WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT The attempted murderer was released from prison in Dublin just days ago after serving almost nine years of an 11-year sentence for the brutal attack on Stephanie Ng
07:16, 07 Apr 2026Updated 07:18, 07 Apr 2026
Stephanie Ng attends court(Image: RTE )
A man convicted of attempted murder has been admitted to hospital within days of his release from prison – after informing gardaí that he feared he would kill again.
Dublin Live can reveal that the now 23-year-old, who slashed the throat of innocent young woman Stephanie Ng in Dún Laoghaire, South Dublin in December 2017, walked free from custody just days ago, having served just under nine years of an 11-year sentence for attempted murder.
He had remained behind bars since the attack took place, but following standard remission, he was released from Wheatfield Prison in Dublin on March 26.
The troubled individual, who cannot be named due to his age at the time of the offence, has already come to the attention of gardaí – after presenting himself to a Garda station in Dublin city centre in recent days.
Sources allege that the attempted murderer – who had been residing in a Dublin hostel – claimed he had the “urge” to kill and expressed concern that he might harm somebody once more. Sources further indicated that the man was actively seeking help, and made clear that he did not wish to act on his urge, reports the Irish Mirror.
Scene of a vicious assault on Stephanie Ng in Dun Laoghaire(Image: RTE)
He was subsequently taken to hospital, where he is currently undergoing a psychological assessment. The deeply concerning development comes just over a year after a judge raised serious concerns about the prospect of the man being released from prison without adequate supervision. Mr Justice Paul McDermott, during a hearing regarding the defendant’s sentence review, described this as a case that “cries out for supervision” and expressed “great concern” about the man’s mental health. Nevertheless, he explained that a Supreme Court ruling prevented him from reviewing such matters.
The release comes merely three years after the attempted murderer required hospitalisation following an incident where he smeared the words “Sorry Stephanie” in his own blood across his cell wall.
The dangerous individual had been imprisoned since admitting to the attempted murder, in which he used a dating app to lure Ms Ng to a secluded spot at the Sea Front, Queen’s Road, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.
Aged just 15 at the time, the teenager contacted Ms Ng through an online dating platform, falsely claiming to be 19. He then enticed her to an isolated location at the seafront on Queen’s Road, Dún Laoghaire, under the pretence of wanting to take a selfie with her.
He led her to the waterfront where he seized her from behind, strangled her until she lost consciousness and slashed her neck with a knife.
Stephanie Ng who had her throat slit by a teenager she met on a dating app.
In an exclusive interview in 2020, Stephanie Ng revealed the scars on her wrist and neck, which she described as a painful and permanent reminder of the traumatic experience.
“It will always be with me because I have the scars,” Stephanie told us. “I don’t know what to say because it’s out of my hands really. (But) I mean it will always be with me because I have the scars. So it’s not like it can change anything. I don’t think there will be justice on both sides because it’s quite sad on both sides to be honest.”
Stephanie also revealed how the incident has left her struggling to trust others, and she’s become more reluctant to venture outdoors.
“I just don’t go out as much or I’m careful who I’m with. I mean I just hang out with my own friends. So I’d just say to people just be careful,” she urged, in a warning to young women throughout Ireland.
The courageous young woman, who thankfully recovered fully despite being abandoned by her assailant, explained that she’s now attempting to move forward with her life.
“I’m just looking forward. I’m just trying to get on with my life now. I just have to look forward,” she said.
However, she noted that the lasting physical injuries from the assault continue to serve as a distressing reminder of the terrible experience she endured.
“Even my hand, my thumb is still numb. So even if I don’t look at myself I can still feel it. But I just have go get on with my life and I can only look forward now,” she said.
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