A YOUNG Dublin man who stabbed his best friend nine times in a frenzied attack as he lay asleep was jailed for five years at the Central Criminal Court yesterday.
Keith Balfe (21), of Gallanstown Drive, Ballyfermot, Dublin, admitted wounding Mr Andrew McGann (20), from Shancastle Lawns, Ronanstown, Dublin, on April 12th, 1994, with intent to commit murder.
The court heard that Balfe told a doctor he was depressed at the time of the assault and earlier that, same day had twice tried to kill himself.
On the night of the attack Balfe was staying the night at Mr McGann's home. "We watched the film Dangerous Liaisons on the telly and it was then I decided that I was going to kill him," Balfe told gardai in a statement read in court.
Det Sgt Noel Browne told the court there appeared to be no motive for the attack. He said Balfe called for an ambulance and asked the barman in a local pub to contact the gardai after the attack.
Mr McGann, who sustained several stab wounds, had made a good physical recovery. He had, experienced great trauma.
Dr Pauline Twoomey, a consultant psychiatrist, told Mr Anthony Sammon SC, defending, that she believed Balfe may have been suffering from depression at the time of the incident.
Jailing Balfe for five years, Mr Justice Morris said he took into account his guilty plea, the fact he had immediately called an ambulance, alerted the gardai and that he had no previous convictions.