A heroin addict who slashed a New Zealand woman across the face with a Stanley knife in an attempt to snatch her handbag has been jailed for five years by Judge Elizabeth Dunne.
Ms Kelly Reid (23) was in Ireland on a 12-month work visa. She returned to New Zealand two days after the attack and vowed never to return.
Deborah Wilson (25), of Cremona Road, Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault with intent to rob Ms Reid on August 27th, 2000.
Garda David Ennis said Ms Reid was still undergoing plastic surgery because of the three-to four-inch-gash she received below her left ear.
Judge Dunne said she recognised from a very graphic and detailed victim impact report that the effects on Ms Reid were extreme.
She referred to one paragraph in the report that told how persistent phone calls from reporters increased her need to leave the State because if they could find her so could her attacker if she was released on bail.
"Ms Reid had a phobia of needles arising from an illness she had as a child. The injuries inflicted in this case would have compounded this phobia.
"She also had to go through the added trauma of treatment and testing for HIV but thankfully those results are clear," said Judge Dunne.
The judge said the appropriate sentence was one of seven years but she recognised Wilson's plea saved Ms Reid the trauma of returning to Ireland to give evidence.
Garda Ennis told Ms Orla Crowe, prosecuting, that Wilson lunged at the victim and attempted to grab her handbag on St Michael's Hill near Christchurch.
Wilson gashed her on the face and a struggle ensued. Passersby came to the assistance of Ms Reid and apprehended Wilson until gardai arrived.
Garda Ennis said Wilson told gardai she intended to cut the bag away from Ms Reid with the knife and the injuries inflicted were accidental.
Garda Ennis told Mr Giollaiosa O Lideadha, for Wilson, he was comfortable, to a certain extent, that that was the truth. He also agreed she did not have full control of her senses because she was on heroin.
Counsel said Wilson had two previous convictions, one relating to prostitution, but had no history of violence.
He said Wilson's life spiralled out of control following the death of her father.
Mr O Lideadha said his client gave birth when she was 17 but the child was now being looked after by her mother.