Man who slit brother's throat admits assault

A former soldier who slit his brother's throat and tried to strangle him in an unprovoked, drunken assault has been given a two-year suspended sentence by Judge Michael White.

Paul Mullen, aged 35, was nicknamed 'Norman' by his brother Alan, after the Alfred Hitchcock character 'Norman Bates' in the 'Psycho' movie, because of his behaviour when drunk.

Mullen, a father-of-two from Coultry Road, Ballymun, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to 32-year-old Alan on June 16, 2002.

He has also to pay €3,000 to Alan within the two years.

Garda Noeleen McKenna told Des Zaidan BL, prosecuting, they spent the day drinking with others in a friend's flat while they watched World Cup football and then a film.

A female friend went to bed but started shouting at the remaining group. Paul went to the door and told her to 'shut up' but then suddenly turned and lunged at his brother in an armchair.

Garda McKenna said he took out a blade and cut Alan's throat, then held him down on the chair and began to punch him on the side of the face.

He then pulled him out on to the balcony and tried to strangle him with his two hands.

The unmarried father-of-five was left permanently scarred after the incident and to this day doesn't know what set his brother off but admitted that alcohol didn't agree with him.

Judge White said that because Paul had no previous convictions and he had a good work record it was the view of the court that he not be sent to prison but he ordered him to stay away from Alan unless he was invited to be in his company.

Judge White said it was a very serious assault committed on his own brother who had stood by him in the past and was now left scarred for life.

"Drink is no excuse for this type of offence but I have read the psychiatric report and I am of the opinion that it would not be appropriate to send you to jail at this point", he said.

Garda McKenna said Alan spent two nights in hospital following the attack and doctors said that his scar on the neck would be permanent.

Paul came to the garda station voluntarily the day after the assault and admitted his role. The family now didn't want to have anything to do with him and all relations between the two brothers had ceased.

Shane Costelloe BL, defending, said his client worked as a building labourer in the past but was now unemployed.

He was run down by a car three years ago and couldn't work now because of pains in his legs. He was only in receipt of €124 weekly in disability.

Mr Costelloe told Judge White that Mullen didn't pursue a civil action because he was responsible for the accident in that he walked out in front of the car.

He was in the Army from the age of 18 to 25 and had been in the Military Police before his voluntary discharge.