Ireland Bench warrant issued for Latvian woman after failing to attend sentencing for Limerick stabbing
On 11 March 2020 Stephen O'Flaherty was stabbed at an apartment complex on Henry Street, Limerick, in an incident involving Inita Romanovska, a 36-year-old Latvian woman he had allegedly met on Tinder. Romanovska was initially charged with attempted murder and, after being told her trial at the Central Criminal Court would be delayed for over two years by a pandemic backlog, pleaded guilty in February to the lesser charge of intentionally attempting to cause serious harm to him. She was on bail ahead of sentencing, but on Wednesday 24 May 2023 she did not attend court, and her lawyer said she had not arrived and could not be contacted by phone. The latest development is that Ms Justice Eileen Creedon issued a bench warrant for her arrest and postponed the sentencing hearing.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court24 May
3 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Romanovska pleaded guilty to intentionally attempting to cause serious harm to Stephen O'Flaherty during an incident in which he was stabbed.
- Where
- The incident took place at an apartment complex on Henry Street, Limerick.
- When
- The incident happened on 11 March 2020.
- Other details
- Stephen O'Flaherty is a man whom the accused had allegedly met on the Tinder dating app, and they were not in a relationship.
- Inita Romanovska is a 36-year-old Latvian woman with an address in Ennis, County Clare.
- It was alleged that the woman stabbed the man in the chest and shoulders while wearing a disguise.
- Charges
- Romanovska was initially charged with attempted murder.
- In February she pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of intentionally attempting to cause serious harm.
- In court
- She was told she would not stand trial at the Central Criminal Court for over two years because of a backlog caused by the pandemic.
- After her guilty plea she was on bail ahead of a sentencing hearing.
- On Wednesday 24 May 2023 she did not attend the sentencing hearing, and her lawyer said she had not arrived and could not be contacted by phone.
- Sentence
- Ms Justice Eileen Creedon issued a bench warrant for her arrest and postponed the sentencing hearing.
32 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA woman admitted stabbing a man she allegedly met on the dating app Tinder. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whereThe stabbing happened at an apartment complex on Henry Street, Limerick. (limerickleader.ie)
- whereThe incident took place at an apartment complex at Henry Street, Limerick. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whereThe stabbing took place at an apartment building on Henry Street, Limerick. (gript.ie)
- whenThe stabbing happened on 11 March 2020. (limerickleader.ie)
- whenThe incident took place on March 11, 2020. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whenThe stabbing took place on March 11th 2020. (gript.ie)
- chargeRomanovska was initially charged with attempted murder. (limerickleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
- chargeRomanovska pleaded guilty in February to intentionally attempting to cause serious harm to Stephen O'Flaherty. (limerickleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
- chargeThe woman was initially charged with attempted murder. (gript.ie)
- chargeThe woman pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of intentionally attempting to cause serious harm. (gript.ie)
- courtRomanovska had been told she would not stand trial at the Central Criminal Court for over two years because of a backlog from the pandemic. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtRomanovska was on bail after her guilty plea, ahead of a sentencing hearing. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtRomanovska did not arrive at court for sentencing and could not be contacted by phone. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe judge issued a bench warrant and postponed the sentencing hearing. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtRomanovska had been on bail since her guilty plea, ahead of a sentencing hearing due on the Wednesday of the report. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtHer lawyer told the Central Criminal Court that Romanovska had not arrived and was not contactable by phone. (offalyexpress.ie)
- courtThe case was before the Central Criminal Court. (gript.ie)
- courtThe woman failed to appear for her sentencing hearing. (gript.ie)
- courtDefence counsel said the woman had not arrived and was not contactable by phone. (gript.ie)
- courtA bench warrant was issued for the woman's arrest. (gript.ie)
- courtThe judge postponed the sentencing hearing. (gript.ie)
- sentenceMs Justice Eileen Creedon issued a bench warrant and postponed the sentencing hearing. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherThe victim was a man whom the accused had allegedly met on Tinder. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherRomanovska was previously told she would not stand trial for over two years due to a backlog of court cases. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherAt the district court in Limerick, the court heard that Romanovska met the injured party on Tinder and that they were not in a relationship. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherRomanovska has an address in Ennis, County Clare. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherRomanovska is originally from Latvia. (offalyexpress.ie)
- otherThe woman and the man had allegedly met on the dating app Tinder. (gript.ie)
- otherThe woman was charged with stabbing the man in the chest and shoulders. (gript.ie)
- otherIt was alleged that the woman wore a disguise during the attack. (gript.ie)
- otherThe woman has reportedly been on bail since. (gript.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 25 May2023Bench warrant issued for Latvian woman who stabbed Tinder date in Limerick - Gript
Reports the failure to appear at sentencing, the bench warrant and the postponement. Adds the guilty plea to the lesser charge, the defence account that she had not arrived, and the earlier attempted murder charge.
convicted, Inita Romanovska, 36, female, Latvian, named, non-irishInita Romanovskavictim, male - 24 May2023Bench warrant issued for woman who stabbed Tinder 'date' at apartment complex
Adds that a bench warrant was issued after Romanovska failed to attend her sentencing hearing, which was postponed. Reports her lawyer said she had not arrived and was not contactable, and that she had been on bail since her guilty plea.
convicted, Inita Romanovska, 36, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Inita Romanovskavictim, Stephen O'Flaherty, male, irish (judged from name)Stephen O'Flaherty - 24 May2023Bench warrant issued for woman who stabbed Tinder 'date' at Limerick apartment complex
Adds that Romanovska failed to attend her sentencing hearing, that a bench warrant was issued and the hearing postponed, and that she has an address in Ennis, Co Clare. Also says she met the victim on Tinder and they were not in a relationship.
convicted, Inita Romanovska, 36, female, namedInita Romanovskavictim, Stephen O'Flaherty, male, irish (judged from name)Stephen O'Flaherty