Guilty plea for man knifed in the face

A man who had a knife stabbed into his face during a violent street fight has pleaded guilty to his involvement in the daylight attack, along with three other men.

Joseph McNamara, aged 36, of O’Malley Park, Limerick, pleaded guilty at Limerick Circuit Court to using or threatening to use violence, on March 16, 2014.

A co-accused, James Meehan, aged 38, of Georgian Villas, Old Cork Rd, Limerick, also pleaded guilty to the same offence. Both men were remanded in custody for sentencing on July 20.

A photograph of a blood-stained McNamara with a kitchen knife stuck in his cheek, shown to the court, was previously described as “frightening” by Judge Tom O’Donnell.

The graphic evidence was produced during the sentencing last January of Craig McMahon, aged 26.

The court heard that McMahon has been studying physiology and anatomy while in custody, an irony which Judge O’Donnell remarked was “not lost” on the court.