Mother goes on trial accused of stabbing daughter more than 70 times at location in Clare

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A mother has pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of her daughter at a location in County Clare nearly four years ago. 

The Central Criminal Court sitting in Limerick heard that the girl, aged 8 at the time of the alleged stabbing, had "cuts all over her body" and one cut at her neck was bleeding heavily, while a phone charger cable was in her hair.

After a morning of selection, a jury was empanelled on Monday afternoon for the trial which is taking place at Mulgrave Street courthouse. A jury of seven men and five women were selected and the case will be presided over by Judge Kerida Naidoo. 

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The accused and alleged victim in this case cannot be identified to protect the identity of the young girl.

The court heard that the accused, a Russian national, who fled when Russia invaded Ukraine, came to Ireland with her husband and daughter. They were first in accommodation in Dublin, before moving to a location in the Mid-West. 

In opening statements from the prosecution for the State, barrister Lorcan Connolly SC described "life-threatening injuries" inflicted upon the child. 

He told the jury that it would be the prosecution's case that the accused intended to kill her daughter. 

The accused, when pleading not guilty, told the court "I was out of my mind."

At around 7.40am on a date in 2022, at a location in the Mid-West, the alarm was raised by other people in the accommodation where the family were. 

Mr Connolly SC told the jury that they will, throughout this trial, see photographic evidence, hear important medical details and witness testimonies. 

He told the court that the child was found to have had "in excess of 70 knife wounds", was transferred by ambulance to University Hospital Limerick (UHL) and later to Crumlin children's hospital.

He added that the accused "had no physical injuries" but was also transferred by ambulance to UHL for a suspected drug overdose and was intubated and ventilated there. 

Mr Connolly said that it was the intent of the accused to "end her daughter's life and her own life."

He made the case that gardaí, upon arrival at the scene, found the mother and daughter in a locked en suite and the girl had "cuts all over her body" and one cut at her neck was bleeding heavily, while a phone charger cable was in her hair.  

While the prosecution case was being laid out, the accused was accompanied by a Russian interpreter. At times when graphic details were relayed, she could be seen wiping tears from her face, quietly sobbing and shutting her eyes firmly. 

The trial continues at the Central Criminal Court on Tuesday.