Man (22) sentenced to 14 years in jail for stabbing ex-girlfriend 50 times

Eoin Reynolds

A young man who left his ex-girlfriend with lifelong injuries after he tried to murder her by stabbing her 50 times has been jailed for 14 years and warned not to contact the victim.

Sentencing Josh O'Brien (22) on Monday, Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring described the violence he used on 21-year-old Niamh Kelly as "breathtaking".

Her survival was "nothing short of a miracle", the judge said, but she now lives a "totally different life" and will face limitations and challenges nobody should have to endure.

Ms Justice Ring added: "All of this was avoidable. All of it flows from the actions of Josh O'Brien. At the time of the attack, Ms Kelly had gone to get ready for a concert the following day. She never made it to that concert and those carefree days are gone too."

However well she rehabilitates, Ms Justice Ring said the victim's "clock will only go forward and what she has lost will never be returned... she is confined to her new circumstances for the rest of her life."

While noting that O'Brien has no previous convictions, the judge said she is conscious of "significant violence to partners and ex-partners by persons without a criminal background."

O'Brien, she said, has a history of mental health issues but he did not look for or follow a mental health regime prior to the assault.

Relationships, the judge said, "should be based on love, respect and trust, not manipulation, abuse and violence."
Women are predominantly the victims, she said, and lives are often lost or, as in this case, profoundly changed.

Having regard to the level of violence used, the fact that O'Brien stabbed his victim with a knife he had been carrying for some time and that the victim suffered life-altering, permanent injuries, she set a headline sentence of 19 years.

After considering O'Brien's immediate admission to gardaí, his early guilty plea, his lack of previous convictions, his age and his mental health background, she reduced the sentence to 15 years and six months with the final 18 months suspended.

O'Brien must keep all appropriate appointments with the probation services following his release and must not contact Ms Kelly for five years either directly or via Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok or any other form of electronic messaging, the judge warned.

Ms Justice Ring wished the victim well in her ongoing recovery from the many injuries she suffered.

O’Brien, of Walkinstown Avenue, Crumlin, Dublin 12, pleaded guilty earlier this year to the attempted murder of Ms Kelly at Firhouse Road, Firhouse, Dublin 24, on September 19th, 2024.

Outside court Ms Kelly told media that she had hoped for a heavier sentence but was happy that O'Brien is "not walking away and getting away with anything he's done to me". She said she respects the judge's decision.

She said she continues to require physiotherapy to help strengthen her leg and requires a wheelchair when going long distances. However, she feels grateful that she has the opportunity "to stand here" and wants to get stronger for her son.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can contact Women’s Aid (24-hour freephone helpline at 1800-341 900, email helpline@womensaid.ie) or Men’s Aid Ireland (confidential helpline at 01-554 3811, email hello@mensaid.ie) for support and information.

Safe Ireland also offers a number of local services and helplines at safeireland.ie/get-help/where-to-find-help/. In the case of an emergency, always dial 999/112.