Ex-soccer star jailed for stabbing neighbour

A former Shelbourne and Irish international youth soccer player has been jailed for three years for stabbing his neighbour in the neck.

Anthony Deegan, aged 48, Allenton Avenue, Tallaght, told the court he was "humbly sorry" for what he had done and said it was completely out of character for him.

Judge Frank O'Donnell at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court suspended the last year taking Deegan's guilty plea into account.

Garda Kieron McGrath told prosecuting counsel, Mr Maurice Coffey BL, when called out on June 5 last to Allenton Avenue he found Mr Anthony Callaghan with a wound to his neck and was told the perpetrator was in his house across the road.

Mr Callaghan told him Deegan had bumped into him from behind and that he saw a glimpse of a 'Stanley' blade with tape around the blade in his hand. He asked Deegan if he was going to use that and he said 'yes'.

Gda McGrath said Deegan swung his arm, hit Mr Callaghan in the neck and ran away. The wound was three inches long and ¾ of an inch deep and needed 10 stitches. Mr Callaghan has been left with a permanent scar.

Deegan was arrested and though he initially said he just boxed Mr Callaghan, he then admitted using the knife and said he had hidden the blade in his back garden.

Mr Luigi Rea BL, defending, said Deegan and his family had felt besieged in their home and his client had been subjected to verbal abuse for weeks before this incident.

Deegan had been watching an Ireland v Germany match in a pub and had a considerable amount of drink taken. Mr Rea said while Deegan had no drug addiction he did have a problem with drink and was currently seeking treatment.

He said Deegan had been unemployed for some time but had been quite talented as a soccer player in his youth. He had played for the Irish youth team and for Shelbourne on a semiprofessional basis for two years. He also had trials for Crystal Palace in England.

Judge O'Donnell said if this case had gone to trial he would have considered a sentence of five years but Deegan should get recognition for his guilty plea.

He said this was a very serious crime where Deegan had brought a blade with him when he left his house with the intent to cause damage or injury and necessitated a custodial sentence.

Judge O'Donnell noted Mr Callaghan had been left with a permanent scar and said this incident was something he would have to live with for a long, long time. He was trying to put it behind him and this was the best thing he could do.