Dubliner avoids jail term for slashing wife's neck

A Dublin man who slashed his wife’s neck with a knife has been ordered to do 240 hours community service in lieu of a three year jail term.

Michael Holmes, aged 40, from Pearse House, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to Mrs Lisa Holmes on May 13, 2003.

Garda Damien Fitzpatrick told Mr Vincent Heneghan BL, prosecuting, that Holmes and his wife had gone to the pub before returning to their flat where they continued drinking.

In the early hours of the morning, Holmes received a phone call from a woman and this sparked a row between the pair.

Garda Fitzpatrick said Holmes came towards his wife with a small knife in his hand which he started jabbing towards her neck.

She told gardaí he was "ranting and raving" as he slashed her two or three times in the neck and the arm.

She tried to get the knife from him but felt weak and dizzy. Her husband then grabbed a tea towel and held it to her neck before calling the emergency services.

Garda Fitzpatrick said that he had got to know the couple well following the offence and now did not consider Holmes to be a threat to his wife.

Mr Ray Farrell BL, defending, said that his client had apologised at the scene and had genuine regret for what had happened.

He had got into a row with his wife and "overreacted". He had been drinking at the time, was on tablets for depression and had taken a "snort" of cocaine.

Mr Farrell said that Mrs Holmes, who continued to live with her husband, was anxious that he should not go to prison.

Mrs Holmes told Judge Desmond Hogan that she had not been intimidated in any way into being supportive of him.

Judge Hogan said that Holmes had acted in a violent way and under normal circumstances he would have considered imposing a custodial sentence.

However he noted that both parties were still living together and had attempted to deal with their alcohol problems.

He said that having heard the evidence he was satisfied that Mrs Holmes was in court of her own free will and put the case back until October 5 to assess Holmes’ suitability for community service.