Ireland Bench warrant issued for woman who allegedly stabbed man in Limerick
Inita Romanovska, a 36-year-old Latvian woman, allegedly stabbed Stephen O'Flaherty in the chest and shoulders at Newtown House, Henry Street, Limerick, on 11 March 2020 after meeting him on the dating app Tinder. She was initially charged with attempted murder but pleaded guilty in February 2023 to the lesser charge of intentionally attempting to cause serious harm before the Central Criminal Court. She was remanded on continuing bail until 23 May 2023 for sentencing. On that date she failed to appear and could not be contacted by phone, so a bench warrant was issued for her arrest and the sentencing hearing was postponed.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court24 Feb
4 reports - Convicted24 Feb
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Romanovska allegedly stabbed O'Flaherty in the chest and shoulders at an apartment complex.
- Where
- The incident occurred at Newtown House, Henry Street, Limerick.
- When
- The stabbing took place on 11 March 2020.
- Other details
- Romanovska and O'Flaherty had allegedly met on the dating app Tinder and were not in a relationship.
- Romanovska is a 36-year-old Latvian single mother with no previous convictions, with an address in Ennis, County Clare.
- It was alleged that Romanovska wore a disguise during the attack.
- Charges
- Romanovska was initially charged with attempted murder but pleaded guilty in February 2023 to intentionally attempting to cause serious harm.
- In court
- The guilty plea was heard before Mr Justice Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court, with defence barrister Mr Michael Bowman SC.
- Romanovska was remanded on continuing bail until 23 May 2023 for sentencing, with a pre-sentence report and victim impact report directed.
- On 23 May 2023, Romanovska failed to appear for sentencing and could not be contacted by phone.
- Sentence
- Ms Justice Eileen Creedon issued a bench warrant for Romanovska's arrest and postponed the sentencing hearing.
56 statements extracted from the articles
- whatRomanovska pleaded guilty to intentionally attempting to cause serious harm (limerickleader.ie)
- whatA woman admitted stabbing a man she allegedly met on the dating app Tinder. (offalyexpress.ie)
- whereThe incident occurred at Newtown House, Henry Street, Limerick (limerickleader.ie, rte.ie)
- whereRomanovska has an address at Cahercalla, Kilrush Road, Ennis, Co Clare (rte.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 incident occurred on 11 March 2020 (limerickleader.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)
- chargeShe was originally charged with attempting to murder Stephen O'Flaherty (rte.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)
- courtThe hearing was before Mr Justice Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court (limerickleader.ie)
- courtShe was remanded on continuing bail until 23 May 2023 for sentencing (limerickleader.ie)
- courtThe trial date of 6 March was vacated (limerickleader.ie)
- courtA victim impact report was directed to be prepared (limerickleader.ie)
- courtA pre-sentence report was ordered by the court (limerickleader.ie)
- courtRomanovska pleaded guilty to intentionally attempting to cause serious harm to Stephen O'Flaherty (rte.ie)
- courtShe was remanded on continuing bail until 23 May for sentencing (rte.ie)
- courtA pre-sentence report was ordered (rte.ie)
- courtA victim impact report was directed (rte.ie)
- courtHer trial date of 6 March was vacated (rte.ie)
- courtThe case was heard before Mr Justice Paul McDermott with defence barrister Mr Michael Bowman SC (rte.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)
- otherRomanovska is 36 years old (limerickleader.ie)
- otherRomanovska has an address at Cahercalla, Kilrush Road, Ennis, County Clare (limerickleader.ie)
- otherRomanovska is originally from Latvia (limerickleader.ie, rte.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
- otherRomanovska is a single mother with no previous convictions (limerickleader.ie)
- otherRomanovska met the victim on Tinder (limerickleader.ie)
- otherThey had been on a number of dates but were not in a relationship (limerickleader.ie, rte.ie)
- otherIn February 2021 she was told she would not stand trial for over two years due to the pandemic backlog (limerickleader.ie, rte.ie)
- otherRomanovska met O'Flaherty on Tinder (rte.ie)
- otherRomanovska is a 36-year-old single mother with no previous convictions (rte.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)
- 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 - 24 Feb2023Woman admits trying to cause serious harm to man
Romanovska pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of intentionally attempting to cause serious harm, vacating her 6 March trial date; remanded on continuing bail to 23 May 2023 for sentencing with a pre-sentence report and victim impact report directed.
victim, Stephen O'Flaherty, male, irish (judged from name)Stephen O'Flahertyconvicted, Inita Romanovska, 36, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Inita Romanovska - 24 Feb2023Woman admits stabbing Tinder 'date' at Limerick apartment complex
Reports that Romanovska pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of intentionally attempting to cause serious harm before Mr Justice Paul McDermott at the Central Criminal Court, and was remanded on continuing bail until 23 May 2023 for sentencing. Confirms the specific location as Newtown House, Henry Street, and that she is a single mother with no previous convictions.
victim, Stephen O'Flaherty, male, irish (judged from name)Stephen O'Flahertyaccused, Inita Romanovska, 36, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Inita Romanovska