A Waterford man who stabbed a teenager to death at a party has been sentenced at the Central Criminal Court to seven years in prison. Justin Longman (18), Larchville, Waterford, was found guilty of the manslaughter of Brian O'Neill (18), Ballybeg, Waterford, at Woodlawn Grove in the city in February.
Mr Justice Philip O'Sullivan yesterday described the assault as "an appalling and atrocious attack on the late Mr O'Neill".
He suffered 10 knife wounds to the head, but died from a further stab to the side which severed the pulmonary artery and caused his left lung cavity to fill with blood.
Mr Justice O'Sullivan took a number of factors into account, including Longman's youth and that he had no previous convictions. The judge noted that he had been prepared to plead guilty to manslaughter, but that both he and Mr O'Neill's family had to endure the "great pressure and tension" of a murder trial.
David O'Neill, the victim's father, said he was "disappointed". Earlier he had given evidence on the impact of his son's death on the family, describing the day of the killing as the day "our whole world collapsed". He said that while a chapter of his life would be coming to an end, the pain of his son's killing would continue.
His family was not the same since his son's death, and he woke every morning with the image of his body in his mind.
Longman took the stand to apologise to his victim's family, looking at them directly as he spoke. "I would like to say that I am very sorry for what happened," he said. "I am not asking you to forgive me, but I am asking you to accept that it was a mistake."
The party where Mr O'Neill died began as a housewarming for a new tenant who had moved there from Wicklow. As news of the party spread, several uninvited guests arrived and the atmosphere worsened.
Witnesses recalled seeing Longman receive a headbutt from Mr O'Neill. They met again and a second scuffle broke out, during which witnesses said Mr O'Neill was held in a headlock. Screams went up as partygoers realised a knife was being used.