Cork man accused of attacking sleeping wife with boiling water may face more serious charge

Director of Public Prosecutions to consider charge of assault causing serious harm rather than current charge of assault causing harm, court heard

Accused man flagged down a Garda patrol car while soaked in his wife’s blood and carrying a bloodstained hammer in a plastic bag at 5am, garda testified in earlier hearing. File picture: Larry Cummins

The Director of Public Prosecutions is to consider the case where a man is accused of attacking his sleeping wife with a hammer and boiling water to see if there is medical evidence on which to bring a charge of assault causing serious harm.

As matters stand, Noel Twomey, of 18 Carbery Grove, Knocknaheeny, Cork, faces two charges of assault causing harm contrary to Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act.

Prosecution barrister Emmet Boyle said at Cork Circuit Criminal Court: “I am asking for two weeks to finalise DPP directions.” 

Judge Helen Boyle said it was not satisfactory the DPP had not given full directions in the case at this stage.

An adjournment of the case until November 12 was granted by Judge Boyle.

Prosecution barrister Mr Boyle said: “Hopefully there will be progress made by then.” 

The 63-year-old is charged with two assault charges arising out of an alleged attack on his sleeping wife with boiling water and a claw-hammer.

Both charges are of assault causing harm to his wife.

When the case came before Cork District Court initially, Detective Garda Brian Murphy testified the accused man flagged down a Garda patrol car while soaked in blood and carrying a bloodstained hammer in a plastic bag at 5am on Monday, January 15, at Bakers Road, Gurranabraher, Cork.

Det Garda Murphy charged Mr Twomey with two counts of assault causing harm to his wife, Jackie Twomey, at the family home.

Objecting to bail, Det Garda Murphy said: “This is very serious. She went to sleep in the safety of her own bed. Noel Twomey made the very conscious decision to boil a pot of water and retrieve a claw hammer from the tool box… He then entered his bedroom where his wife slept and attacked her in a cowardly fashion as she lay asleep.”