A man stabbed his sister in the back after an argument about him cleaning their bathroom, a court has heard.
Colm Delaney (29) of Seafort Terrance, Sandymount, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting his sister causing her harm at his address on October 1, 2018.
Garda Shauna Ferncombe told Elva Duffy BL, prosecuting, that on the date in question Sharon Delaney (42) was in the house she shared with her brother when a row broke out about him having to clean the bathroom to which he reacted badly.
She turned away from him and felt a “sharpness” in her back. He then proceeded to slap her in the face and she cursed at him.
Ms Delaney then went to buy cigarettes and felt weak upon returning home. She asked what he had done to her, he said to her it was only a scratch and laughed.
She went to her neighbour’s house and realised she had been stabbed when she touched her back and her hand came away covered in blood. Neighbours described seeing one open stab wound on her back and what looked like a slash.
Ms Delaney told gardaí she had a love/hate relationship with her brother and that he reminded her of “a Jekyll and Hyde” type of person. The court heard she is willing to have him back in the house when he is released from custody and she has visited him in prison.
Delaney has been remanded in custody since the date of the offence. He has no previous convictions and is in a long-term relationship with his partner who was present in court.
Gda Ferncombe agreed with Pieter Le Vert BL, defending, that the accused’s father died in 2012 and his mother died in January of 2018. She agreed that his sister appeared to have played some role in rearing him and that alcohol seemed to be a large factor in both of their lives.
Mr Le Vert said his client was absolutely devastated by what he did to his sister and that it was very much them against the world following the death of their parents.
Judge Karen O’Connor adjourned the matter for sentence on May 24, next.
