A Co Clare parish priest could have died from repeated stab wounds in a horrific assault, Limerick Circuit Court heard yesterday.
John McInerney (25), single, unemployed, of Shanabooly Road, Ballynanty, Limerick city, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment on robbery charges and five years on an assault charge to run concurrent dating from the time of his arrest on June 3rd, 1998.
He pleaded guilty to charges that on May 23rd, 1998, at Ballykeelaun, Parteen, Co Clare, he robbed Father Liam Kelly of a gent's Seiko gold watch valued at £184, stole £40 in cash from him, stole a Toyota car valued at £14,000, a set of golf clubs valued at £1,500, three ornamental letter openers and a bottle of gin.
He also pleaded guilty to a charge that on the same date and place he assaulted Father Kelly intentionally or recklessly causing him harm.
The court heard of the 35-0minute ordeal of the former Limerick County hurler who was attacked in his bedroom by two assailants. He was awakened at 1.30 a.m. by loud shouting, and two men were standing in his bedroom wearing balaclavas.
Det Sgt James Ryan, Mary Street, said one had a knife and the other was carrying a long wooden baton and began beating the priest across the knees while he was still in bed. The taller man put a knife to his throat and told him he was on heroin and needed money for more.
The smaller attacker started to panic, and Father Kelly got out of bed. He had a hurley in the bedroom and in the ensuing struggle he pushed the smaller raider away and punched the bigger man on the jaw. He fell against the bedroom door and blocked it.
The man with the knife began stabbing him repeatedly in the head and back, and as a result his left lung was perforated. The raiders took the priest into his office, bleeding heavily from his wounds, and tied him to a chair with phone flex.
Father Kelly had his cross and chain pulled from his neck and tossed back at him, along with coins he gave them. The attackers got his car keys. The priest was left in the parochial house, tied and gagged and bleeding. He managed to free himself, went to the parish clerk's house and was removed to intensive care where he remained for a week.
Father Kelly's car was found burned out in a local housing estate, a few miles from the scene. Nothing was recovered.
The court heard that Father Kelly was coping well, but with the case coming up he was now suffering post traumatic disorder. If he had not freed himself when he did the medical evidence suggests he would have died.
The court also heard that Father Kelly had shown a remarkably Christian attitude towards both accused. The other defendant, a juvenile, was sentenced to six years' imprisonment by a previous court.
The accused had previous convictions and wrote a letter of regret to Father Kelly. Defence counsel said he felt ashamed of his behaviour. He was on drugs at the time, and his behaviour was entirely out of context.
His mother, Mrs Teresa McInerney, expressed her sincere sympathy to Father Kelly and what had happened to him. "My son feels the same way." He had never been violent, and was in a relationship and was a good father to the child.
Judge Kevin Haugh, passing sentence, said he was satisfied the accused was a ringleader and was on heroin and was deranged. "The offences were horrific in their cruelty. It was an appalling attack on Father Liam Kelly."