KNIFE ATTACK
Jail for Xmas day violence on old friend
A MAN was beginning a jail sentence on Saturday for a Christmas Day knife attack on his friend.
Geno Anthony Maher from Anglesey admitted wounding David Doherty after he held a knife to his throat
The incident happened in a flat occupied by Mr Doherty on the Tyddyn Mostyn estate, Menai Bridge.
Maher (pictured) was “sofa surfing” at the time and had spent the previous evening drinking alcohol with Mr Doherty.
Jailing him for a total of 30 months, Judge Niclas Parry said: “A huge amount of alcohol and an eight inch bread knife are not a good combination.
“You became embroiled in an argument with someone equally as drunk. You picked up a knife and held it to his throat and caused an injury to his neck, wrist and hand. But the consequences could have been far more serious.”
Mathew Curtis, prosecuting said Maher and Mr Doherty had known each other since childhood and Maher had been sleeping on the sofa in the flat. During the argument Maher, 44 of Bethesda Street, Amlwch, had armed himself with the knife and went behind Mr Doherty holding the weapon to his throat close to his adam’s apple.
“In trying to grab the knife Mr Doherty suffered a cut to the neck area and injuries to a finger and wrist,” he said.
The injury to the finger required surgical treatment in a Liverpool Hospital and the court heard he may have to undergo further surgery.
Mr Curtis added Maher had been handed a 16-week prison sentence in February 2016 for burglary.
The sentence had been suspended for 18 months and Maher agreed he was in breach of that order.
Brett Williamson, defending, said Maher accepted that the use of knives are always treated very seriously by the courts because the repurcussions of their use can be very grave.
He asked the judge to consider Maher’s guilty plea, albeit at a late stage after a jury had been sworn, and the issues he faced with long standing problems with alcohol and drug abuse.
After the hearing Det Con Dave Owens of North Wales Police said: “Maher is a prolific offender and his sentence will I’m sure bring a huge degree of relief and reassurance to many in our local communities.
“Those who carry knifes and use violence must realise there is a consequence to their actions.
“Knives can inflict terrible injuries and it is reassuring to see the courts acknowledging such.”