Man stabbed `in row over dog'

A row about a barking dog led to a karate international being stabbed twice in the chest by his neighbour, it was alleged in …

A row about a barking dog led to a karate international being stabbed twice in the chest by his neighbour, it was alleged in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Ms Audrey Kerr (44), of Bluebell, Dublin denies assaulting Mr Oliver De Lacy, causing him harm, at her home on November 6th, 1998. It was the first day of the trial. Mr De Lacy's wife, Barbara, told Mr Hugo Hynes, prosecuting, that she often asked Ms Kerr's daughter, Lindsay, to keep her Yorkshire terrier quiet but was met by verbal abuse. She said on that day she asked Lindsay to take the dog with her if she was going out. Lindsay cursed at her and a fight broke out between the victim and Lindsay's father, Damien.

Ms De Lacy broke down in tears as she said her husband tried to defend himself from Mr Kerr by using karate block and a kick. She said Audrey Kerr then leaned forward and stabbed Mr De Lacy in the chest. Cross-examined by Mr Bernard Condon, defending, Ms De Lacy denied that Ms Kerr was trying to defend her husband from attack by Mr De Lacy.