A Galway woman who stabbed a man to death in a row over a dog has received a nine-year prison sentence.
Una Black (26), of Water Macken Flats, Mervue is within weeks of giving birth to her first child.
Mr Justice Paul Carney said the case merited a 12-year sentence, but he reduced it to nine years because of her guilty plea and because it was her first conviction.
She had pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of her neighbour John Malone (42) on December 3rd, 2006 after she tried to retrieve her puppy from his flat.
Mr Malone had been taking care of the dog but had become annoyed that Black had not been to his flat for a week to assist in looking after it. Mr Malone told Black that he had sold the dog so she went to his flat to retrieve it. The pair struggled and Black armed herself with a knife so Mr Malone would keep away from her.
She returned to get her dog a second time and they fought again. During the struggle, Mr Malone was fatally stabbed.
Mr Justice Carney said he had regard to the “senseless reason” for which Mr Malone had died. He described the crime as being at the top end of the scale because Black had armed herself with a knife before she visited Mr Malone.
He commented that the voluntary consumption of alcohol and drugs affords no defence in criminal responsibility, nor mitigation of a defendant's responsibility to society.
The court earlier heard that Black had been drinking and taking anti depressants at the time she inflicted the single fatal stab wound to Mr Malone's upper chest.
Mr Justice Carney also said that the dysfunctional nature of a defendant's background was of "minimal importance" in distinguishing their behaviour from other cases.
Afterward today's sentencing, Mr Malone's sisters and son welcomed the sentence. His sister Josephine Malone said it had been a very difficult time for the family.
"I suppose we have been offered a sentence but at the end of the day it won't bring our brother back," she said.
"He was very bubbly, a good lad. He had his problems too, like us all but he was a nice chap." She said their elderly mother was "okay, living from day to day I suppose".
Ms Malone said the family had not seen John for a few years before his death. "And we didn't think when we did see him we'd be bringing him home in a coffin so it's sad."
Asked if his father's death had destroyed his life, his 18-year-old son Jonathan simply said "yes".
"He didn't deserve to get what he did," he said. "He was a loving person and he'd do anything for you.
