Eight years for drug addict stabbing

A Dublin man has been jailed for eight years for killing a drug addict who had beaten him up months previously.

William Duffy of Rossfield Avenue, Tallaght wept as he was sentenced for stabbing Paul Rooney 13 times during a frenzied attack three years ago.

Last March, 37-year-old Duffy was convicted of manslaughter by a jury at the Central Criminal Court.

He was cleared of murdering 21-year-old Rooney at the above address, during September 1998.

During the trial, Duffy said he and his wife Sandra were both recovering heroin addicts and had been on a methadone programme for 10-11 years.

He claimed Rooney was very violent and had smashed windows in their home several times.

During an altercation at the house, Duffy repeatedly stabbed Rooney with a hunting knife.

The Gardai were alerted to the killing the morning after.

Mr Justice Smith noted that both Duffy and Rooney were recovering addicts and said the case highlighted the great scourge of drugs in society.