Woman who killed her partner rearrested after release from prison and now faces deportation

On Thursday morning, as Olesja Hertova was due to be released from Dóchas Women’s Prison, she was informed by officers from the Garda National Immigration Bureau that she is now subject to a deportation order and is to be returned to the Czech Republic

Lynn, Ellie and Karen Ryan, daughters of the late James Ryan, who was killed by his partner Olesja Hertova. Picture: Moya Nolan

A woman who killed her partner following a row at the family home has been re-arrested and is now facing deportation to the Czech Republic.

Olesja Hertova, aged 51, was re-arrested on Thursday morning at Dóchas Women’s Prison in north Dublin on the day she was due to be released after completing her sentence for the manslaughter of 69-year-old James ‘Shey’ Ryan.

Mr Ryan, a retired army officer, died on August 11, 2024 at Beaumont hospital after suffering catastrophic head injuries.

During Ms Hertova’s trial, CCTV footage was shown to the court which captured her running towards Mr Ryan and knocking him to the ground. He subsequently died from his injuries.

Ms Hertova had initially pleaded not guilty to the death of her partner. However, as the trial progressed and the CCTV evidence was examined, she changed her plea to guilty to manslaughter.

She was sentenced to two years and nine months for manslaughter, with the sentence backdated to the date of her arrest, which came shortly after Mr Ryan’s death. 

Judge Martin Nolan said she was on the lower end of the scale when it came to reoffending, which left the family distraught.

On Thursday morning, as Ms Hertova was due to be released from Dóchas Women’s Prison, she was informed by officers from the Garda National Immigration Bureau that she is now subject to a deportation order and is to be returned to the Czech Republic.

Olesja Hertova was sentenced to two years nine months for the manslaughter of her partner James Ryan.

As reporters waited for her to exit the prison, they were informed Ms Hertova was being “detained in prison awaiting deportation”.

“She was released from custody in relation to her criminal sentence but was immediately re-arrested within the prison complex in connection with the immigration process” said a prison source.

Ms Hertova now has the right to appeal the deportation decision.

However, she is expected to remain detained at the women's centre in Mountjoy jail while the process is considered, as she has no address available to provide to the prison authorities.

Her continued detention means she will remain in custody despite having completed the sentence imposed on her for the manslaughter of Mr Ryan.

The development has been welcomed by Mr Ryan’s daughter, Karen Ryan, who said the family had been left deeply distressed by the sentence originally imposed.

Speaking about the deportation decision, Ms Ryan said she was delighted Ms Hertova would be removed from Ireland.

She said: “The sentence itself, when it was handed down, left the whole family distressed. It was little or no time and it was backdated to the day she was arrested, which was shortly after my father died.

We just want her to stay away from us, and we never want to see her again. And we just want to be kept safe in our homes.

The family has now been informed Ms Hertova is facing removal to the Czech Republic following the completion of her prison sentence.

She will remain detained while the deportation process continues and while she awaits a decision on any appeal she may make against the order.