TWO BROTHERS have been jailed for 3½ years for permanently scarring a man’s face with a Stanley knife because he wanted to marry their cousin.
Derek Ward (32), of Coole Park, Bohermore, Galway, and Jason Ward (30), of Rian Luachra, Ballybane, Galway, had denied intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Mark Keane (31) outside Anne Marie Ward’s family home in Gaelcarrig Park, Newcastle, Galway, on May 14th, 2008, when they first appeared before the Circuit Criminal Court in May.
However, shortly after the victim gave evidence of the assault and photographs of his facial scars were shown to the jury, the pair pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of assaulting Mr Keane, causing him harm. This plea was accepted by the DPP and the jury was discharged.
Mr Keane gave evidence that he had grown up in the same estate as both accused and they had played together as children. He said he was attacked because he wanted to marry their first cousin, Anne Marie Ward.
Mr Keane suffered a stab wound to his chest and a gaping stab wound to his upper and lower lips during the brutal attack. A portion of his top lip was hanging off where Jason Ward slashed him with the Stanley knife, and he has been left with permanent scarring around his mouth.
Mr Keane told the jury he had known Anne Marie Ward all his life but was not allowed to go out with her because he was from the settled community and she was a Traveller. However, the couple started secretly communicating by phone in November, 2007. Her parents finally agreed to the marriage, having initially rejected it.
Mr Keane said that on the day of the attack his fiancee texted him to warn him the accused were looking for him. He said he immediately called to her home to see whether she was okay. Derek Ward pulled up behind his car and hit Mr Keane into the ribs with the back of a hatchet, knocking him to the ground.
Mr Keane said Ms Ward threw herself on top of him on the ground to protect him from further blows.
Jason Ward then arrived at the house. He stabbed Mr Keane in the chest and slashed his face with the Stanley knife.
Mr Keane and Ms Ward got married on her 21st birthday on October 10, 2008 but they have had to move out of Galway city and keep moving address ever since as they live in fear of further attacks.
Imposing the sentences, Judge Raymond Groarke described the Wards as “vicious thugs” .