'Miracle woman' Niamh's evil ex gets 14-year term

Judge condemns 'breathtaking' violence

- BY EOIN REYNOLDS

A MAN who left his ex with lifelong injuries after he tried to murder her by stabbing her 50 times has been jailed.

Sentencing Josh O'Brien, 22, to 14 years, Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring described the violence he used on 21-year-old Niamh Kelly as “breathtaking”.

Her survival was “nothing short of a miracle”, the judge said, but she now lives a “totally different life” and will face limitations and challenges nobody should have to endure.

Ms Justice Ring added: “All of this was avoidable. All of it flows from the actions of Josh O'Brien.

“At the time of the attack, Ms Kelly had gone to get ready for a concert the following day.

“She never made it to that concert and those carefree days are gone too.”