A CONVICTED murderer has been jailed for five years for causing grievous bodily harm to his niece with a pick axe handle, an offence for which he was previously given a life sentence.
Raymond McBride (50), a Donegal native, served 10 years of a life sentence in Scotland for a murder he committed in 1966. He was given another life sentence in March, 1995, by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after a jury convicted him of causing his niece grievous bodily harm.
That conviction and sentence were quashed 10 months later by the Court of Criminal Appeal and a new trial ordered.
When the case came back before the court yesterday, McBride, of Woodford Park, Clondalkin, to Dublin, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to Ms Stephanie McBride on February 16th, 1994.
Ms McBride told Judge Cyril Kelly she had forgiven her uncle and had been compensated by him to a total value of £11,000.
The court heard how Ms McBride was about to enter her house when the accused pulled up in his car and hit her three blows with a pick axe handle. She suffered a fracture to her arm and a scalp wound.
In a statement, McBride said he only meant to frighten his niece who had not made an insurance claim he asked her to.
Judge Kelly noted the appeal for clemency by Ms McBride and the remorse expressed by her uncle but said other parties, such as the people of the State, also had an interest in the case. He imposed a five year sentence but suspended the balance as from January 2nd, 1997, so that what faced him would be "engraved" on McBride's mind.