A man who brutally stabbed Dublin GAA player Jonny Cooper and a taxi driver has been handed down a seven-year prison sentence with the final two years suspended.
The attacker, 32-year-old Mark Lavelle was high on the drug crystal meth when he carried out the violent and unprovoked attack on the two innocent men, and according to his lawyers has suffered from mental disorders since his teens.
Lavelle pleaded guilty on both counts of assault at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, causing harm to the Dublin footballer at around 5am on 20 September last year at Dorset Street Upper in Dublin and causing harm to Thomas Smith at Kennelsfort Road Upper in Palmerstown at around 2am on the Saturday morning and to stealing Mr Smith’s car.
Mr Cooper received nine stab wounds to his forehead, eyelid and neck area and spent one night in hospital.
Lavelle has had 62 previous convictions including assaults, criminal damage, possession of knives, possession of drugs, burglary, robbery, violent behaviour in a garda station, trespass, public order and altering a prescription.
Judge Martin Nolan handed down two three and a half year sentences with the final two years suspended under strict conditions.