Sunday 1 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 22047Assault (beating, stabbing, scalding with boiling water and ammonia acid) · Co. Limerick · 27 Nov 2016

Acid assault victim Simone Lee in fear as first attacker Colin Ryan released from prison

Simone Lee, 43, has revealed her shock at learning that Colin Ryan, who brutally assaulted her in Limerick in November 2016, was released from prison in November 2022 after serving just under six years of a nine-and-a-half-year sentence. She fears the prospect of encountering him in Limerick, where a friend has reportedly seen him.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced2 Mar
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
27 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatChristopher Stokes was jailed for 11 and a half years for the assault on Simone Lee. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatDuring the assault, Stokes placed bin-liner over her head, beat her, doused her with boiling water and acid, and set her apartment on fire. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatStokes told Simone Lee he had repeatedly googled the 2016 Ryan incident before copying it. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatStokes poured ammonia acid in Simone Lee's face three times before throwing boiling hot water over her back. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatStokes blocked the apartment door with a fridge before setting the home on fire. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatTim Fehin, 71, was also inside the apartment and managed to escape before the fire, raising the alarm with gardaí. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatIn the 2016 attack, Ms Lee suffered severe burns to her face, neck, trunk, and eyelids, was stabbed in the back, and left with a brain injury. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatStokes told Simone Lee he was going to finish what the other eejit started. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMs Lee was found semi-naked and unconscious on the floor with burn marks and stab wounds on her back. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe attack left Ms Lee with a brain injury, broken nose, broken bones, serious scald injuries and burns to her face, neck and eyelids. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatRyan stabbed Ms Lee in the back. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatStokes put a bag over her head, beat her, poured ammonia acid and boiling water over her, and set her apartment on fire. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe 2016 attack took place in Limerick. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe assault took place in May 2021. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenColin Ryan was released from prison in November 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe 2016 assault occurred on 27 November 2016. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe 2021 Stokes attack occurred in May 2021. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationMs Lee has been issued with a panic button by gardai. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeStokes was initially charged with attempted murder. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceMr Justice Michael McGrath jailed Stokes to 12 years in prison with the final six months suspended. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceStokes also received six years for threatening to kill Tim Fehin and seven and a half years for arson, both to run concurrently. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceRyan was jailed for nine and a half years with the final two years suspended. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceChristopher Stokes was jailed for 11 and a half years for the 2021 assault. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherSimone Lee is now effectively homeless and living in emergency accommodation, having lost all her clothes, furniture and photos. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherRyan served just under six years in prison. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherElderly friend Tim Fehin, 71, was also inside the apartment during the 2021 fire. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherA friend told Ms Lee she saw Ryan in Limerick. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 6 Mar2023
    Otheririshmirror.ie, follow-up
    Acid victim Simone Lee in fear as first attacker walks free from prison early

    Reports that Colin Ryan was released from prison in November 2022 after serving just under six years of his nine-and-a-half-year sentence for the 2016 assault on Simone Lee, and that Ms Lee fears encountering him in Limerick. Also details the 2021 Christopher Stokes assault and its connection to the 2016 attack.

    victim, Simone Lee, 43, female, irish (judged from name)Simone Leeconvicted, Colin Ryan, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Colin Ryanconvicted, Christopher Stokes, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Christopher Stokes
  2. 2 Mar2023
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Acid attack victim believes jailed thug copied a previous attack by another man

    Exclusive interview with Simone Lee revealing she believes Stokes copied the 2016 Ryan attack; full sentencing details from Mr Justice Michael McGrath including concurrent sentences for threatening to kill Tim Fehin and arson; details of the 2016 Ryan attack and its reclassification from acid to hot water.

    victim, Simone Lee, 43, female, irish (judged from name)Simone Leeconvicted, Christopher Stokes, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Christopher Stokesvictim, Tim Fehin, 71, male, irish (judged from name)Tim Fehin