Ireland Case No. 22105Assault (acid, boiling water, beating, strangulation, arson) · Co. Limerick · 10 May 2021
Christopher Stokes sentenced to 11-and-a-half years for acid assault on Simone Lee in Limerick
Christopher Stokes, 39, of Sarsfield Avenue, Garryowen, Limerick, was sentenced to 11-and-a-half years' imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court for a sustained and vicious assault on Simone Lee, 43, at Fairview Crescent, Garryowen, on 10–11 May 2021, during which he threw ammonia acid in her face, poured boiling water on her back, strangled her with a bin liner, and set fire to her home.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court28 Feb
2 reports - Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced2 Mar
3 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports65 statements extracted from the articles
- whatChristopher Stokes pleaded guilty to three charges at the Central Criminal Court in Cork (rte.ie)
- whatHe pleaded guilty to causing serious harm to Simone Lee at Fairview Crescent, Garryowen, Limerick on 11 May 2021 (rte.ie)
- whatHe pleaded guilty to making a threat to kill or cause serious harm to Tim Fehin on the same date and location (rte.ie)
- whatHe pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing damage by fire to the house in Fairview Crescent (rte.ie)
- whatStokes was agitated and aggressive, striking Ms Lee and knocking her to the ground. (irishtimes.com)
- whatStokes and Ms Lee went into Lidl in Charleville and Stokes bought a bottle of rum. (irishtimes.com)
- whatWhile driving back to Limerick, Stokes struck Ms Lee's head with the bottle of rum, causing her to bleed. (irishtimes.com)
- whatStokes used a fridge freezer to block the entrance so Ms Lee and Mr Fehin could not escape. (irishtimes.com)
- whatStokes hit Ms Lee in the face and kicked her in the jaw. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMs Lee hit her head off a TV stand as she fell to the ground. (irishtimes.com)
- whatStokes beat Ms Lee around the head, splashed acid in her face, scalded her with boiling water, and tried to burn down the house. (irishtimes.com)
- whatStokes put a bin bag over Ms Lee's head and tightened it around her neck until she felt she was going to lose consciousness. (irishtimes.com)
- whatStokes threw acid in Ms Lee's face and poured boiling water on her back. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMs Lee suffered severe injuries requiring skin grafts and a two-month stay in a burn unit in Cork University Hospital. (irishtimes.com)
- whatMs Lee woke up covered in cardboard with the house on fire and escaped with the help of neighbour Jonathan Benn. (irishtimes.com)
- whatStokes was rescued from the house by firefighters. (irishtimes.com)
- whatA man threw acid on a woman's face during a vicious assault (extra.ie)
- whatStokes splashed acid on Simone Lee's face. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatStokes poured a kettle of water down her back. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatStokes barricaded her into her home after the assault. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatStokes set fire to the property. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatAcid was thrown in her face three times. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatA plastic bin liner was placed over her head and tightened until she lost consciousness. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatSimone Lee spent over two months in a burns unit. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatStokes struck her on the head a number of occasions while driving. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatStokes hit her over the head with a glass bottle in the car. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatStokes barricaded the pair inside the house by putting a fridge freezer in front of the door. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatStokes kicked her in the jaw and she hit her head off the TV stand. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatStokes said he was going to cut her up and bury her in Charleville. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatStokes said he would finish the job if the other person didn't, referring to a previous assault. (limerickleader.ie)
- whatAmmonia acid was thrown on her face three times and a boiled kettle of water was poured on her back. (limerickleader.ie)
- whereThe assault took place at Simone Lee's former home on Fairview Crescent in Garryowen, Limerick. (irishtimes.com)
- whereChristopher Stokes lives at Sarsfield Avenue, Garryowen. (irishtimes.com)
- whereMr Fehin drove down from his home near Charleville. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe assault took place at Ms Lee's home in Fairview Crescent, Garryowen, Limerick. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe man is from Limerick (extra.ie)
- whereThe incident occurred at Fairview Crescent, Garryowen, Limerick. (limerickleader.ie)
- whenStokes had denied attempting to murder Ms Lee on May 11th, 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- whenMr Fehin managed to escape and called An Garda Síochána at 2.45am. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe attack occurred on 11 May 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe incident occurred on May 10 and May 11, 2021. (limerickleader.ie)
- whenTim Fehin raised the alarm at 2.45am on May 11, 2021. (limerickleader.ie)
- causeStokes became agitated about not having money to pay maintenance to his former partner. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationDuring Garda interviews, Stokes denied assaulting Ms Lee or threatening to kill Mr Fehin and claimed he was trying to save Ms Lee from the fire. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeStokes pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm to Ms Lee. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeStokes pleaded guilty to arson at her home. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeStokes pleaded guilty to threatening to kill or cause serious injury to Tim Fehin. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeStokes pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm, arson, and threatening to kill or cause serious injury to Tim Fehin. (irishtimes.com)
- courtA jury had been sworn in the previous day to hear the attempted murder case, expected to last until 15 March (rte.ie)
- courtThe jurors were discharged when Stokes entered guilty pleas on three other charges (rte.ie)
- courtMr Justice Michael McMcGrath thanked the jurors and discharged them (rte.ie)
- courtA sentencing hearing was set for the following day at the Central Criminal Court in Cork (rte.ie)
- courtStokes was first arraigned before a jury at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork on Monday. (irishtimes.com)
- courtDet Garda Aled Harkin gave evidence to Mr Justice Michael McGrath. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe sentencing took place at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork before Mr Justice Michael McGrath. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe sentencing took place at the Central Criminal Court with the hearing in Cork. (limerickleader.ie)
- courtMr Justice Michael McGrath presided over the sentencing. (limerickleader.ie)
- sentenceThe judge suspended the final six months and backdated the sentence to May 2021. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceSix-year and seven-year sentences on the threatening to kill and arson charges were made concurrent. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceChristopher Stokes was sentenced to 11-and-a-half years' imprisonment. (limerickleader.ie)
- otherSeán Gillane SC for the State said a victim impact statement would be prepared overnight (rte.ie)
- otherMs Lee was living in a house run by the Peter McVerry Trust when she became friendly with Stokes. (irishtimes.com)
- otherStokes asked Ms Lee to call Mr Fehin, who owed them both money. (irishtimes.com)
- otherStokes is described as being of a very big build. (irishtimes.com)
- otherMs Lee said she no longer trusted people, was afraid to be alone, and had lost her flat as a result of the arson attack. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 3 Mar2023Judge praises 'courage and fortitude' of Limerick woman subjected to sustained and vicious assault
Sentencing hearing details including full account of the assault, victim impact statements from Simone Lee and Tim Fehin, medical evidence, and Stokes' guilty plea to three charges.
victim, Simone Lee, 43, female, irish (judged from name)Simone Leeconvicted, Christopher Stokes, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Christopher Stokesvictim, Tim Fehin, male, irish (judged from name)Tim Fehin - 2 Mar2023'Animal' -- Limerick Man Who Threw Acid On Woman's Face During Vicious Assault Jailed
Article contains only the headline and website template code; no details on the length of the sentence, the victim's identity, or the date of the incident are provided.
suspect, malevictim, female - 2 Mar2023Man jailed for more than 11 years for attack on woman with acid and boiling water
Provides full sentencing detail: judge's reasoning (headline 15 years reduced to 12 for guilty plea, six months suspended, backdated to May 2021), concurrent sentences on arson and threatening charges, victim impact statement, and post-sentence comments from Ms Lee.
victim, Simone Lee, 43, female, irish (judged from name)Simone Leevictim, Tim Fehin, 73, male, irish (judged from name)Tim Fehinconvicted, Christopher Stokes, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Christopher Stokes - 1 Mar2023‘I am a survivor and not a victim’: Woman burned with acid and boiling water during assault vows to help others
Trial proceedings at Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork: Stokes initially denied attempted murder but later pleaded guilty to three charges; detailed victim impact statements from Simone Lee and Tim Fehin; Stokes remanded in custody for sentencing.
victim, Simone Lee, 43, female, irish (judged from name)Simone Leevictim, Tim Fehin, 73, male, irish (judged from name)Tim Fehinaccused, Christopher Stokes, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Christopher Stokes - 28 Feb2023Man pleads guilty to assault causing serious harm
Reports that Christopher Stokes pleaded guilty to three charges (assault causing serious harm, threat to kill, criminal damage by fire) at the Central Criminal Court in Cork on 28 February 2023, with the jury discharged and sentencing hearing set for the next day.
accused, Christopher Stokes, 39, male, named, irish (judged from name)Christopher Stokesvictim, Simone Lee, 43, female, irish (judged from name)Simone Leevictim, Tim Fehin, male, irish (judged from name)Tim Fehin