Women who claimed to be refugee children convicted of stabbing by social worker

A 25-year-old woman who claimed to be a child refugee in Northern Ireland has been jailed for stabbing a social worker.

Fiyori Kesete, originally from Eritrea, admitted causing grievous bodily harm at an earlier appearance at Dungannon Crown Court.

She attacked the victim without warning, stabbing her in the arms and head.

At the time of the incident, Kesete was in the care of the Southern Health and Social Care Trust’s 14+ team and living in accommodation in Dungannon, County Tyrone.

The attack occurred in 2022 after police, accompanied by her social worker, returned her to her accommodation after she had been missing for days.

As she entered the property, Kesete went into the kitchen, where the social worker was unpacking groceries, and said, “I bought you all your favorite things.”

Without warning, the victim was stabbed multiple times in the arm and head.

Police, who were still outside the property, quickly detained Kesete while paramedics arrived.

The social worker was taken to hospital for emergency surgery.

During a police interview, Kesete admitted to the attack but gave no explanation for her actions.

A six-year prison sentence was imposed, but because the judge deemed Kesete dangerous, he extended the license period by two years upon his release.

During sentencing, the judge described the attack as “a vicious and horrific ordeal with far-reaching and lasting effects.”

He noted that Kesete showed “limited remorse or victim awareness” and had blamed the social worker and police for making her angry.

The court was told that her identity had not been confirmed at the time of her arrest and that five different dates of birth and six variations of her age were registered with the Home Office.

An assessment found Kesete had her correct date of birth and she was transferred from juvenile detention to Hydebank Women’s Prison.

The judge rejected the suggestion that she had been smuggled into Northern Ireland, but noted that she had “entered illegally and it may well be that she was smuggled in”.

He also said her behavior in custody had been persistently aggressive and violent.

He recommended that Kesete be deported at the end of her sentence.

Detective Constable Dunlop of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) described the incident as a “completely unprovoked attack that no one should ever have to encounter in the course of their work”.

Det Cons Dunlop hoped the conviction “will provide some comfort to the victim that justice has been served”.