A 19-year-old man who fatally stabbed a 30-year-old man in the back after finding him in bed with his then 15-year-old ex-girlfriend was yesterday described as having a record of violence.
Shane O’Riordan and his brother Gerard (25) from Arbutus Grove, Killarney, Co Kerry, were found not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter of James Brazier at a house in Pinewood Estate in Killarney on April 15th, 2007.
Yesterday, Shane O’Riordan’s counsel, Patrick MacEntee SC, told the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork that Shane O’Riordan was only 17 when he stabbed Mr Brazier during the frenzied attack after he found him in the girl’s bedroom.
“Even at that stage he had a record of violence and it needs to be addresses.
“This is an exceptional case. The cause of his violent conduct needs to be addressed.
“We need to know what is going on here and whether it can be stopped,” said Mr MacEntee. Mr Justice Barry White said that it was an unfortunate fact of modern society that adolescents often find themselves in trouble for very serious offences and Shane O’Riordan was not unique in that regard.
Mr Justice White adjourned sentencing to the Central Criminal Court in Dublin on July 17th, with a victim impact report to be prepared which will give the family of the late Mr Brazier an opportunity to address the court in writing in advance of sentencing.
