Two decades ago, a woman was left fighting for her life while her friend lay deceased in a bedroom, as a perpetrator returned to the scene without a care, mingling with concerned neighbors outside the crime site.
Now, after 23 years, the survivor of the brutal attack, who sustained 20 stab wounds, worries about encountering the assailant on the streets of County Cork, Ireland, should he be released from incarceration. Let’s revisit one of the most shocking unprovoked assaults ever witnessed in Ireland.
At 20 years old, Peter Whelan’s violent actions commenced when he tried to assault a bartender with a glass ashtray, leading to his removal from a pub in Cork.
On the fateful evening of April 27, 2002, Nichola Sweeney, who had recently moved to Rochestown from London at the age of 16, returned home from her part-time job. Her family was away, and she intended to spend time with her friend, 19-year-old Sinead O’Leary, who had also relocated from London back to Cork.
Planning for a night out, Nichola was in her bathroom applying makeup while Sinead was on the bed curling her hair when the horrific incident unfolded at 10:55 pm.
After being ejected from the pub, Whelan, a stranger to the young women, appeared at the Sweeney residence.
Entering the bedroom, he violently attacked Sinead, punching her repeatedly before stabbing her 20 times, breaking one of his knives due to the ferocity of the assault.
During the brutal attack, Nichola pleaded with the assailant to stop, but he then pursued her into the bathroom, stabbing her 11 times, including a fatal wound to her heart.
Sinead, with stab wounds to her shoulder and upper arms, managed to barricade herself in a downstairs bathroom while Whelan fled the scene.
Upon returning to change clothes and clean up, Whelan calmly reappeared on the street, reportedly guiding the police to the crime scene.
He was swiftly apprehended following a detailed description provided by the traumatized Sinead.
In an interview years later with the Irish Times, Sinead recounted Whelan’s lack of remorse post-attack, quoting him telling the police, “I’m just sorry I didn’t do more” upon learning of her survival.
Whelan, a Rochestown native known to have visited Cork recently, confessed to Nichola’s murder and the attempted murder of Sinead. He initially received a 15-year sentence (later reduced to 11) for attempted murder before commencing a life sentence for Nichola’s murder.
In 2019, Whelan was granted three supervised day releases monthly, and a recent report in the Irish Sun on Sunday alleged his frequent day trips from prison, preparing for a fifth parole application next year.
Expressing her apprehensions, Sinead, the resilient survivor, emphasized the necessity for an exclusion order should Whelan be released, to prevent him from coming near her or Nichola’s family.
Stressing Whelan’s disturbed nature, she warned of the possibility of encountering him on the streets without such protective measures in place.
Sean, Nichola’s brother, recalled the heartbreaking task of informing his parents of their daughter’s demise, expressing his belief that the remorseless Whelan poses a risk of reoffending.
Although the Parole Board was contacted regarding these claims, they declined to comment on individual cases.
At Reach and our affiliated entities, we and our partners utilize cookies and device identifiers to enhance site experience, analyze usage, and deliver personalized ads. You can opt out of data sharing/sales anytime by clicking the “Do Not Sell or Share my Data” button at the webpage bottom. By using our website or services, you consent to cookie usage and practices outlined in our Privacy Notice and Cookie Policy.