The sentence hearing of a Dublin man who tried to murder his ex-girlfriend while she was on her way to work is due to get underway this morning.
Denis Leahy of Queen Street, Dublin 7, initially denied the charge but changed his plea shortly after his trial opened last month.
Rose Kenny was on her way to work at a creche near her home at the School Street flats in Dublin city on the morning of September 23rd, 2014, when she was attacked.
The public stairwell outside was blocked by a man reading a newspaper. After she excused herself, he replied “you called the cops on me” and stabbed her repeatedly, before fleeing the scene and dumping the knife.
She did not realise at the time that her attacker was Mr Leahy, a man she had been in a relationship with 15 years beforehand.
The court heard he decided to take revenge because he thought she had told gardaí about drugs he had in his house.
She has since recovered from her injuries.
Mr Leahy pleaded not guilty to attempted murder before a jury was sworn in to hear his trial last month, but he changed his plea shortly after the prosecution opened its case.
His sentence hearing is due to get underway this morning.