Man wanted over ‘frenzied’ stabbing hands himself in

A MAN wanted since last August after a ‘frenzied’ pub stabbing has surrendered himself to gardaí.

Joe Dillon, 49, appeared before Limerick District Court last Friday evening, charged with assault causing harm to a man, at the North Star Bar, Thomondgate, Limerick, on August 21 last.

Mr Dillon was also charged with assault causing harm to a second man, who gardaí said was stabbed while intervening in the pub attack.

He was also charged with producing a knife during the alleged attack.

Gardaí alleged that the stabbing was linked to a ‘nasty’ four-year family feud.

Mr Dillon’s solicitor, Sarah Ryan, told her client’s bail hearing, that his instructions to her were that, ‘he had gone to confront [his intended target], and he had taken a knife with himself for protection’.

Gardaí said they had been searching for Mr Dillon since last August’s pub stabbing.

Ms Ryan said Mr Dillon, who has been diagnosed as ‘bipolar’, was ‘not trying to avoid gardaí’.

He had gone away to ‘get his head together’, she said, and ‘knew he was coming back to face charges’.

Mr Dillon’s wife Colette Dillon told the court she did not report her husband missing during this time.

She admitted she had known her husband’s location for the past three and half months. She said that she was living in fear and alleged that a man not before the court ‘drove my husband to do what he did’.

Gardaí said they believed that Mr Dillon would commit further serious charges if granted bail; and that if given bail, he would not return to court to face the charges.

Taking into account all of the evidence and noting the Garda objections, Judge Marian O’Leary said she was refusing bail.

She remanded Mr Dillon, of Shanabooley Road, Limerick, in custody to appear before Limerick District Court tomorrow.