Man stabbed brother-in-law in neck

A MAN arrested and released early one morning was still in a rage over a row with his brother-in-law and after his release kicked in his relative’s front door and stabbed him in the neck as he lay in bed.

Pat O’Mahony, aged 49, formerly of Larchfield, Commons Road, Cork, and recently living at Wesley apartments in Youghal, Co Cork, should have been sentenced 10 years ago in Cork Circuit Criminal Court on the charge of assault causing harm to his brother-in-law, Gerard McKenna, but he fled to Belfast and only returned to live in Cork last year.

Judge Patrick J Moran noted from the surgeon’s report on the injured party that the defendant was fortunate not to be facing a murder charge.

Judge Moran said in relation to the defendant disappearing for years: “All he had to do was lift a telephone or call to a Garda station at any time and say he did not appear in court — here I am now — the simplest thing.”

As he sentenced O’Mahony to four years yesterday, the judge described the assault as a serious stabbing incident where the victim was lucky to be alive.

O’Mahony had been drinking in Cork city centre for several hours on July 16, 2000 when he met Mr McKenna and a row occurred.

Garda John O’Sullivan said there was a physical altercation between the two men, at the height of which the defendant claimed to have been head-butted.

Later that night, O’Mahony was driving home when he was stopped by gardaí for drink-driving.

He was released from custody at the Bridewell Garda Station a few hours later but he was still in a rage over the earlier incident.

He went home and got a taxi to his brother-in-law’s home in the Curraheen area of Bishopstown. He kicked in the front door, went upstairs and stabbed Mr McKenna in the neck.

Gardaí, including Garda O’Sullivan, had been aware that O’Mahony had threatened Mr McKenna earlier so they monitored the defendant’s movements after his release. They arrived on the scene within seconds of the assault and apprehended him in the bedroom.

O’Mahony gave evidence yesterday and said: “I was drinking heavily at the time. We got into an argument. I was either head-butted or punched, I am not sure which. I lost my head and went to his house afterwards.

“I am still paying for it to this day. I lost my marriage, I lost everything over it.

“I apologise for it, it was a stupid thing to do, I don’t drink any more. I won’t be getting into any more trouble.”

Judge Moran said that whatever happened in the fracas or exchange of blows between the two parties on Oliver Plunkett Street the defendant’s own injuries were very mild.