Postman jailed for knife attack

A postman who had never come to garda attention before and "was at a loss" to explain why he stabbed a man at a house party has been given a two-year prison sentence.

Karl Graham (aged 21), of Charnwood Heath, Clonsilla, pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Ciaran Barden causing him harm at Woodvale Drive, Blanchardstown on July 29, 2006.

Judge Katherine Delahunt at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court said she had to take into account that Graham "launched an unprovoked attack after he arrived at his house with a knife at five o’clock in the morning".

She suspended the final year of sentence on conditions after noting he had never before or since come to garda attention and had a good work record.

Detective Garda Patrick Traynor told prosecuting counsel, Mr Vincent Heneghan BL, that Graham turned up at Mr Barden’s home at 5am and shouted for a man who was at a party in the house.

Det. Gda Traynor said Graham then got into a scuffle with this man when he appeared and stabbed Mr Barden in the hip when he tried to intervene.

Mr Barden was treated in hospital for four days for a laceration to his chest and an injury to his spleen.

Det. Gda Traynor said Graham admitted the assault, had no previous convictions and had never come to gardaí attention before or since.

Ms Elva Duffy BL, defending Graham, said he had been celebrating his 19th birthday that night and had been drinking quite heavily which was unusual for him. She said he was "at a loss" to explain his behaviour.

Ms Duffy said he came from a hardworking family who had never came to garda attention and his parents were "very shocked" at the incident. He worked as a night postman with An Post and had €1,700 in court to offer to his victim as a token of his remorse.