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THE FAMILY OF A man who died after being stabbed 28 times has said they are “scarred for life” by the “inhumane” actions of his ex-wife, who has been jailed for life for her murder.
Emotional scenes surrounded the sentencing hearing of Rita O’Driscoll, 48, of Bridge Street, Bandon, Co Cork, who was found guilty today of the murder of Timmy Foley (44) at Dan Corkery Place, Macroom, Co Cork, the October 8, 2018.
The jury of seven women and five men took six hours and 17 minutes to deliver its unanimous verdict shortly before lunchtime today at the Cork-based Central Criminal Court.
O’Driscoll was found not guilty of causing serious harm to the deceased’s brother, Jason Foley.
When Judge Eileen Creedon imposed a mandatory life sentence on O’Driscoll, her family members were deeply moved and wept in despair.
The late Timmy Foley’s family, some of whom wore “Justice for Timmy” t-shirts, said they were happy to see justice for their loved one, even if it would not bring him back.
In a statement on the impact of the victim read in court by Sergeant Derek Mulcahy, the family of the late Timmy Foley thanked gardai, emergency services, pathologist, judge and jury, the priest who administered in the place already the lady who took an exam. Timmy Foley’s brother’s panic button call the night of the murder.
They said they were “heartbroken” as a family.
“On the morning of October 8, 2018, our lives were forever changed when we woke up to the news that our dear brother Timmy was brutally murdered. As a family, we have had scars for life. Our elderly father cannot accept how his son was taken in such a cruel way.
“We could have saved all the agony, all the suffering and anguish if she [O’Driscoll] To begin with, he had just raised his hands instead of taking our family to court and hearing how he died in such an inhuman way.
“It took us two long years to get justice, but no matter what the sentence is, we will never have a closure. Timmy can finally rest in peace. Always loved and never forgotten by his heartbroken family. “
In imposing a mandatory life sentence, Judge Creedon expressed his condolences to the loved ones of the late Mr. Foley.
After the case ended, Breda O’Driscoll, Rita’s sister, said “there was no justice for victims of domestic violence.”
She said her sister had had a difficult life with the family losing two brothers in tragic circumstances.
The trial had heard from Jason Foley, brother of the late Timmy Foley. He activated a panic system when a fight broke out at Macroom’s home on the night of the murder.
He told the trial that he activated a panic system to get help after his former sister-in-law “frowned” at his brother with a knife in their home.
Timmy Foley was found shot surrounded by blood with 28 stab wounds.
Jason Foley gave evidence that O’Driscoll arrived at his home at Dan Corkery Place in Macroom on the night of October 8, 2018.
He told the jury and Judge Eileen Creedon that O’Driscoll brought alcohol to his home.
Foley said he was concerned when Rita O’Driscoll started raising her voice because she was worried about upsetting her elderly and frail next door neighbor.
Foley said O’Driscoll started “whore” Timmy in the stomach. He claimed that at one point in the night he went to the bathroom.
When he returned he saw Timmy lying on the ground with blood pouring out of his stomach. Timmy supposedly said “Jason, I’m crazy”.
Foley indicated that O’Driscoll stabbed his brother.
“She started punching him in the stomach. I said ‘this is my house, what are you doing?’ My brother said ‘Jason, I’m crazy’ and he started roaring. He said ‘she caught me there’ and I saw blood. I said ‘I’ll call an ambulance.’
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“I went to the bathroom and heard my brother roar. Rita was standing next to Timmy, punching him in the stomach and his stomach was bleeding. He stood up and had blood on his hand.
“He had a bloody knife in his hand. It was full of blood. It was a small knife. “
He said his brother was “walking around the place” and told him that he would find an ambulance and call the guards. At this stage, she told the court that O’Driscoll was in a corner “talking to herself.”
Foley said he pressed his panic button on his refrigerator to get help.
Foley claimed O’Driscoll stabbed him in the back. He said he “felt weak” after he was stabbed. He added that O’Driscoll was “teasing Timmy for quite a while.”
O’Driscoll suffered two stab wounds to his left arm and a laceration to his face during the incident.
Timmy Foley suffered 28 stab wounds to the head, chest, abdomen and right leg, an incision in the ear and the carotid artery. He also had stab wounds to the lung and liver. Up to four of the injuries were potentially fatal.
The jury heard that O’Driscoll had been released from psychiatric care two days before the murder.
The CUH psychiatric unit said that when she was discharged she was calm and coherent, with no thoughts of self-harm.
O’Driscoll had told Gardai that he acted in self-defense and suffered from “battered wife syndrome.” She said her ex-husband was “evil and satanic” and that he was trying to protect himself when he stabbed him twice.
She claimed that Jason Foley tried to save her life by stabbing her brother after she initially stabbed Timmy twice.
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