Limerick drug dealer attacks ‘customer’ with knife in ‘commercial disagreement’
A MAN had no chance of defending himself against a knife-wielding drug dealer, Limerick Circuit Court has heard.
The victim “still has scarring” from significant and multiple facial wounds including the lobe of one of his ears being taken off.
Stephen Curtin, aged 33, of Rosbrien Terrace, Punches Cross, Limerick pleaded guilty, at Limerick Circuit Court, to assault causing harm, sale or supply of heroin and possession of cocaine.
Prosecuting barrister Lily Buckley, instructed by State solicitor Padraig Mawe, outlined the evidence with the assistance of Detective Garda Dean Landers.
Ms Buckley said the injured party and the accused knew each other, regularly Facebook messaged each other, including in the early hours of the attack on September 21, 2018.
“Mr Curtin would supply the victim with drugs. The injured party went to Mr Curtin’s house in Rosbrien Terrace with the intention of getting drugs from the accused. He arrived at 4.30am and messaged Mr Curtin on Facebook.
The accused came out and the victim followed him to the side of the house.
“The accused grabbed the victim and started cutting and stabbing him in an unprovoked attack in his face, chest, legs and neck. It went on for 20 minutes. The victim felt the accused was trying to murder him,” said Mr Buckley.
The court heard the injured party, aged in his mid-twenties at the time, was slashed from his left cheek to his right ear, and suffered multiple significant facial wounds including a substantial ear injury.
Ms Buckley said he broke free, ran away and collapsed in the doorway of another house in the vicinity - at which point an ambulance was called.
“There were blood stains in people’s premises. There was blood spatter in the alleyway. The knife was recovered,” said Ms Buckley.
When gardai went to arrest Mr Curtin in the following days they found €2,114 worth of heroin at the Rosbrien Terrace address and €46.13 worth of cocaine on his person.
The court heard Mr Curtin has 103 previous convictions - 91 of which are for road traffic offences.
Judge Dermot Sheehan asked Detective Garda Landers about the victim’s injuries and had he met him recently.
“He still has scarring but it is healing well,” said the detective.
Brian McInerney SC, who represented Mr Curtin, put it to the detective that it was a “commercial disagreement” between his client and the victim. “Yes,” said Detective Garda Landers.
Mr McInerney asked if Mr Curtin has been off the garda radar in recent times and the detective agreed he has been off the radar.
In mitigation, Mr McInerney said the offence is of “some vintage” and relates to a time when his client was “a heavy enough drug user”.
He added: “There were no trappings of wealth. He is at a point now that is radically different to the person he was five years ago.”
Mr McInerney, said there is work available to Mr Curtin in his father’s sand and gravel business.
Judge Sheehan said the victim had no chance of defending himself from a knife-wielding Mr Curtin.
“The photos in the book of evidence indicate significant wounds to the face. The lobe of one of his ears appears to have been taken off,” he noted.
The judge said Mr Curtin was, at the time, dealing in drugs to feed his habit but it appears he has changed his ways and is off drugs for some time.
“He has clearly made an effort to turn things around,” said Judge Sheehan, who imposed a three year prison sentence, with the last 18 months suspended.
The judge handed down a 12 month suspended sentence for the sale or supply of heroin. He took the possession of cocaine charge into consideration.