'We were the perfect, happy, loving family,' says Cork man accused of stabbing wife and daughter

The accused was remanded in custody until September 24. File picture: Larry Cummins

A woman sustained 15 stab and defensive wounds and a fractured cheekbone last weekend in a knife attack by her partner, and their adult daughter was also stabbed, it was alleged in Cork District Court on Thursday.

The court heard the accused apologised and said: “We were the perfect, happy, loving family.” He said cocaine addiction ruined his life. 

The 42-year-old cried in court as he said: “I would like to apologise to my family for the hurt and pain I caused the people I loved. From the bottom of my heart. The horrible disease of addiction changed my life. I have never hurt anyone. We were the perfect, happy, loving family, that anyone could ask for. 

"I am battling cocaine addiction for the last two years. This addiction has ruined my life. I want to get into rehabilitation immediately to change my life… I am a happy, loving, caring person affected by addiction. I want my life back.” 

He said he did not know how to resolve his problems from inside prison but could do so if released into rehabilitation and he said he would never contact his family if released on bail.

Judge David Waters said: “I am not willing to just release you to walk out the door on the promise to do something.” Judge Waters said the bail application could be revisited if there was a definitive plan for him to be taken directly from prison to a residential facility for his rehabilitation. 

The judge said that if that were in place he would consider a renewed bail application but would consider it without any guarantee of the outcome of the application.

He was remanded in custody until September 24. As district court jurisdiction was refused by the judge the adjournment is for preparation of the book of evidence.

Detective Garda Eoghain O’Callaghan said on Tuesday that the alleged incident that gave rise to the two assault causing harm charges occurred at around 2am on Saturday, September 5. 

Since this time an interim barring order was granted requiring the defendant to stay away from the family home. Parties to such orders cannot be identified. “There are serious concerns about interference with witnesses,” Det. Garda O’Callaghan said.

Solicitor, Ronan Enright, was present in court on Thursday and told Judge Waters that he had a watching brief on behalf of the injured parties.