Sinéad tells her story

A tragedy that took place almost 20 years ago was relived last night as a Cork woman told the story of how her life was turned upside down.

On a fateful night in April 2002, Sinéad O’Leary, who was 19 at the time, and her friend, Nichola Sweeney, who was 20, were viciously assaulted in an unprovoked attack by Peter Whelan at Nichola’s home in Rochestown.

The show on TG4 on Wednesday showed how Nichola lost her life that night and how Sinéad was left with serious injuries after being stabbed 20 times in the random act of violence.

In the episode of ‘Finné’, Sinéad recalled the harrowing events of that night and her efforts to come to terms with her post-traumatic stress disorder, efforts not helped by her unending battle to prevent her assailant being released on parole in Cork.