A teenage father of three has been jailed for three years by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for a stabbing committed in 1994. Mark Thornton (19), of Moneymore, Co Derry, pleaded guilty to maliciously wounding Mr James O'Brien, at West Street, Drogheda, Co Louth, on December 17th, 1994.
Garda Gerard Gaffney told prosecuting counsel Ms Una Ni Raifeartaigh BL that the offence followed an exchange of words between two groups of young people who met in the street.
Thornton told Judge Kieran O'Connor that after his father and grandfather died, he lived with his girlfriend and children for some time in a flat on Laurence Street, for which they paid £25 a week rent. He then went to England to work to rear his family and came back to Ireland to work in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, for nine months before surrendering to the Garda to face this charge and others.
Garda Gaffney agreed with defence counsel Mr Jonathan Kilfeather BL that Thornton's offences were all committed in an 18-month period when he was quite young. Mr Kilfeather said Thornton began drinking after his father died and he also took his grandfather's death very badly. He had now matured a lot.
Judge O'Connor said Mr O'Brien could have been killed. He was impressed with Thornton's guilty plea and that he had remained out of trouble in England and in Mullingar before surrendering to gardai. While in prison he should educate himself.
Judge O'Connor said he would review the sentence on July 14th, 1999, when Thornton could be released from sentences totalling two years imposed by Dundalk Circuit Court. He would suspend the balance of the three-year sentence if Thornton could show the court he was worth it.
