Barman stabbed man for sleeping with ex-partner

A Dublin barman stabbed a man with a steak knife after finding him in bed with his ex-partner, a court has heard.

Father of two Michael Bonner pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Gary Dawnay on August 14, 2013, at Hayworth Terrace, Ongar, Dublin.

Mr Dawnay was stabbed twice in the shoulder, causing his left lung to collapse by over 50%.

Bonner, aged 42, of Laurel Lodge, Castleknock, will be sentenced on April 17 at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Judge Desmond Hogan said there was little pre-meditation involved and the attack was “something of the moment, carried out in a frenzied way”. He said Bonner committed a very serious offence and reacted “totally disproportionately” to finding his ex-partner in bed with a man.

He adjourned sentencing to let Probation Services investigate whether Bonner would be suitable for the Restorative Justice Programme, but refused to rule out a custodial sentence.

Garda Alan Reddy told Gerardine Small, defending, that Mr Dawnay had started seeing Bonner’s ex-partner a few weeks previously.

On the night, Mr Dawnay was drinking with friends at home when his girlfriend texted him to ask him to come over.

He called to her house and they chatted and then went into the bedroom. Sometime after 3am, Bonner let himself in and barged into the bedroom with a knife.

Mr Dawnay and the woman jumped up out of bed and tried to block Bonner.

Bonner threatened to kill Mr Dawnay, saying: “Stay away from my family, this is a warning.”

Mr Dawnay was stabbed twice in the shoulder and his thumb was sliced when he tried to grab the knife.

Gardaí were called and found Bonner being restrained by a group of people with a knife in his pocket.

Mr Dawnay was brought to hospital, where his shoulder wounds were stitched and his chest was X-rayed as he was having difficulty breathing.

His lung had partially collapsed and a large chest drain was inserted. A victim impact statement was presented to the court but not read out.

On arrest, Bonner admitted the stabbing and apologised. He said he had drunk eight or nine pints on the night.

Patrick Reynolds, defending, said Bonner “lost it” when he went to the house, at a time when his family life was disintegrating around him.

The court heard that Bonner has worked as a barman in The Vineyard in Blanchardstown for the last 12 years.

Bonner brought €1,000 to court as a token of remorse which the victim did not wish to accept.