A 30-year-old Dublin man yesterday admitted attempting to murder his girlfriend and stabbing four others who came to her aid.
In the Central Criminal Court in Dublin, Brian O'Connor (30) of Royal Canal Bank, Phibsboro, Dublin, pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of his then girl friend, Ms Clodagh Flood (24) on March 23rd, 1997, in St Jude's Gardens, Railway Street, Dublin. O'Connor stabbed Ms Flood 22 times when he arrived at her flat in the early hours of the morning armed with a knife.
The attack followed an incident in a nightclub earlier that night when O'Connor was thrown out of the club and then fell out with his girlfriend before she left him and went home.
During the attack, O'Connor first stabbed Ms Flood's uncle, Mr Jason Egan, who answered the door to him, then her mother, Ms Kathleen Flood (46) and, finally, two brothers from neighbouring flats who attempted to intervene, Mr Declan Donnery (26) and Mr Francis Donnery (31).
All the victims were residents of St Jude's Gardens.
At the request of defence barrister Mr Patrick MacEntee SC, Mr Justice Carney directed that a psychological report be prepared. Sentencing was put back to October 15th and O`Connor was remanded in continuing custody.
O'Connor fled to England after the attack. He was extradited to Ireland in August last year and has remained in custody since.