A former Shelbourne and Irish international youth soccer player has been jailed for three years for stabbing his neighbour in the neck.
Anthony Deegan (48) of Allenton Avenue, Tallaght, told the court he was "humbly sorry" for what he had done and said it was completely out of character for him.
Judge Frank O'Donnell at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court suspended the last year after taking Deegan's guilty plea into account.
Garda Kieron McGrath told prosecuting counsel, Mr Maurice Coffey, BL, that when called on June 5th last to Allenton Avenue he found Mr Anthony Callaghan with a wound to his neck and was told the perpetrator was in his house across the road.
Mr Callaghan told him Deegan had bumped into him from behind and that he saw a glimpse of a "Stanley" blade with tape around the blade in his hand. He asked Deegan if he was going to use that and he said "yes".
Garda McGrath said Deegan swung his arm, hit Mr Callaghan in the neck and ran away. The wound was three inches long and of an inch deep and needed 10 stitches. Mr Callaghan has been left with a permanent scar.
Deegan was arrested and though he initially said he just boxed Mr Callaghan, he then admitted using the knife and said he had hidden the blade in his back garden.
Mr Luigi Rea, BL, defending, said Deegan had been watching an Ireland v Germany match in a pub and had a considerable amount of drink taken. Mr Rea said although Deegan had no drug addiction he did have a problem with drink and was seeking treatment.
He said Deegan had been unemployed for some time but had been quite talented as a soccer player in his youth. He had played for the Irish youth team and for Shelbourne on a semi-professional basis for two years. He also had trials for Crystal Palace in England.