‘We deserve to feel safe’, family’s terror as brazen killer of OAP husband plans Ireland life after just 2-year sentence

BRAZEN killer Olesja Hertova is planning to remain in Ireland after her release from prison, The Irish Sun can reveal.

And her victim’s family have hit out at the decision not to issue a deportation order for the Czech, saying: “We deserve the right to feel safe.”

Hertova, 50, killed her partner James Ryan 69, outside his north Dublin home on August 11, 2024.

She will be released early from the Dochas Centre, the women’s prison at Dublin’s Mountjoy, next week after receiving 25 per cent remission off her sentence.

Although her sentencing hearing was told that she was planning to return to her native Czechia, her victim’s family believe her plans have now changed.

Hertova — who subjected the beloved grandad to a sustained campaign of domestic abuse and previously assaulted her daughter Ellie — will serve just two years and one month after being ­convicted of unlawful killing.

Ahead of Hertova’s imminent release, James’ daughter told of her family’s ongoing torment.

Karen, 47, told The Irish Sun: “It is terrifying for us to think that the person who took our father’s life could turn up at our door.

“We now believe that her ­intention is to remain in Ireland.

“My dad’s killer being released from prison is not the end of this for our family.

“When her short sentence ends, our responsibility to keep our ­family safe does not disappear.

“Our concerns become even more immediate as we face the reality of her returning to the community and potentially trying to re-enter our lives.

“We should not have to live with fear about what might happen after her release.

“Completing a prison sentence does not automatically make a victim’s family feel safe or protected.

“This is about protection, safety and being able to live our lives without fear.

“She will leave prison and regain her freedom. We deserve the right to feel safe.”

Former Defence Forces member James lost his life after Hertova ran at him and forcefully pushed him from behind.

He then hit his head on the ground outside Hastings Lawn, Balbriggan, north Dublin.

His killer — who has never shown any remorse — then dragged him between two cars, placed his glasses on his head and left him lying dying on the road before returning to their home.

The alarm was raised by the couple’s teen daughter Ellie, now 17, but the father of four lost his fight for life the next day.

Karen also hit out at ­Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan over the Department of Justice’s failure to issue a deportation order against her father’s killer.

She said: “This woman has a history of violence and took an innocent man’s life and yet there is still no deportation order in place.

“The Justice Minister has had two years to implement a deportation order against her but it still hasn’t happened.

“There has been a focus on the deportation of individuals with convictions for serious violence and we can’t understand why she hasn’t been included in this process.

“If a deportation order had been issued when we were made aware of her intentions to leave Ireland then we would have been able to focus on grieving for our father.

“The responsibility to keep our family safe has now fallen on myself and [sister] Lynn and we will not take any chances when it comes to protecting Ellie or my family.”

Sister Lynn, 45, added: “When she walks out of that prison there will be no restrictions on her movements and she could go anywhere. She could end up in the same community as us.

“She has no friends, job or ­family in Ireland and her only link is Ellie, who just wants to get on with her life and has indicated that she doesn’t want to contact her mother at this time.

“We knew deep down my dad’s killer wouldn’t leave Ireland when her intentions were mentioned in the court and that she would come out of prison kicking and screaming.

“She has served two years for taking a man’s life and has never shown any remorse.

“We don’t know what her state of mind will be and she really could do anything.”

During her time at the Dochas, Hertova has kept a low profile and failed to show any remorse for her horror act of violence.

One prison source added: “She is a very strange woman and has refused to take any accountability for her actions.”