A YOUNG man has been given a two year suspended sentence for stabbing a man who burst into his mother's house in Co Meath in 1994.
Richard Leonard was also ordered by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to pay £1,000 compensation to the 22 year old victim, Mr Tadhg Murphy.
The incident occurred around 5 a.m. on June 4th, 1994, when Leonard's mother returned to the house in Bettystown, Co Meath, with five people after a night's drinking. Mr Murphy was included in the party.
After some time it was decided to lock Mr Murphy out and he demanded to be allowed back in. Mr Murphy burst through two kitchen doors and grappled with Leonard who stabbed him three times.
Leonard, now 20, of Raheen Park, Dublin, admitted maliciously wounding Mr Murphy.
Judge Kieran O'Connor told Leonard he had a choice of being a useful citizen or becoming a hardened criminal like his father who is serving a long prison sentence. The court was impressed by what Sgt Noel O'Connor had said in his favour and was giving him a chance as a result.
Mr Michael Feehan SC (with Mr Michael O'Higgins), defending, said his client had changed completely since the incident.
Sgt O'Connor told Mr Roger Sweetman, prosecuting, that Leonard came from a troubled background.