieu of the two-year sentence which he indicated would be suitable.

He also ordered Adams, who teaches Film and Television at the Ballyfermot College of Higher Education, to hand over a total of €8,000 in compensation to her victim.

Judge Hogan had previously adjourned her sentence on November 13 last to allow her to raise the compensation money after he described her offer of €1,000 as an insult to her victim.

He said in light of the compensation paid by Adams and her lack of previous convictions he was willing to consider community service in lieu of a two year sentence.

English-born Adams attacked Ms O'Hanrahan, an administrator for the Architectural Association of Ireland, in the ladies toilets of the Irish Film Centre when the two women went to discuss their romantic interest.

Adams had recently broken up with a man that Ms O'Hanrahan was meeting that night at the launch of a book about Irish film directors.

Adams became upset at the function and the victim brought her in to the toilets to talk to her.

A waitress cleaning the toilets noticed them having a heated discussion and then Adams broke her wine glass off the hand basin and began stabbing Ms O'Hanrahan in the neck and face with it.

She also punched her a number of times.

The waitress who witnessed the assault said both women appeared to be very drunk at the time of the incident, which was about 11.30 pm, and the book launch had begun at 5.30pm.

She ran out to get the manager when the two women started to fight.

Sergeant Anthony Brophy said that when the manager at the IFC came into the toilets he found Ms O'Hanrahan holding a tissue to her head with blood running down her face.

Adams attacked Ms O'Hanrahan when she told her to "get over it".

She was treated in St James' Hospital and received stitches to scars on her neck, her chin and her temple.

The scars on her neck and face were permanent and she also experienced a numbness around her face for 12 months following the incident.

She came to the garda station the following day and reported the incident.

Adams was arrested on March 8 and accepted full responsibility for the attack and expressed her sorrow.

Adams' counsel, Mr Luan O Braonain BL, said she had borrowed the €7,000 she had in court today from her parents.

In November last the court had heard she had debts of €2,400 and had borrowed the initial €1,000 from her bank to offer in compensation.