Stabbing victim 'would have died without emergency surgery'

The Central Criminal Court has heard that a Dublin man stabbed in the heart would not have survived, were it not for emergency surgery carried out in St James’ Hospital.

Professor John Reynolds was giving evidence to the Central Criminal Court today in the trial of a 36-year-old man, who wounded him and fatally stabbed his friend.

Martin Toland of Walkinstown Park has pleaded not guilty to murdering 28-year-old Alan Nolan and seriously injuring James Carroll (now 32) at Cedar Brook Walk, Ballyfermot, Dublin.

Mr Toland claims that he was acting in self-defence against both men, after a row broke out at Mr Nolan’s home on September 8, 2007.

Prof Reynolds said that Mr Carroll arrived to the hospital with significant blood loss, low blood pressure and a racing pulse.

“It was a real emergency situation,” he said. “His body was in shock.”

He explained that he had two small penetration wounds, one to the chest and one to the abdomen.

“He was fighting for his life,” he recalled. “It was an absolute emergency and required surgery to deal with the continuing blood loss.”

He explained that a stab wound had penetrated the pericardial sac surrounding the heart and the heart’s right ventricle. He said there was a lot of blood in the sac, causing pressure on the heart.

“It would have eventually stopped,” he said, explaining that this was the more life-threatening injury and was dealt with first.

“Once the blood was released, his heart began to beat better,” he said, adding that the ventricle was then stitched.

He said that when the abdomen was opened, the surgical team found four perforations in Mr Carroll’s intestine and that these were also repaired.

“These were absolutely life-threatening injuries,” he said of Mr Carroll’s stab wounds, explaining that his life was saved because of the cardiac surgery.

The trial continues tomorrow before Mr Justice Barry White and a jury of seven women and five men.