GARDAÍ ARRIVED TO a Cork home that was “covered in blood” after a 63-year-old man tried to murder his partner by repeatedly stabbing her, the Central Criminal Court heard today.

Taking the stand at the court today, Patrick O’Rourke apologised “sincerely and unconditionally” to his former partner Donna Foster for what he had done.

The court heard that as a result of the “horrific” attack, Foster’s airways were exposed in her neck and she had injuries to her upper abdomen through which her small intestine was visible.

Foster told gardaí that O’Rourke “never stopped stabbing her” and felt that she was going to die, the court heard.

‘Health and happiness’

Today on the stand O’Rourke wished her “health, happiness and success in her life” and said that their years together were the “happiest” of his life.

Patrick O’Rourke of Cooline Drive, Ballyvoloon, Cobh, Co Cork was charged with attempting to murder Donna Foster at Cooline Drive on 11 August, 2015.

On Monday at the Central Criminal Court, O’Rourke pleaded not guilty to the charge and a jury was sworn in to hear his trial.

At 2pm today Brendan Grehan SC asked for his client to be re-arraigned and arraigned on another count. Grehan also asked the court for an opportunity for his client to read a letter of apology to the court.

O’Rourke then pleaded  guilty to the attempted murder of Donna Foster in Cork last year.

He also pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to a minor at the same address on the same date.

Justice McCarthy told the jury that as the accused had pleaded guilty, there was no need to hold a trial.

Difficulties

Earlier today, prosecution counsel, Mr Tim O’Leary SC, called Detective Garda Bill Dillane from Cobh Garda Station to give evidence.

The court heard that Donna Foster was living with O’Rourke in Cobh when the offences took place.

Detective Garda Dillane agreed with O’Leary that there had been “difficulties” with the couple’s partnership which had been going on for a period of time and there were “suggestions of separation.”

The court heard that a 999 call was made at 10.30am on August 11 saying that a serious incident had occurred.

Dillane was on duty at the time and attended the scene.

“As I drove into the estate there was a green area and I saw Patrick O’Rourke over to the extreme left of it and he was on the telephone, he looked dishevelled,” he said.

As he stopped outside the house, a neighbour told the detective garda that Donna Foster was in the house and she was “hurt.”

“There was an armchair in the middle of the floor and Donna was kneeling down, face into the armchair and the place was covered in blood as was the chair,” he said.

There were two minors in the kitchen and one of them had “blood coming from her at the time”, he said.

‘Extreme amounts of blood’

The witness told the court that Garda Twomey took care of Foster by pressing towels to the wound which was on her side and “where extreme amounts of blood” were coming from.

“There was a severe wound to her neck, to the front of her throat,” he said.

Foster had several other injuries and emergency services were called to the scene.

Dillane told the court he went to the green area where O’Rourke was.

“He (O’Rourke) said he was in trouble and he did it and asked if she was still alive,” said Dillane.

O’Rourke was then arrested and placed in the patrol car.

The two minors were removed from the house and it came to the attention of Dillane that one of the minors had a “severe laceration to the palm of” her hand.

O’Rourke told Dillane where he had thrown the knife which he had used to commit the two assaults.

The witness agreed with O’Leary that statements given by Foster and the minor confirmed they had been attacked with “a boning knife” on the same day.

Argument

The witness said the argument between O’Rourke and his partner appeared to have started early that morning in the upstairs bedroom and it concerned their relationship.

“They went downstairs to the kitchen and when the argument recommenced downstairs, Mr O’Rourke by his own admission as well as Ms Foster’s statement said he was leaning by the sink, bent down and got a knife out of the press,” said Dillane.

The court heard that Foster had several stab wounds, including a stab wound “down the centre of her throat, which was a few inches long” and there was blood “oozing from that wound.”

She also had a very severe wound to “her ribs on the side” from which her intestine was protruding.

The witness agreed with O’Leary that the accused said to Foster as he moved on top of her with the knife: “I am going to f**king kill you.”

“At that stage, Donna was sitting on the armchair and he was standing over her and all the stab wounds were in a downward motion,” said the witness.

Dillane told the court that Foster told gardaí that she put her hands up to protect herself as the accused started “stabbing down on her.”

The witness agreed with counsel that she tried to push him away as she felt he would keep stabbing her until she was dead.

“Yes she was emphatic about that and she thought there was no way out,” said Dillane.

‘I felt I was going to die’

Foster also told gardai that the accused “never stopped stabbing her” and she could feel a “cut down along” her neck.

Reading from the victim’s statement, O’Leary said: “I felt I was going to die and I felt all weak. I think I was screaming during all this, I can’t recall if he said anything else.”

The court heard that a minor then came into the kitchen and “almost” threw herself at the accused.

The witness agreed with counsel that Foster and the minor both remember the accused say: “I’m going to get her in the heart.”

This remark was directed at Foster.

The court heard that the minor went in between the accused and Foster and it was then that she got injured.

Dillane agreed with counsel that the minor put her “hand up” to stop O’Rourke getting at Foster’s heart.

After being stabbed several times, Foster slipped off the chair onto the ground and told the accused he was “not getting her” in reference to the minor.

O’Rourke seemed to stop at that stage and gardaí arrived ten minutes later, said the witness.

The court heard that Foster sustained “multiple stab wounds” and numerous incision wounds to her hands and limbs.

Dillane agreed with counsel that Foster’s airways were exposed in her neck and she had injuries to her upper abdomen through which her small intestine was visible.

There was also injuries to her chest and she was given a drug to stop the internal bleeding before being transferred to Cork University Hospital.

Foster’s wounds were closed the following day in an operation which took four hours.

The court heard there was a significant risk of O’Rourke causing “fatal injury” to Ms Foster and she was discharged from hospital two weeks later.

Recovery

The minor who was injured in the attack still has problems with her right hand as the tendons leading to her index fingers have not recovered completely.

She has undergone intensive physiotherapy but her progress has been slow, the court heard.

Foster has made a “relatively good recovery” but as a result of her injuries she will not be returning to work as a beautician.

The court heard that O’Rourke has been in custody since August 11 last year and has had access to bail but never took it up.

Dillane told the court that O’Rourke worked locally as a taxi driver in Cobh and he had never come to garda attention before.

O’Rourke was today remanded in custody ahead of his sentence hearing on 25 November  when victim impact statements will be read to the court.