A man who stabbed a schoolboy in an unprovoked attack and lacerated his liver has been sentenced to three years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Dwaine Leeper (22), of Coultry Drive, Ballymun, pleaded guilty to assaulting Eric Nolan, causing him harm, on the Swords Road in Santry on May 23rd, 2009.
Leeper has previous convictions for public order and road traffic offences.
He could offer no explanation for stabbing Mr Nolan.
He later told gardaí in interview he was hanging around with a tough crowd at the time and was carrying a knife to look like “the hard man”.
Judge Martin Nolan said Leeper had been on the sidelines of the attack on Mr Nolan but “for some unknown reason” had then come in to stab the victim.
He said it was a very serious offence and it was fortunate for everyone Mr Nolan had made a full recovery.
He sentenced Leeper to three years in prison but the suspended the final 18 months on condition he is of good behaviour for two years on his release.