A man facing a murder charge has been jailed for five years for stabbing a passerby who lost an eye as a result.
Det Garda Michael Fitzgerald said Mr William Brereton was walking along College Green in Dublin when Brian Willoughby approached him, asked him if he was gay and repeatedly stabbed him.
Garda Ciaron Barry said Willoughby also left Mr James McConnon with 100 stitches to the body after another totally unprovoked knife attack in Baggot Street. Willoughby (21), of Orwell Park, Templeogue, pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm to Mr Brereton and Mr McConnon. He also pleaded guilty to assault on Mr Stephen Quinn on a city-centre bus. All the offences were in 1997 and 1998.
Earlier, Mr Patrick Marrinan, defending, applied for adjournment of sentence until Willoughby's murder trial was complete. He said Willoughby was currently being detained in the Central Mental Hospital.
Judge Elizabeth Dunne rejected the application in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and said Willoughby was presumed innocent unless proven otherwise.