An alcoholic who slashed a neighbour's face a day after assaulting the man's son has been jailed for two years by Judge Dominic Lynch at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Derek Slater (40), separated with five children, from Annaly Road, Cabra, Dublin, pleaded guilty to intentionally and recklessly causing serious harm to Mr Gerrard Anderson on March 26th, 1998, and to assaulting Mr Paul Anderson on March 25th, 1998.
Garda Mike Smith told Mr Patrick Marrinan, prosecuting, that Slater was very drunk when he head-butted Mr Paul Anderson on the street. Mr Anderson fell to the ground, where Slater continued to kick and punch him. Mr Anderson was taken to hospital and kept under observation for a night.
The next day, the victim's father, Mr Gerrard Anderson, decided after he had a few drinks to visit Slater and confront him about what he had done to his son. Slater was not home and his brother later informed him of the visit.
Slater was angry when he heard about the visit and asked his brother to drive him to Mr Anderson's house. Garda Smith said his brother waited in the car while Slater burst into the kitchen and slashed Mr Anderson across the face, skull and eyes with what was described as a very large knife.
His brother was unaware of Slater's intentions but, after sensing a commotion, he went into the kitchen and dragged his brother off Mr Anderson. Slater had nine previous convictions, all of which relate to drunken and disorderly behaviour.
Mr Niall Durnin, defending, said his client had a serious drink problem for many years and it was a combination of drink and fear which led him to strike first. He had since expressed remorse.