A man who stabbed his ex-partner's brother after a row last December over access to his children was jailed for a year at Dundalk Circuit Criminal Court yesterday.
Alan Kieran (40), with an address at Slieve Breagh, Ardee, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm and production of a knife, at Ferdia Park, Ardee on December 26h last.
The court heard the defendant was drunk when he arrived at his ex-partner's house to collect his two sons. The court was also told there was confusion over whether the boys were going with him and the accused spat in their mother's face and told them to come with him.
She asked the defendant to leave. When the boys expressed a reluctance to go, her brother told the defendant he had "his answer".
A row subsequently broke out. The court heard that the situation eventually calmed down, and the defendant returned to the kitchen ostensibly to get a drink of water.
He went to the sink where he picked up a knife and then stuck it in the victim's chest.
The victim spent almost three weeks in hospital, during which time he had to have fluid drained from his chest cavity.
Although the court heard the defendant had no previous convictions, he admitted his guilt straight away and had apologised for what he did. However, Judge Raymond Groarke said the accused had not stopped drinking and had not produced any compensation as a token of his remorse. He said it left him with no option but to impose 12 month concurrent sentences for each offence.