Stabbing left victim needing 500 stitches

TWO brothers have been charged in connection with a stabbing which left the victim needing 500 stitches to his head, neck and back.

Daniel Harty (19) and Martin Harty (20), both of Lisheen Park, Patrickswell, Co Limerick, were each charged with assault causing harm to Seamus Byrnes at Church Road, Ballycummin, on October 28.

Gardaí said the alleged incident was linked to a long-running feud.

During a bail application for Daniel Harty, Garda Dave Godfrey of Roxboro Road station alleged that “such was the extent of (Mr Byrnes’s) injuries”, that gardaí immediately took a “dying declaration” from him, and he told them who his alleged attackers were.

He said Mr Byrnes alleged that Daniel Harty and Martin Harty, along with third individual not before the court, had attacked him with “a knife”, “a machete” and “a wooden stick”.

Judge Mary Larkin refused bail for Daniel Harty, remanding him in custody to appear before Limerick District Court via videolink today.

Martin Harty was remanded in custody to appear before the court for a bail application on the same day.

Daniel and Martin Harty were also charged with violent disorder, in which they allegedly attacked Mr Byrnes with weapons in front of his wife and young child, at Punches Cross, Limerick, on October 10.