Gerard Baird (39) of Kilbarron Road, Coolock, Dublin 5 pleaded guilty to a charge of assault causing harm in respect of the victim, a friend of his, with whom he had been drinking at the time.
The Circuit Criminal Court heard that, on the 31st of October 2021 Baird was drinking in the room of a shared house the victim was living in before the incident.
Before Baird went to leave the premises, the injured party noticed him taking a bike, and a can of alcohol from the fridge. He had also taken a knife belonging to another resident of the house.
When the injured party took issue with Baird he called him “a rat” before going “straight at him” and “stabbing him in the stomach”, the court heard.
The injured party was also stabbed in the neck and chest, with the court hearing that he was left “holding his stomach to stop his intestines coming out” after sustaining two stab wounds to that area.
The court heard he did not believe he would survive his injuries.
While bleeding heavily he “tried to calm Baird down” and “pleaded with him to call an ambulance”.
After some difficulty unlocking a mobile phone, an ambulance was called, with the court hearing that Baird was “shouting mad stuff”.
When help arrived Baird gave a false account of events saying that the injured party had “left to answer the door” and had multiple stab wounds when he came back.
The victim was taken to Beaumont hospital where he required surgery, and had internal and external stitches placed. His internal organs were damaged, the court heard.
The court heard that the victim has made a good recovery, however this required time. The victim also experienced loss of earnings ,as well as his accommodation, due to the incident.
The accused has 70 previous convictions, including for burglary, assault, public order, and criminal damage. He also has four convictions from the UK, including one from 2015 for grievous bodily harm.
Baird’s defending counsel said that his client had a “very poor recollection” of the night in question, saying he has had a “very significant addiction history” involving alcohol and cocaine.
Judge Martin Nolan said that the accused had for a “no apparent reason” attacked his friend “viciously” and that this had led to “very severe consequences”.
The court noted that a trial date had been taken in respect the accused, and that he had a “long history of offending behaviour,” and that the “principal problem is that he becomes aggressive and angry when drink is taken”.
“It seems he becomes aggressive and angry when he has drink taken,” Judge Nolan said.
Remarking that the “jury is out” as to whether the accused will reoffend, the court sentenced Baird to 3 years and 3 months in prison.