Seven-year sentence for killing neighbour

A Corkman who killed one of his neighbours was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment by a judge at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin today.

Mr Justice Paul Butler said that Mr Noel Mc Carthy was ``brutally stabbed’’ by Keith O’Donovan. He said that Mr McCarthy had been in his home minding his own business and had refused to let Mr O’Donovan and James Hourigan in to the house because they had been drinking.

The judge said there was nothing he could do to relieve the suffering of the McCarthy family but he extended his sympathy to them.

He sentenced Mr O’Donovan to seven years' imprisonment and said he had taken into account the ``genuine remorse’’ shown by Mr O’Donovan during his trial for the death of someone who was `` a very good friend’.’

The judge ordered that the sentence should be back-dated 21 months to take into account the time O’Donovan has already spent in custody.

Mr Justice Butler sentenced James Hourigan to 21 months and backdated it from today.

He said that Mr Hourigan had threatened people to prevent Mr O’Donovan’s apprehension and the maximum sentence was 10 years, but he regarded Mr Hourigan’s offence as being at the lower end of the range.

A jury in July convicted Keith O' Donovan (aged 31), of Spriggs Road, Gurranabraher, Cork, of the manslaughter of Noel Mc Carthy (aged 28), a single man, also of Spriggs Road, on May 4, 2000.

James Hourigan (aged 34), of Harbour View Road, Knocknaheeny, Cork, pleaded guilty to proferring threats with intent to impede the apprehension of Keith O'Donovan on the same date, and that plea was accepted by the State.

Both men were originally convicted by a jury of Mr McCarthy's murder after a 10-day trial in June, 2002, but the convictions were quashed by the Court of Criminal Appeal last March and a retrial was ordered.

Sergeant David Foley, Gurranabraher, told the court that the deceased man lived with his mother at the family home at Spriggs Road. He said that Mr McCarthy and a number of his friends had some drinks at the house after painting the outside of it.

The two accused were drinking at a pub in Cork and when they became aware that there was a drinks party at the McCarthy house they tried to gain admittance.

The Sergeant said that Keith O'Donovan had grown up with Mr McCarthy and knew him well, but Hourigan was not well-known to him. Mr O'Donovan and Mr Hourigan returned to the McCarthy house a number of times and tried to get in, but were refused.

This led to a scuffle between Mr McCarthy and Mr Hourigan. Mr McCarthy sustained a facial injury which needed hospital attention. He received treatment and returned home and a short time later there was a knock at the door.

Mr McCarthy opened the door and immediately was thrown back in to the hall and Mr O'Donovan inflicted a stab wound to the groin, which transected an artery.

Mr Hourigan did not take part in the assault, but when one of Mr McCarthy's friends went to assist him, Mr Hourigan stopped him going to his aid.

Mr McCarthy was taken to the Mercy Hospital but despite being given blood transfusions and ``frantic efforts'' to save his life, he passed away.

Sgt Foley said that Mr O'Donovan has 26 previous conviction , including convictions for assault and a number of drugs offences.

He said that Mr Hourigan has 23 previous convictions, all in the District Court, for various offences including larceny, handling stolen property and burglary and one conviction for possession of a knife.

The Sergeant said that the McCarthy family was a close knit family and Mrs McCarthy was the head of the family.

``This is the saddest aspect of it. They grew up together. In that area all the neighbours look out for each other. The fact is that the boys knew each other and were on friendly terms,’’ he said.