Father of three jailed for stabbing incident

A father of three who punctured the lung of "an innocent young man" after stabbing him in "a deliberate and brutal way" has been jailed for five years by Judge Frank O'Donnell at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

David Larkin (aged 30) of Allenton Gardens, Tallaght, was convicted by a jury earlier this month of assault causing harm to Killian Foster, at Old Court Road, Tallaght, on February 23, 2001.

Defence counsel, Ms Iseult O'Malley BL, told Judge O'Donnell that Larkin still maintained his innocence and as such she had no offer of remorse for the court.

Ms O'Malley said that Larkin was a very important father figure in his young family. She said there was very little else she could say to the court because her client still denies he attacked Mr Foster

Judge O'Donnell said he had a lot of sympathy for Larkin's children and partner who had written a "heart-rendering letter" to the court, but added: "Your victim is very lucky to be alive and so any sympathy I have for you is tempered by what you did to his innocent young man."

He said it was a very serious assault that could have resulted in Mr Foster's death and that he, Larkin, had gone out that night, armed with a knife.

Judge O'Donnell said the act of stabbing someone "in such a prepared brutal and deliberate manner" with one specific objective in mind warranted the maximum penalty and he jailed Larkin for five years.

Detective Garda John Stack told Ms Martina Baxter BL, prosecuting, that then Leaving Cert student Mr Foster met his attacker after coming from a house party which Larkin's ex-girlfriend's was also attending.

Larkin asked him where the house was and Mr Foster just pointed in the general direction, because, he said, he didn't want to tell Larkin exactly where the party was.

Larkin then asked the victim where he had come from before he launched a savage attack on him in which he kicked him to the left side of his head and punched him in the face.

Mr Foster told gardaí he fell to the ground and was kicked all over the body while he tried to protect himself by curling into a ball.

He initially didn't realise he had been stabbed and was taken to Tallaght Hospital where he required surgery for two stab wounds which had punctured his lungs. He also needed 12 stitches for a cut above his eye.

Mr Foster knew Larkin and told gardai he was his attacker but Larkin denied it. He later pointed Larkin out to gardai after Larkin agreed to take part in an identity parade.

Det Gda Stack said a bench warrant was issued for Larkin's arrest when he failed to turn up for a court hearing in August 2003. The warrant was subsequently executed in January 2006.

Larkin had four previous convictions for criminal damage, possession of cannabis for sale or supply and possession of a sword in Tallaght.