Mum 'played dead' to save her life

Last Thursday, the inquest into the death of 41-year-old William Martin Hasson was held at Coleraine.

Mr Hasson hanged himself after he beat and repeatedly stabbed Ruth McGrath, the mother of his child, on February 25 last year, in the home the pair shared at Glenwood Avenue in the Mountsandel area of Coleraine.

He attacked Ms McGrath with two knives - slicing her liver and bowel - as their terrified seven-year-old daughter Kyla listened in the next room.

The inquest heard that in a desperate attempt to save her own life Ms McGrath pretended to be dead.

Coroner, John Lecky, told the hearing: "In all my time as coroner, this is the most horrifying account I have ever heard. It's what you expect from a video nasty — this is real life."

Speaking after the inquest Ms McGrath told The Times that she felt very lucky to be alive.

She said: " I wasn't scared of him, that's why he attacked me in my bed.

"He had a violent history with other women. I hate the b*stard, but I am determined to get on with my life."

Ms McGrath described her daughter as a 'loving little girl'.

The inquest heard that Ms McGrath had gone to bed at 12.30am on the night of the incident.

She had just got into bed, when she heard the heating boiler coming on and went downstairs to switch it off.

Ms McGrath said that Hasson, who had alcohol and cannabis in his blood at the time of his death, was sitting in silence in the living room. She told him she was turning off the heating, and he didn't respond.

She was then woken from her sleep by Hasson, who had a knife in his hand.

She said that he stabbed her, and began shouting "You are to blame, you didn't take me for help".

She told how Hasson had warned her that none of them would get out of the bedroom alive.

Ms McGrath said she believed Hasson had planned the attack.

During the struggle Hasson attempted to suffocate her, by putting a pillow over her face. He also kicked and punched her around the stomach and face.

She was stabbed with a kitchen knife and a decorative blade, grabbed by the hair and had her face smashed against a bedside cabinet.

Ms McGrath said that Hasson had taken a smoke break before resuming his sickening attack on her.

At one point she begged him to "let me die with dignity'.

She said Hasson had cuddled her and had told her that he loved her, as she lay with her hand covering the stab wound in her side.

Ms McGrath responded: 'How can you say you love me, if you are taking me away from Kyla?'

At this point, Hasson jumped out of the bed, and went into his daughter's room. He returned with a rope around his neck.

Thinking that the only way out was to pretend she was dead, Ms McGrath lay motionless. At this point, Hasson placed a knife under her pillow.

"I remember opening my eyes and seeing him hanging, so I rang 999 for help" said Ms McGrath.

When the emergency services arrived they tried to resuscitate Mr Hasson, however he was already dead.

Ms McGrath was taken to Causeway Hospital and later transferred to a specialist liver unit in Belfast. She is still receiving treatment for her injuries.

A post mortem examination carried out by Assistant State Pathologist, Dr England, determined that Hasson had died by hanging.

In his summing up Coroner, Mr Lecky, said: "He died by his own actions, whilst the balance of his mind was disturbed. This followed a violent attack on his partner."

Mr Lecky said he was satisfied that Mr Hasson intended to kill his partner and himself.

He concluded: " In all my years as a coroner, I have never come across as horrific an incident as this."

Mr Lecky also passed his best wishes on to Kyla and her mother for their continuing recovery, adding: "I can't help but think that if (Ms McGrath) had not found her way downstairs, she may not be here today."