JAILED: Woman whose brother sliced ex's ear off in brutal attack in front of children
A mother who joined forces with her brother and daughter to savagely attack his former partner, slicing off part of an ear, was starting a six-year jail sentence today.
Kathleen Reilly was dragged by the hair back into her home by Deborah Corcoran and Patrick Reilly after being tricked into opening the front door shortly before midnight, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.
She was punched and kicked by the duo and Corcoran's daughter Kelly, who had conned the victim into answering the door by standing alone outside while the others hid.
The commotion woke Mrs Reilly's three young children who came downstairs to plead in vain for an end to the beating.
Deborah Corcoran, aged 45, ordered them to shut up while Reilly brandished a flick knife in their direction before cutting off half of an ear of their mother.
He told his former partner as the trio prepared to flee from the address in Bloxwich Lane, Bloxwich: "No other man will ever look at you again."
Patrick Reilly was furious that his partner would not have him back after they split up and his sister held a grudge against the victim because the separation shamed her family, the court was told.
On April 4 the siblings travelled from their Leicestershire home to Bloxwich, collecting Kelly Corcoran on the way.
Both women knew Reilly had a flick knife with which to exact retribution.
Miss Samantha Powis, prosecuting, said: "The injured party was attacked in her own home in full view of her children and suffered a life-altering injury with massive psychological consequences."
The severed portion of ear could not be reattached by doctors.
All three defendants were convicted of causing grievous bodily harm following a trial.
Mr Lee Masters, defending Deborah Corcoran from Stone Close, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, told the court: "She was not the prime mover.
"She had had very little contact with Mrs Reilly and there is no suggestion she had previously threatened the other woman. She was recruited."
Judge Marcus Tregilgas-Davey told her: "This was utterly disgraceful and shameful behaviour. I accept that you and your daughter were both heavily influenced by Patrick Reilly but you were all in it together."
Kelly Corcoran was remanded on bail for further reports but was warned by the judge: "An immediate custodial sentence is highly likely, if not inevitable."
She will be sentenced next month along with Reilly, also from Ashby-de-la-Zouch, who was unable to attend the hearing after allegedly making an unsuccessful bid to take his own life in prison.
