Andrew Carey
andrew@limerickpost.ie
A LIMERICK man who claimed he “accidentally” stabbed another man in the face during a row outside an off licence, is studying physiology and anatomy in prison, a court has heard.
Craig McMahon (25) was in supported living with Focus Ireland on March 16, 2014 when he went to Fine Wines off licence on Parnell Street in the city to buy alcohol with a friend.
Encountering two other men outside, McMahon along with his friend became involved in violent altercation.
Giving evidence, Detective Garda Brian O’Connor told the court that while all the parties were known to each other, tensions wouldn’t have been “the best”.
One of the men tried to pull McMahon to the ground and hit him with a bag of beer cans he had just bought inside.
The two parties separated briefly but reengaged again after beer cans were thrown and the fight kicked off again.
Craig McMahon then pulled a knife from inside his jacket and stabbed one of the men in the face as he emerged from the off licence.
Sitting at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Tom O’Donnell was shown pictures of the man and his injuries and he described them as being “utterly shocking and frightening”.
Craig McMahon, together with the three other men involved in the violent incident, were all arrested three weeks after the incident and charged with violent disorder.
The court was told however that the victim of the stabbing would not cooperate with the investigation nor would he make a complaint to gardai about the knife attack.
Accepting that the pictures were “not pretty”, defence counsel Mark Nicholas said that his client was in fear of his life at the time and believed that he was under threat from serious criminals who wanted him dead.
However Det Gda O’Connor said that there was no note of this with gardai and confirmed that no letter was sent to Craig McMahon from An Garda Siochana warning him of any serious threat as they didn’t believe there to be one.
Mr Nicholas told the court that the since his arrest and detention in Castlerea Prison, Craig McMahon had engaged in certain activities in custody including embarking on a course on physiology and anatomy as well as an anger management course.
Judge O’Donnell remarked that the irony of that was not lost on him.
Addressing the court, McMahon said he “truly apologised” for his actions as his defence barrister handed in a hand written letter from the 25-year-old outlining his remorse.
In it he said that he is in a relationship with “the light of his life” and has moved away from crime and at the time he felt his life was under threat and “accidentally stabbed him”.
Judge O’Donnell said that he would adjourn the sentencing hearing to consider “all that has been said, the letter and the evidence in the case. But this picture is utterly shocking and absolutely frightening – the picture doesn’t lie”, he said, adding that it is “not the whole story”.
Craig McMahon was remanded in custody until January 18 next for sentence.
