'I’m a survivor,' says Limerick woman who had acid thrown in her face three times
Mr Justice Michael McGrath will impose sentence on Christopher Stokes on March 2 at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork for causing serious harm to Simone Lee on May 11, 2021, at the house in Garryowen, arson and threatening to kill or cause serious harm to Timothy Fehin. Picture: Larry Cummins
The Limerick woman who had acid thrown in her face, boiling water poured on her back and was left lying seriously injured in her home which was then set on fire, said on Wednesday: “I’m a survivor, not a victim.”
Christopher Stokes,39, of Sarsfield Avenue, Garryowen, Limerick, first claimed to gardaí that he was the one who tried to help 43-year-old Simone Lee and had actually saved her life. But he confessed this week to charges including causing serious harm to her and setting fire to her home.
Detective Garda Aled Harkin was asked by prosecution senior counsel Seán Gillane about the background to the case where Stokes initially faced trial for attempted murder. Simone Lee was living in the McVerry Trust house at Fairview Crescent, Garryowen, in Limerick, where the attack was carried out.
She knew Christopher Stokes and although visitors were not allowed in the supported accommodation, he stayed at her home on the night of May 9, 2021. In the course of the following day he became increasingly agitated about money and maintenance that he needed for his ex-partner and their three children.
He told Ms Lee to ring someone known to both of them, Timothy Fehin, 73, and to tell him to drive to her home from his property outside Charleville, County Cork. Mr Fehin arrived at 8.30pm and agreed to drive to Lidl in Charleville for Stokes and Ms Lee to buy alcohol and return to the house in Garryowen.
In the journey to and from Charleville, Stokes became more aggressive, sitting in the back of the car and punching Ms Lee in the head numerous times. At one stage he struck her in the head with a glass bottle which caused her to bleed. She was upset and crying.
Back at the house the defendant’s violence intensified. He put a fridge freezer against an internal door to stop anyone from leaving. He struck Ms Lee repeatedly. She fell to the floor striking her head against a TV stand.
Mr Fehin tried to stop the assault on Ms Lee but the 39-year-old defendant, who is of a very big build, threatened: “You are going to get it too. I am going to kill the two of you.” He said he would bury both of them on Mr Fehin’s land.
Referring to another serious assault a number of years ago by another man on Ms Lee, Stokes said: “I am going to finish the job the other eejit didn’t finish.” Mr Gillane SC said Stokes then attacked her further: “He put a plastic bin-liner over her and tightened it around her neck. She lost consciousness.”
He told Mr Fehin, “You are going to get it too.” He told him he would be driving back to Charleville and burying Ms Lee on Mr Fehin’s land.
Det. Garda Harkin said: “Mr Fehin managed to move the fridge-freezer from the door and escape from the premises. Ms Lee was lying on the couch. The assaults continued. Amonia acid was thrown on her face three times. He boiled water in the kettle and poured it over her back… the pain from boiling water being poured over her was excruciating.”
Mr Fehin made a call to gardaí that “something was happening in the house” at 2.45am, but gardaí who arrived at 3am remained outside as they had no indication of the seriousness of the situation.
Mr Gillane said: “She lost consciousness with the pouring of the boiling water and further blows. Her next memory was when she woke up covered with cardboard boxes and surrounded by debris. She realised her home was on fire. She ran from the premises.”
A neighbour came to her assistance and the emergency services, including gardaí, ambulance and fire brigade, all arrived at the scene at 4.30am. Christopher Stokes was still in the property and he was arrested.
When questioned, he said: “I saw the room on fire and I tried to help. I actually saved her.”
Defence senior counsel Brian McInerney, said on behalf of Stokes: “He has instructed me to apologise unreservedly for what was visited on them on the night by him. He wishes he could turn back the clock. He hopes the pleas of guilty will go some distance for Ms Lee and Mr Fehin.
"He is acknowledging his guilt, acknowledging his responsibility. This is a serious case but it is not homicide or attempted homicide and falls into an entirely different category.”
Mr Justice Michael McGrath will impose sentence on Christopher Stokes on March 2 at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork for causing serious harm to Simone Lee on May 11, 2021, at the house in Garryowen, arson and threatening to kill or cause serious harm to Timothy Fehin.
My name is Simone Lee and I am 43 years of age. On the May 10 2021, I was the victim of a serious and sustained assault which happened in my home. As a result of this assault, I have been left with lifelong scars, both mental and physical. I have scars on my body which I still feel pain in.
I am still receiving medical treatment for my skin grafts. I was two months and four days in the Burns Unit in Cork. I couldn’t have any visitors due to Covid. I felt vulnerable. I felt petrified I was in so much fear. I couldn’t sleep, I still struggle to sleep today.
My family thought I was dead, I was unrecognisable, even now I can’t wear certain clothes as I am conscious about my scars. I recently saw the photos of my injuries and I couldn’t believe how bad I looked.
As a result of the arson, I have lost a home which I had lived happily in for four years. I lost all my possessions and when I got out of hospital, I was living out of a black bag. I miss my flat. It was mine and I was settled there. I am now in temporary accommodation, and I won’t be able to return to my previous home.
I am frightened to go out alone, to live alone but I am also scared to move on in my personal life for fear of anyone else putting me through similar pain. I trust no one now. I am in counselling and I am grateful that the treatment I received at Coolmine Treatment Centre has allowed me to access counselling services. I initially spent time in 5B Psychiatric Unit as I was very depressed after this incident.
This is the second time in my life I have been violently assaulted. I do not remember much about the first assault, but the details of this assault are with me strongly every day. Christopher Stokes told me he would finish the job of the first assault, he told me I was worthless, and no one would miss me.
I hope to make a positive impact on others, to help others who have been victims. For all the fear that this man caused me, I am proud I am here today telling my story – I’m a survivor, not a victim.
I am looking to the future now with the hope I can move on and do some courses to try to help other victims by telling my story of survival. I continue to write down my thoughts and feelings about this incident to help me deal with everything, this assault is still with me every day. In so many ways, I am still struggling. Life is a daily battle, and I am working hard to move on.
My name is Tim Fehin. I became friendly with Simone Lee and through this I got introduced to Christopher Stokes. Through my dealings with Christopher Stokes, I observed his unpredictable and aggressive nature. Christopher Stokes is far bigger than me physically and I am in my 70s.
On the night in question, Christopher Stokes threatened me and beat Simone Lee up in my presence both in my car and in Simone’s house. I was terrified out of my mind when he threatened to kill me and told me how he planned on doing it. I have never been so frightened in all my life.
Somehow, I managed to escape from Christopher Stokes that night.
The guards had to take my car because Simone’s blood was in it after Christopher Stokes assaulted her. The Guards still have this car and I had to get a replacement. This has caused me financial hardship.
I think about what happened every day and when I am home alone on my land, it goes over in my head how he told me he was going to kill me and bury me in my own land and it still terrifies me.
- If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please click here for a list of support services.
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