Woman sentenced over family murder attempt

A 28-year-old woman who admitted attempting to murder her husband and their three children has been given five suspended life…

A 28-year-old woman who admitted attempting to murder her husband and their three children has been given five suspended life sentences at the Central Criminal Court.

Mr Justice Paul Carney today imposed five suspended life sentences for four attempted murder charges and one arson charge.

But the judge suspended all five sentences on condition she continued medical and psychiatric treatment.

The woman's husband told the court he had forgiven his wife whom he said was ill at the time she set fire to the family home in the early hours of September 25th 2005.

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The court heard that the woman had been in an acute delusional state at the time. She has been back living in the family home since May 2006.

Referring to the prospect of his wife getting a life sentence, he said that his wife already had a life sentence ahead and added: "if you feel a custodial sentence is justice, then so be it. But it's also being handed to me and our children."

Mr Justice Paul Carney also imposed a five-year suspended sentence in relation to the sixth charge of endangerment.

All of the six sentences are to run concurrently and she was released on her bond of €1,000 and bound to keep the peace.