Man gets 8 years for killing addict

A Dublin man has been jailed for eight years for killing a drug addict who had beaten him up months previously.

A Dublin man has been jailed for eight years for killing a drug addict who had beaten him up months previously.

William Duffy wept as he was sentenced for stabbing Mr Paul Rooney 13 times in a frenzied attack three years ago.

Mr Justice Smith said the killing had a "catastrophic" effect on the dead man's family. The court was told Duffy feared for his family's safety after Mr Rooney came to his house and demanded methadone.

Mr Rooney shouted at Duffy's wife and Duffy stabbed him repeatedly with a hunting knife.

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Mr Justice Smith noted both Duffy and Mr Rooney were recovering drug addicts and said the case highlighted the scourge of drugs.

Last March, Duffy (37), was convicted of manslaughter by a jury at the Central Criminal Court. The jury cleared him of murdering Mr Paul Rooney (21) at Rossfield Avenue, Tallaght on September 9th, 1998.