Man given six-year sentence for stabbing friend

A man who repeatedly stabbed a life-long friend after a drink and drugs binge and called gardaí himself after leaving the man he believed he had killed alone in the flat for an hour has been sentenced to six years in prison.

Bernard Locke (aged 36) rang his mother and various friends to tell them he had killed his friend, Liam Doyle, before contacting gardaí who discovered on their arrival that the man was still alive.

Locke, of Rathgar Road, Rathmines, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Mr Doyle causing him serious harm at his home on March 21, 2007.

Mr Doyle suffered a potentially life-threatening stab wound to his chest and multiple lacerations in the attack.

Judge Katherine Delahunt described it as a "wholly unprovoked" and "very serious" attack. She took into account Locke's co-operation with gardaí and his history of substance abuse before she suspended the last year of the sentence on strict conditions.

Detective Garda Michael Brophy told Mr Pieter Le Vert BL, prosecuting, that Locke and Mr Doyle had been drinking heavily with friends in the run up to the stabbing. He said the two were alone in the apartment watching television when Mr Doyle felt a pinch on his shoulder and turned to see Locke with a knife.

Locke told him: "You won't get smart with me again" and stabbed down on his shoulder. Mr Doyle cried out "what are you doing" and Locke replied: "I am going to f***ing kill you."

Mr Doyle pulled his legs up to protect himself as Locke continued to stab him and tried to tell him that they had been friends for years. Locke said he did not care and was going to kill himself after killing Mr Doyle.

Mr Doyle said after the stabbing he heard Locke ring several people including Locke's mother to tell them that he had killed his friend and that he was dead on the floor of his apartment.

Locke later called gardaí and met them at the door of the apartment telling them: "He is dead, I killed him."

Mr Doyle, who was on the floor covered in blood, told gardaí that he had been stabbed by Locke who had then left the apartment for an hour before returning to ring gardaí.

Locke admitted stabbing Mr Doyle and was "relieved and happy" when gardaí told him during interview that the man was still alive. He told gardaí everything was a "blur" because they had been "out of their heads".

Det Gda Brophy said Locke had 22 previous convictions including two for common assault.

Defence counsel, Ms Aileen Donnelly SC, said Locke wished to sincerely apologise to his friend of 31 years for the attack and had admitted his responsibility for the assault from the outset.