A man who stabbed his victim five times in the back in a dispute over a can of Heineken was jailed yesterday for three years.
Glen Geasley (24), Inishmore Estate, Ballincollig, Cork, was before Cork Circuit Criminal Court charged with assault causing harm to Mr Jonathon McGrath in an apartment in Cobh on December 16th, 2001.
According to Sgt Gerry Shortiss, the incident occurred after the victim met a group of people as he walked home. They invited him to a party at a nearby apartment and he accompanied them to the house. When inside the flat, he was offered a can of Heineken. However Geasley protested with another man that Mr McGrath should not be given the drink. Without warning, Geasley stood up and stabbed the victim five times.
The injured party was rushed to Cork University Hospital. The court heard that Geasley fled the jurisdiction and was arrested on his return from the UK.
Mr McGrath, a plasterer, told the court of the scars left by the attack. "I spent two weeks in Cork University Hospital and I could not work for 10 months. I couldn't sleep or eat. I have scars all over me and I couldn't go on holidays because I am embarrassed by them," he said.
He added that he understood that Geasley, who has a number of convictions for violent behaviour, had made an effort to atone by raising €7,500. But Mr McGrath said he had lost €14,000 due to absence from work.