Suspended sentence man who stabbed colleague

An 52-year-old English man who stabbed a colleague and perforated his bowel during a drunken argument has been given a three year suspended sentence after he paid his victim €10,000 compensation.

Steve Warburton, from Halifax in West Yorkshire pleaded guilty to assaulting James Manly causing him harm on Talbot Street on January 16, 2003.

Judge Michael White said it was a very serious matter to produce a knife to a friend or colleague and the defendant was fortunate that the victim did not suffer more a serious injury up to and including death.

"I am surprised that a man of your age involved yourself in this activity," he said.

Detective Garda John O’Donovan told Paul Carroll BL, prosecuting that both English men were contracted to install escalators in a Dublin department store and had been drinking with colleagues after work.

An argument broke out between them and Warburton produced a knife which he used in the course of his job. He stabbed Mr Manly wounding his shoulder and left side.

Mr Manly was treated in hospital for a superficial wound to his shoulder which required two stitches and a perforated bowel which needed surgery. He was released from hospital nine days later. He suffered a loss of €5,000 in earnings.

Warburton was stopped by gardaí at Dublin Airport and arrested. He has ten previous convictions in England for road traffic and theft offences.

Sean Gillane BL, defending, said his client had remained in Ireland since 2005 in relation to the charge which has had serious consequences for his personal and professional life and his marriage had broken down.