Man sustained stab wounds in backside during Limerick assault

A MAN nearly died from blood loss after being stabbed twice in the backside, Limerick Circuit Court heard.

Darnel Price, aged 24, of Sarsfield Gardens, Moyross, Limerick pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm and production of a knife during the course of a dispute on July 3, 2022 at Ballygrennan Close, Moyross.

The injured man, aged in his 40s, didn’t identify Mr Price. He told gardai, “I got stabbed snakey making my way home”.

Mr Price pleaded guilty, earlier this year, to violent disorder at Westfields, off the Condell Road, Limerick city on September 17, 2021.

Prosecuting barrister John O’Sullivan, instructed by State Solicitor Padraig Mawe, outlined the assault causing serious harm case with the assistance of Detective Garda Áine McWilliams.

Gardai received a call from ambulance control that a man was found with stab wounds in Ballygrennan Close, Moyross around midnight on July 3, 2022. The court heard the victim was unresponsive and bleeding profusely from the upper right buttock area.

Mr O’Sullivan said that earlier in the evening there was a birthday party in Ballygrennan Close. Mr Price, accompanied by his girlfriend Courtney Murphy, were refused entry.

Some time later the injured party and his partner left to go home.

“Mr Price was observed with a knife in his hand running behind the victim and stabbing him in the back area,” said Mr O’Sullivan.

Det Garda McWilliams said Mr Price was arrested and gardai recovered a black and white kitchen knife from Mr Price’s home in Sarsfield Gardens, Moyross which forensics later showed had the victim’s DNA.

The victim was rushed to UHL where he was put into resus, intubated and spent two weeks in intensive care.

The medical evidence revealed there was large blood loss at the scene and “he may have died without the intervention of UHL staff”.

A victim impact statement heard he was lucky to be alive.

“My groin is very sore. I’m never going to a house party again. I’m very nervous. It has ruined my life,” he said.

During garda interviews Mr Price said if he was sober he wouldn’t have done it.

“The blood f****d me up. It’s like something you’d see on Netflix,” Mr Price told gardai.

Prosecuting barrister Mr O’Sullivan said Mr Price’s previous convictions (a total of 82) demonstrate “a propensity for violence.”

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Erin O’Hagan, barrister for Mr Price, read out part of Mr Price’s interview with gardai where he said: “I didn’t want to seriously hurt him. I was f****d up on vodka and coke.”

Ms O’Hagan said that night was the first time Mr Price spoke to his mother in 22 years.

Ms O’Hagan put it to Det Garda McWilliams if Mr Price had a difficult upbringing and didn’t have it easy. “Yes,” said Det Garda McWilliams.

In mitigation, Ms O’Hagan said Mr Price did not set out that day to hurt anyone.

“He has pleaded guilty. He had consumed alcohol and substances. He had a heavy and detailed conversation with his mother who he hadn’t spoken to in 22 years. He has been under the care of a lot of services. His father may not have been the best role model,” said Ms O’Hagan, who added that Mr Price is tackling his anger issues and is maturing.

Judge Tom O’Donnell said the stabbing in Moyross was an attack on a defenseless man.

“His propensity to violence surfaced very quickly. A knife was used and injuries suffered. Only for medical intervention it could have been fatal. There was no provocation from the victim,” said Judge O’Donnell, who added that an aggravating factor was the assault was committed while on bail.

Judge O’Donnell said the mitigating factors were the plea of guilty, his personal circumstances and the unplanned meeting with his mother.

The judge handed down a 12-month prison sentence for violent disorder which was backdated to July 2, 2022 as Mr Price has been on remand in custody since then.

He imposed a five-year jail sentence - to be served consecutively - for assault causing serious harm.

The last 12 months were suspended for five years. Mr Price thanked the judge.