Flaherty jailed for 10 years for fatal stabbing

A MAN on temporary release from prison when he fatally stabbed another man after finding him asleep in bed with his ex-partner and one of his children was given a 10-year prison sentence.

John Flaherty, aged 25, of Ard Daire, Ferrybank, Waterford, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of the manslaughter of Patrick Murphy, 27, following a trial at the Central Criminal Court.

At the time of the killing on June 20 last year, the accused was on temporary release after being jailed for assault causing harm.

The previous November, he had been given a three-year sentence —with two of those years suspended — following a row with a man who owed him money. “He picked up a piece of glass and slit him in the facial area,” Detective Garda Fergal O’Toole told the court.

The suspended part of that sentence was re-activated this week.

Mr Justice George Birmingham yesterday imposed a 10-year sentence for manslaughter, to start when the two-year term expires, but with the last 30 months suspended.

He described the attack on Mr Murphy as “quite shocking in its ferocity”. That it took place in the presence of one of Flaherty’s and his on-off partner Amy Quigley’s three children was “a very distressing aspect” of the case, the judge said.

A victim impact statement from Mr Murphy’s mother, Margaret, was described as “dignified and moving and eloquent” by the judge. His death had left Mrs Murphy in “agonising pain” and left “a huge void” in Patrick’s daughter’s life.

“This man (Flaherty) has robbed my son of his life, without a second thought of the devastation he’s caused to our family.”

Afterwards, Mr Murphy’s sister, Belinda, said her family was “as happy as we can be” with the sentence.

“At this stage, Mr Flaherty will be released into society again in 10 years. Our brother won’t have that opportunity,” she said.

“We miss him very much and we’ll keep fighting for justice. We’re going to be suffering a life sentence for the rest of our years and he’s going to be left out after 10 years.”

The trial heard Flaherty told gardaí he “snapped” after finding Mr Murphy in bed with his ex-partner and one of his children.

Flaherty punched Mr Murphy, went downstairs from the bedroom and got at least one knife and then stabbed the deceased more than 30 times — the fatal wound being inflicted to the abdomen.

The accused was also given a two-year concurrent sentence for assaulting Ms Quigley, causing her harm, which he admitted.

Ms Quigley said she still had nightmares about the incident, as did her son, who is now four.