A man who pleaded guilty to manslaughter was sentenced to five years' imprisonment in the Central Criminal Court yesterday.
Afrim Xhafa (22), an asylum-seeker of no fixed address in Ireland, pleaded guilty on October 12th last year to the manslaughter of an off-duty security guard, Mr Liam Martin (23), early on June 17th, 1997. Mr Martin was single, formerly of Derry more, Graigueallen, Co Carlow.
Xhafa also pleaded guilty to maliciously wounding Mr Bedrija Hoti, an asylum-seeker. Mr Justice O'Donovan sentenced Xhafa to five years' imprisonment for manslaughter and to three years for malicious wounding, to run concurrently from June 24th, 1997, when he was remanded in custody.
Mr Anthony Sammon SC, defending, said Xhafa had a child by an Irish woman and was applying for citizenship. After a fight broke out outside a Dublin fast-food restaurant between Mr Martin and Xhafa, Xhafa stabbed Mr Martin 12 times. i to identify Mr Xhafa.