Cork Woman Recounts Horrific Assault by Husband in Victim Impact Statement

 Cork, – A Cork woman has shared the devastating impact of a brutal assault by her husband of 40 years, who attacked her with boiling water and a claw hammer while she slept. Jackie Twomey, a 63-year-old mother of three, delivered a powerful victim impact statement at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on Thursday, detailing the life-altering incident that occurred on January 15, 2024. Her husband, Noel Twomey, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault causing harm—one for pouring boiling water on her and the other for striking her head multiple times with a claw hammer.

Ms. Twomey described the attack as “beyond cruel and evil,” recounting how her husband entered their bedroom in Carbery Grove, Knocknaheeny, armed with a kettle of boiling water and a hammer. “He didn’t seem to care about the damage he was doing to me. I thought I was going to die,” she said, recalling the excruciating pain and her screams of disbelief. She spent six days in Cork University Hospital (CUH) and required extensive follow-up care for burns and head injuries, narrowly avoiding a serious cranial injury. A medical report presented to the court noted a 3.5cm scar on her scalp and a risk of sepsis during her hospitalization. Ms. Twomey now suffers from PTSD, with ongoing nightmares and a deep fear of going to bed, stating, “The psychological trauma is worse than the physical side.”

Detective Garda Michael Dolan testified that Noel Twomey deliberately boiled water, retrieved a claw hammer, and attacked his wife after she returned from a social event and fell asleep around 3:30 AM. Twomey later fled the scene, flagging down a patrol car at 5:00 AM on Bakers Road, Gurranabraher, covered in blood and carrying the blood-stained hammer in a plastic bag. He had monitored his wife’s movements via external CCTV footage prior to the assault and expressed surprise at his ability to escape afterward, according to Det. Garda Dolan.

Ms. Twomey expressed gratitude to the gardai, paramedics, CUH staff, and her doctor, as well as her supportive family and friends. However, she lamented the profound change in her life, saying, “I never thought I would be in a courtroom reading a victim impact statement… I hope I get peace someday, but that possibility seems far away.” Defence barrister Seamus Roche, SC, noted that Noel Twomey, also 63, made detailed admissions to gardai, wrote an apology letter to his wife, and has diagnoses of depression and ASD. Judge Dermot Sheehan remanded Twomey in custody until June 26, 2025, pending a psychiatric report.