Ireland Russian mother found guilty of attempted murder of 8-year-old daughter in Co. Clare
A Russian national was found unanimously guilty by a jury at the Central Criminal Court, sitting in Limerick, on 23 January 2026 of the attempted murder of her eight-year-old daughter in Co. Clare in 2022, after the girl sustained more than 70 stab wounds. The defendant, who cannot be named to protect her daughter's anonymity, will be sentenced at the Criminal Courts of Justice, Dublin, on 2 March 2026.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court21 Jan
- Convicted23 Jan
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports21 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe girl sustained more than 70 stab wounds during the alleged attack by her mother. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe accused also attempted to strangle her daughter. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe accused concealed the knife used in the attack and locked the door to the room. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe accused said she had suicidal thoughts and became paranoid that Tusla would take her daughter from her. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe accused confirmed a knife shown by gardaí, seized from the scene, was the knife she used in the attack. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe girl sustained more than 70 stab wounds during the attack. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe mother also attempted to strangle her daughter. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe defendant concealed the knife and locked the door to the room. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe attack occurred at an accommodation centre in Co. Clare. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenIn March 2022, six months before the attack, the accused and her daughter fled the war in Ukraine to the Republic. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationUK consultant forensic psychiatrist Richard Church gave evidence that the accused could not rely on an insanity defence. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationGardaí from the Clare Division broke into a locked bedroom to save the girl. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe woman denies a single count of attempted murder. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial is being held at the Central Criminal Court, sitting in Limerick. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe trial was held at the Central Criminal Court, sitting in Limerick. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe jury was composed of seven men and five women. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe jury delivered a unanimous guilty verdict after just over eight hours. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe defendant will be sentenced at the Criminal Courts of Justice, Dublin, on 2 March 2026. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe defendant and her daughter fled the war in Ukraine to Ireland in March 2022. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe defendant confirmed the knife seized from the scene was the one she used. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe defendant had suicidal thoughts at the time of the attack. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 23 Jan2026Mum who stabbed young daughter 70 times guilty of attempted murder
Jury verdict of guilty delivered at Central Criminal Court sitting in Limerick; sentencing scheduled for 2 March 2026 at Criminal Courts of Justice, Dublin.
victim, 8, femaleconvicted, female, Russian, non-irish - 21 Jan2026Jury retires in trial of mother accused of eight-year-old daughter’s attempted murder
Jury has retired. Prosecution psychiatrist Dr Church said the accused could not rely on an insanity defence, while defence psychiatrist Dr O'Connell said she was in the throes of a mental disorder and unaware her actions were wrong. The accused's barrister SC Mark Nicholas told the jury they could consider not guilty by reason of insanity.
accused, female, non-irish (judged from name)victim, 8, female, non-irish (judged from name)