Husband who stabbed wife on Christmas Day in Cork jailed

A 50-year-old woman was stabbed five times by her husband on Christmas Day and subjected to terrifying death threats and now he has been jailed for four and a half years and ordered to go back to Hungary within three days of his release and never return to Ireland.

Laszlo Nemeth was sentenced by Judge James McCourt to five years imprisonment with the last six months suspended and he was ordered to return to Hungary within 72 hours and never have any contact with the his wife and son and his son’s girlfriend Klaudia Borz – all three of whom were the subject of the accused man’s death threats that Christmas Day. He also pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to his then wife Eva Nemeth, now 52, assault causing harm to his son, Eric, 30, and producing a fishing knife and an axe at his son’s home in Banteer, County Cork, on December 25 2021. 

Detective. Garda Padraig Reddington said the couple married in 1990 and Laszlo Nemeth had been violent to his wife eight or nine times. They separated a month before the Christmas Day when they agreed to meet and go their separate ways thereafter.

The detective said that Eva Nemeth wanted to get away from her husband’s obsessive questions and constant arguments based on his belief that she was having affairs. While they did remain in contact it was by Facebook messenger and by email and she moved out of her home and did not reveal her address in Ireland to him when he was back in Hungary.

“He had threatened to run her over with a car. He would regularly accuse her of lying to him and make remarks about her having affairs. She agreed to meet on Christmas day. She knew her son would be there and agreed. She arrived at 11.30 am.

“For the first couple of hours, her husband was civil, but again he began to question her, arguing and shouting. After 4 p.m. she decided to leave – Eva, Eric and Klaudia taking dogs for a walk as an excuse. When she emerged outside the house with her overcoat and small rucksack he advanced to her. He took a fishing knife from his pocket and stabbed his wife four times in the back. She turned around to defend herself and he stabbed her once in the chest.

“He waved an axe over his head when Klaudia appeared. Eric tried to defend his mother. Laszlo Nemeth swung a knife at his son, cutting his fingers. The defendant picked up an axe and swung it at Eric. He pursued him through the garden. None of the parties had been drinking that day or under the influence of any intoxicants,” the detective said.

On Christmas Day when this was happening, Eva Nemeth said she was in fear she was going to die. The incidents were videoed and she could be heard saying she could feel blood on her back and that her arm was going numb. The defendant made a threat that he would kill all of those present.

Laszlo Nemeth left the scene on foot before the arrival of emergency services and was located two hours later. After these assaults the defendant self-harmed in the garden, as a result of which he was hospitalised until January 5, 2022. Following his release from hospital he was immediately arrested and has been in custody ever since.

The victims described the impact of that day on them.

His then wife, Eva Nemeth, said, “I am still frightened by his words and threats to take my life. I have anxiety and am super-cautious of my environment. I will not be able to step out to the street alone with peace of mind anymore. I have heard multiple times his death threats and I didn’t take them seriously enough – he promised he will never give up for his ‘vengeance for leaving him.

“I will now be in constant fear if I have to travel home to Hungary or even I’ll just be walking on the street in Mallow, thinking of when he will try to finish what he have started – he already spreads lies to discredit me.

“I am very nervous in general but I’ve become extremely paranoid at night, especially when I am alone – I have constantly returning thoughts that he will keep his word and finish what he started at Christmas once he is out of prison. I have returning nightmares that he is released from prison and he either tries to kill me or my son.” 

Son, Eric, said, “I have anxiety and trouble sleeping – I often waking up at night or in the morning with a racing heart after such dreams as he is trying to slam me with an axe or cut me with a knife… I am worried about how I will be able to finance to leave my life behind and move somewhere where he won’t be able to find me or my mother as I am convinced that a restraining order won’t keep away someone like him.

Klaudia Borz said, “I always loved Christmas for its atmosphere and for bringing people together but after this incident, I can’t feel the same way anymore. I no longer look forward to this holiday because it will always remind me of how it ruined my life.” The case had been listed for trial by judge and jury where the charges included one of assault causing serious harm to his wife. However, the Director of Public Prosecutions accepted a plea of guilty to a charge of assault causing harm – rather than serious harm – to his wife, and a plea of guilty to the other charges.

Ray Boland defence senior counsel said the accused is now 58, is a Hungarian national, served in army and navy, qualified as a pilot, never took drugs and only rarely took alcohol. He apologised to his family, particularly his wife. He says he has no anger towards his family. He has been divorced from his wife in Hungary since the events in this case.

Judge McCourt said, “You cooperated with the guards, you ultimately apologised and pleaded guilty and I take account of your age. I take account of the fact that you will be a Hungarian prisoner in an Irish prison which causes its own difficulties. This was a fundamental breach of trust vis a vis your then wife and one of your children. You violated the injured people in their own home on Christmas Day. You instilled great fear in your then wife, your son and his girlfriend.” The jail term was backdated to January 6 2022 when the accused went into custody.