Victim of broken bottle attack in Cork now in same prison as assailant

The court heard that the accused and her victim had shaken hands since the incident

Limerick Prison, where the victim of a broken bottle stabbing is incarcerated with her attacker. File picture: Dan Linehan

The victim of a broken bottle stabbing attack is now serving a sentence for another matter in Limerick Prison — in the same unit as her attacker.

34-year-old Sorcha Waters of Mount St. Joseph’s Drive, Gurranabraher, pleaded guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to a charge of assault causing harm to the 36-year-old injured party.

Judge Helen Boyle imposed a sentence of two years on Sorcha Waters with the last six months suspended.

Defence barrister, Emmet Boyle, said the accused and her victim had shaken hands since the violent incident on August 14, 2022, and there was no animus between them.

Detective Sergeant Kieran O’Sullivan said there was an altercation at 7.30pm that evening between a number of parties at the entrance to the Lapps Quay car park.

CCTV of the lead-up to the incident shows the injured party approaching Sorcha Waters. The detective said that initially both parties were aggressive to one another.

“Sorcha Waters takes a bottle from another person, smashes the bottle against a wall and goes in the direction of the injured party.

“She then stabs the 36-year-old with a broken bottle. The injured party had numerous stab wounds to the face and between the neck and shoulder.

“She had to have over 100 stitches to her wounds and was left with permanent scarring. She made no statement of complaint,” Det. Sgt O’Sullivan said.

Gardaí arrested Sorcha Waters at Lower Oliver Plunkett Street, Cork, a short time afterwards. She acknowledged that she was the person in the video footage of the incident and she made full admissions.

The defendant’s 60 previous convictions include 18 for public order offences, 30 for theft and two for burglary. Mr Boyle, defence barrister, said: “She indicated she was guilty. That was before a statement of complaint.

“Ms Waters has had addiction problems for many years. In relation to the accused and the injured party, they shook hands and now get on with each other. There is no animus between them. She is truly sorry. She is sober and determined to stay sober.” 

Judge Helen Boyle said: “It would have been busy in the city centre. People would have been exposed to that level of violence, which is completely unacceptable in my view.

“You felt she was the person who first attacked you. You are both in the same unit of Limerick Prison and apparently you are getting on well with each other there.”