Limerick man stabbed in stomach after telling noisy youngsters to move from outside house

A LIMERICK man who told a group of noisy youngsters to move away from outside his mother’s house was stabbed in the abdomen and suffered a life-changing injury.

Judge Colin Daly said the attack was “unprovoked, irrational, unwarranted, and violent in the extreme”.

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Limerick Circuit Criminal Court heard that as the victim drove himself to UHL for treatment, the accused and another man on a motorbike attempted to block him and collided with his car. 

Aaron Griffin, aged 22, of Hyde Road, Limerick city pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm in a housing estate in Dooradoyle on September 8, 2023.

Judge Daly, in delivering his sentence, outlined the facts of the case which were heard on an earlier date. He said an argument among young people took place outside the victim’s mother’s house.

“The victim arrived on the scene and told the group of young people to go home. Two men then appeared on a motorised bike. One of these was the accused Aaron Griffin who was armed with a knife. He stabbed the victim in the abdomen and then fled the scene on the bike.

“The victim drove himself to UHL and on the way encountered Mr Griffin and the other man on the motorised bike. The victim says that the people on the bike attempted to block him and collided with his car,” said Judge Daly.

The court heard the injured party received surgery for a “serious” stab wound to his abdomen, was placed in an induced coma for five to six weeks, has had 25 follow-up surgeries, has life-changing injuries and will likely require further surgeries.

Judge Daly said the culpability of Griffin is very high as he went out armed with a knife with a seven to nine inch blade.

“He attended a scene where a victim was simply telling some troublesome men and women to stop their argument and take it away from the front of his mother's house,” said Judge Daly.

The judge said groups of young people may have loud disagreements in public places but other members of society must be able to call out this bad behaviour, and tell those causing disturbances to move on, without fear for their physical safety and their lives. 

“Serious sentences must be given to young men armed with weapons and cause extremely grave injuries to ordinary, decent members of society in order to deter other young people from this type of behaviour,” said Judge Daly. The judge referred to the victim impact statement which outlined that he’s a young man with a young family. At the time of the stabbing he was self-employed and working hard to provide for his family. The judge said he has not been able to maintain his business due to his injury and missed many milestones in his young children’s lives.

Griffin also pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine for sale or supply, money laundering and possession of an article - a black stick with a pointed end. These offences occurred two months later - November 8, 2023 in Colbert Station.

The court heard that Griffin ran when he saw gardai approaching and dropped a package and his stick. The package was found to contain €300 worth of cocaine divided into “deals” and €2,320 in cash on his person.

Griffin has a previous conviction for violent disorder and assault causing harm.

Judge Daly, in mitigation, took into account that Griffin pleaded guilty to all charges, was a drug user at the time, has no trappings of wealth, comes from a difficult family background and has a poor educational history.

He said Griffin may be considered as a follower rather than a leader of men, has written a letter expressing his remorse and is doing well in prison where he has been on remand since November 9, 2023.

Judge Daly imposed a jail sentence of nine years with the last 18 months suspended for assault causing serious harm. Griffin received one year prison terms on each of the possession of cocaine for sale or supply, money laundering and possession of an article. They are concurrent sentences and were made concurrent to the seven-and-a-half year term of imprisonment.

Judge Daly backdated the sentence to November 9, 2023 when Griffin first went into custody after it was raised by his counsel Brian McInerney SC. 

The case was prosecuted by John O’Sullivan BL, instructed by State solicitor Padraig Mawe. Mr O’Sullivan was granted a forfeiture order for the €2,320 in cash and destruction orders for the cocaine and black stick.