'The mother we knew never recovered'

Family 'heartbroken' at sentence for attack on their mother

The family of a woman, left institutionalised and with life altering injuries following a brutal attack at the hands of her nephew, have said they don't feel that justice has been served.

Nyal Tumelty (30) of Coolderry, Inniskeen, Co Monaghan, was sentenced to 12 years today with the final two years suspended for assault causing serious harm to his aunt, Angela Cunningham, at her home in Coughvalley, Carrickmacross.

The attack occurred on Saturday, April 22, 2023, while Tumelty was already on bail for another serious and violent offence.

Speaking outside Cavan Courthouse this afternoon, following sentencing in the case, Louise Cunningham, Angela's daughter, read out a statement on behalf of her family.

"Two and a half years ago our mother was brutally attacked in her own home and left for dead by her nephew. She was beaten so badly that she was left with significant and permanent brain damage. Although she survived, the mother we knew never recovered," she said.

"Today Nyal received essentially a 10-year sentence but, when he attacked our mother, she was given a life sentence due to the injuries he inflicted upon her.

"The length of the sentence is heartbreaking and it doesn’t feel like justice has been served," Louise Cunningham continued.

"The pain and disappointment is especially difficult in knowing that, when Nyal attacked out mother, he was on bail for attacking and false imprisoning a pregnant woman."

In response to reporters, Louise Cunningham said the family feel "deflated" having expected a longer sentence given the condition Angela Cunningham has been left in.

“My mother lived alone; she was independent, she drove a car, she lived a normal life, she was very quiet, honest woman. She minded her own business, she kept herself to herself.

“Unfortunately, with her vulnerability, she was attacked out of pure evil.

“Her current condition is very grim, she requires 24/7 care; she has no mobility, she can’t process information, she doesn’t understand, she can’t communicate; she’s basically bedbound or in a wheelchair.

“It’s very heart breaking."

Louise said the family were hoping for closure today "but I don’t feel like today’s sentencing was strong enough for the condition that she’s been left in, basically".

An earlier court sitting heard how Tumelty had left his aunt “for dead” after the vicious, unprovoked attack in which she was struck on the head with a bottle, stabbed in the face, and kicked on the ground. He had made no attempt to call emergency services and instead made off with her car after stealing the keys. The injured woman was found lying in her own blood in the kitchen of her home the following day by concerned members of her family who had called to check up on her.

At this morning's sentencing hearing at Cavan Circuit Court, Judge John Aylmer described it as a "frenzied attack", one that was "fuelled by alcohol and cocaine"

Tumelty was sentenced for assault causing serious harm with all other charges- production of a knife, a glass bottle, theft of keys and unlawful taking of a car taken into account.

In passing the 12 year sentence, Judge Aylmer noted Tumelty was entitled to time already served on this matter. He suspended the final two years on conditions, explaining how this portion was to incentivise the defendant with his rehabilitation. There will also be two years supervision post release, and to ensure that he poses "no danger to the community when released".

Before sentencing defence barrister James McGowan SC, instructed by Niall Breen Solicitors, read out a letter penned by Tumelty, and addressed to the judge, which detailed how he had been struggling with his mental health for years. He added that he hates drugs and "what they do to people's minds".

Permanently institutionalised

The extent of the shock, trauma and devastation caused by the attack was highlighted at previous hearing where her loved ones recalled how the frenzied assault had changed their lives forever and left Angela — their mother, grandmother and sister — with “no quality of life” and permanently institutionalised.

Judge John Aylmer was also told how Ms Cunningham, now 65, and who was 63 at the time of the attack, spent many months in intensive care and hospitals up until about a year ago when she was taken to a residential facility. It is expected she will remain there, and it was also confirmed that her condition has in fact been deteriorating over the past year.

It also emerged that Tumelty, a single man with no dependants who was brought up in Inniskeen, had attacked another woman who was jogging on the Carlingford Lough Greenway on September 25, 2021, and that he is currently serving a six-year, nine-month sentence for the offence handed down at Dundalk Circuit Court in January of this year.

In evidence given by Detective Inspector Adrian Durcan, it was revealed that Tumelty had been drinking in Dundalk from about 12 noon on the Saturday of the assault on his aunt, and that he was using cocaine as well.

He went to Ms Cunningham’s home in Clough valley at about 5:15pm that evening. Following the violent assault, her car was taken and later found abandoned in a laneway near Tumelty’s family home.

Appalling

Judge John Aylmer described the "frenzied" alcohol- and cocaine-"fuelled" attack as "appalling".

"This was a frenzied attack that by all accounts was fuelled by alcohol and cocaine."

The assault involved striking Ms Cunningham over the head with a glass bottle, kicking her head "multiple times", and stabbing her in the face.

"Unfortunately, she suffered severe head injuries that it remains the position that she no longer has decision making capacity and is living in intensive care," he said.

Ms Cunningham's injuries were detailed at the hearing in October and described as "extremely difficult to listen to", as were the "harrowing" impact statements from family members.

A "particularly aggravating" factor was that Tumelty was on bail at the time for a separate assault and false imprisonment of a woman in Carlingford, Co Louth, for which he had received a six-year-nine-month sentence at Dundalk Circuit Court.

The fact that the attack was fuelled by alcohol and drugs, and that Tumelty had "little recollection" of events, offered "no excuse".

The judge reviewed Tumelty's mental health history, noting diagnoses of "drug induced psychosis" in his late teens, with schizophrenia viewed as a "secondary" issue.

"It appears you have a history of psychosis, but it's drug induced psychosis, and that you have been abusing drugs since you were 12 years of age, and at 18 years of age, you were diagnosed as suffering from drug-induced psychosis."

Another aggravating feature was that Tumelty "left Ms Cunningham lying on the floor" of her home, where she remained undiscovered for 27 hours.

Judge Aylmer said the offence lay "very definitely" at the upper end of the scale. Before mitigation, he assessed a headline sentence of 15 years, to run consecutively to Tumelty’s existing six-year-nine-month sentence.

Mitigation included Tumelty’s co-operation with the investigation, where he did his "best to assist" gardaí and made full admissions.

The judge noted from a Probation and Welfare report that Tumelty appears "appropriately horrified and ashamed" of his actions, and his letter to the court came as "no surprise".

However, Tumelty’s claim of being drug-free for two years was questioned due to an incident involving illicit substance use in prison.

"So I don't know that's entirely factual," said Judge Aylmer.

Despite this, the court acknowledged he is making "advances" in rehabilitation and that this work should continue after release.

With mitigation, the sentence was reduced to 12 years. To encourage rehabilitation, and noting it is "very important to ensure that you're not a danger to the community", the final two years were suspended for two years with conditions.

Upon release, Tumelty must keep the peace and be of good behaviour, abstain entirely from alcohol and unprescribed drugs, engage with the probation service, and comply with all directions, including pre-release planning.

He must participate in any required mental health treatment and remain compliant with prescribed medication.

He must also complete offence and victim awareness work, and report any change in personal circumstances to the probation service.

For the full report of previous hearing at which impact statements were read, see: https://www.anglocelt.ie/2025/10/30/left-his-aunt-for-dead-after-vicious-drug-fuelled-attack/