A MAN needed 30 stitches in his face after he was slashed by his rival for a woman's affections, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was told. The accused, John Gavagan (32), was sentenced to `tour years' jail by Judge Kieran O'Connor.
The court was told Gavagan had become angry over alleged assaults by the victim, Mr Liam McClarnon, on the woman they both loved. He admitted slashing Mr McClarnon during the course of what was then an investigation into the murder of Mr Anthony O'Brien.
Two days after the attack on Mr McClarnon, Gavagan came across the same woman involved in sexual activity with Mr O'Brien. Thinking she was being sexually assaulted, Gavagan killed Mr O'Brien with the help of an accomplice.
He was jailed for nine years by the Central Criminal Court last July when he admitted the manslaughter of Mr O'Brien Det Garda Anthony Whelan said.
The detective was giving evidence to Mr George Birmingham, prosecuting, alter Gavagan, whose last address is the Army Hostel, Dublin 7, admitted unlawfully and maliciously wounding Mr McClarnon near the Morning Star Hostel, Grangegorman, on October 2nd, 1994.
Det Garda Whelan said both Gavagan and Mr McClarnon lived "on the edge of society moving from one Dublin hostel to another. Drink played a major part in their lives and rows could develop as a result of it.
Mr McClarnon had been in a stormy relationship with the woman. In 1994 he was held on remand in prison in his native Belfast on a charge of assaulting her. As a result of what Mr Patrick Marrinan, defending, called "providing a shoulder to cry on" a relationship developed between the woman and Gavagan.
Three months later the assault charges were dropped against Mr McClarnon because the woman did not travel North to testify against him.
Mr McClarnon returned to Dublin and Gavagan slashed him with a knife during a row over the physical abuse of the woman.
Two days later Gavagan discovered the woman with O'Brien. Claiming she was being sexually assaulted, Gavagan and another man killed Mr O'Brien. There was a conflict over whether Gavagan's claims were factual, the detective said.
Mr Marrinan said Gavagan was now using the educational services in prison and attending Alcoholics Anonymous to reform.
Ordering the four year term to date from yesterday, Judge Kieran O'Connor noted that despite his "horrible" lifestyle, Gavagan had only four previous minor convictions, excluding the manslaughter.
Judge O'Connor said animals lived better lives than people who moved from hostel to hostel drinking themselves senseless daily.