A man who slashed his girlfriend's teenage sister with a Stanley knife in a savage and frenzied attack has received a two-year sentence.
Michael Gannon (25), from Howth View Park, Kilbarrack, had broken up with his girlfriend, Ms Tara Donoghue, about two months previously after becoming incensed because she had started working in a Leeson Street lap-dancing club.
Gannon pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to producing a knife with intent to endanger life, to assault causing harm to 16-year-old Ms Jennifer Donoghue and to criminal damage on May 3rd, 2001.
Garda Justin O'Keefe told Mr Vincent Heneghan, prosecuting, that Gannon was extremely drunk when he smashed the window of his girlfriend's mother's car with a pick-axe handle. Ms Jennifer Donoghue then headed towards Gannon's house because she was concerned for the welfare of her sister's three-month-old baby, which he should have been minding.
As she approached the house, Gannon jumped out from a neighbour's garden and began to viciously attack her by kicking and punching her after she was knocked to the ground.
Gannon's sister, Helena, then came from the house and tried to pull him off the victim and told her to go home but as Ms Donoghue got to her feet she fell to the ground again.
Garda O'Keefe said Gannon kicked Ms Donoghue again and she then felt a sharp, cold pain in the side of her face.
Ms Helena Gannon managed to pull her brother from the victim again and she got up and walked a few yards before collapsing.
Garda O'Keefe said Gannon wielded two Stanley knives while he chased a number of Ms Donoghue's friends who had come to her aid.
The gardaí and an ambulance were called and Ms Donoghue was taken to Beaumont Hospital, where she received 13 stitches.
Judge Desmond Hogan suspended the last nine months of the sentence on the condition that Gannon liaised with the probation services and underwent an anger-management course.