Cork man who attacked sleeping wife with boiling water and hammer has sentencing delayed

Court heard five psychiatrists were approached to do report on accused but none could provide one, with one quoting a cost of €3,500 when legal aid would only cover €1,800

Judge formally directed the psychiatrist at Cork Prison to provide a report on accused for the sentencing hearing on February 16, 2026.

A 63-year-old woman who had boiling water poured over her and was struck over the head with a claw-hammer by her husband almost two years ago will have to wait until February next year before she finds out what prison sentence he will serve.

The further delay in the sentencing of 64-year-old Noel Twomey, of 18 Carbery Grove, Knocknaheeny, Cork, was caused by the failure to get a psychiatric report on the accused.

Free legal aid was extended to such a report for the defence to obtain it, but Seamus Roche, senior counsel, told Judge Dermot Sheehan on Friday that solicitor Shane Collins-Daly had approached five psychiatrists, but it had not been possible for them to provide a report. 

One psychiatrist quoted a cost of €3,500, but free legal aid would only cover it to the amount of €1,800, and Mr Twomey had no means to pay the balance, Mr Roche said.

Judge Sheehan said it may be of benefit to the victim to know if her husband had a diagnosed psychiatric illness, and this would also be important for the accused in advance of sentencing. 

Judge Sheehan then formally directed the psychiatrist at Cork Prison to provide a report on Noel Twomey for the sentencing hearing on February 16, 2026.

The victim said at an earlier hearing,: “My name is Jackie Twomey and on the 15th January 2024, my life changed forever. That night, when I was in bed asleep, my husband of 40 years came to my bedroom and brutally assaulted me. He had boiling water and a claw hammer with him and attacked me with both. 

"It was beyond cruel and evil what he did to me. He poured the boiling water on me and hit me a number of times over the head with the hammer. He didn't seem to care about the damage he was doing to me. I thought I was going to die, I remember the pain and screaming I couldn't believe what was happening. 

"I was in CUH for six days and needed a lot of follow-up care. That was the physical side. The psychological trauma is worse. I don't think I will ever be the same person as I was before that night, I fear going to bed and I fear just sleeping. The nightmares return every night, the pain and memories are there all the time but worse at night. 

"It’s hard to put in words how my life has changed and the anxiety and terror that have become part of my life. I should have been safe asleep in my own bed.

“I have a very supportive family and friends who are 100% behind me. I hope I get peace some day and can be happy but that possibility seems far away. I need that evil man to be gone for good.” 

The DPP said in terms of seriousness, the attack was in a sentencing range of 10 to 15 years because of factors including the premeditation involved, the fact the victim was asleep and defenceless in her own home, and the ferocity of the assaults involving boiling water and a claw hammer.