EIGHT YEARS FOR STABBER
AN ‘OUT OF CONTROL’ PATRICK MCMORROW STABBED HIS STEPDAUGHTER AND PARTNER WITH A HUNTING KNIFE
A 51-year old man has been sentenced to ten years in prison with the final two years suspended for a “frenzied” knife attack on his step-daughter and her partner in the Crozon Inn almost two years ago.
Patrick (Padraig) McMorrow of Caltragh Crescent, Sligo, was told by Judge Keenan Johnson at Sligo Circuit Court on Monday that his attack on Patrice McMorrow and her partner Michael Harte was at the “upper range” of knife crimes.
“The prevalence of assaults involving the use of knives where the victims sustain serious injury is a source of much concern to this court,” he said at the sentence hearing.
“Over the last two weeks I have dealt with three serious assaults involving the use of knives while sitting in Longford, Tullamore and Sligo.
“The court is obligated to impose significant custodial sentences in cases that involve the use of knives in order to send out a clear message to those who arm themselves with knives that they can expect a jail sentence should they perpetrate an assault using a knife.
“This is necessary to deter the use of knives and assaults,” he told the courtroom.
McMorrow pleaded guilty on 30 th May to assault causing harm to Ms McMorrow and Mr Harte and to producing a knife while committing the assault at the Crozon Inn on October 23rd 2016.
Both the perpetrator and his victims were attending a reception at the venue when a row broke out between McMorrow and his sister-inlaw Maisie McMorrow.
The victims went to her aid and Mr Harte pushed McMorrow in order to protect his partner Patrice and Maisie. As a result of this, McMorrow fell to the ground.
Both victims decided to leave the premises immediately but McMorrow followed them and assaulted the couple in the entrance porch.
CCTV footage showed McMorrow reach inside his jacket and pull out a hunting knife which he then used to stab Ms McMorrow and Mr Harte.
Ms McMorrow recalled seeing the knife and tried to grab it out of the accused hand, thereby causing serious injury to her own left hand.
In the course of her struggle with her step-father, who she had known for 22 years, she was stabbed under the left armpit which resulted in her lung being punctured.
Michael Harte also sustained very serious injuries - a punctured lung, laceration to his liver, wounds to his ear, leg and body.
These were life-threatening injuries, noted Judge Johnson, and as was pointed out in his victim impact statement, “were it not for the Herculean efforts of the medical staff at Sligo General Hospital he would not have survived his injuries.”
“It was fortunate that the Gardaí arrived at the scene within one minute of the perpetration of the assault and that Sgt John Walsh who was the first to arrive on the scene had medical training and was able to render first aid to the victims,” said the judge.
He commended Sgt Walsh for the “excellent work he did in both assisting the victims and successfully investigating and prosecuting the offender.”
In his victim impact statement, Michael Harte said he was stabbed five times by McMorrow, with the knife being plunged with such force into his chest that his left lung collapsed and his liver lacerated.
“He was within minutes of losing his fight for life at Sligo University Hospital”, said the judge.
He was an inpatient for two weeks following surgery and had to return as an inpatient following an infection at his chest drain site.
Mr Harte said his “body and mind” were “scarred for the remainder of his life” and he had to go to counselling afterwards.
“He is still endeavouring to regain control of his life, which was turned upside down as a result of the assault,” said Judge Johnson.
Mr Harte said in his statement that he was “fearful and paranoid all the time and on medication to control anxiety.”
His family was traumatised by the assault and he tragically lost his father and brother in a fire in April 2017.
In the aftermath of the assault, Mr Harte said he was unable to mourn their loss and said his life was ruined by “an unprovoked attack”.
In her victim impact statement, Ms McMorrow said she had permanent scarring as a result of the attack.
“Her children fear that every time she leaves home she might get hurt to not come home,” noted the judge.
“They are not old enough to realise that normal people do not randomly attack with a knife. She has tried to reassure her children and advise them that the world is full of good people,” he said.
The court heard Patrice McMorrow has been prescribed anti-anxiety medication and sleeping medication as a consequence of the attack.
Her confidence was said to be “shattered” and “her trust in people is gone.”
She said that Patrick McMorrow essentially destroyed her life and she too, has attended counselling sessions.
Judge Johnson said the effects of the attack was made more difficult by virtue of the fact that McMorrow was known to her for over 22 years as partner to her mother.
Accordingly, he said the stabbing by McMorrow “represented a gross breach of trust on the part of the accused.”
She has never received an explanation from the accused as to why she and her partner were attacked.
She concluded her statement by saying that “life is too short to hold onto negative thoughts and feelings” and said she was trying her best to move on with her life for the sake of her children.
However she said she would never forgive the accused for what he’s done to her and her family.
Judge Johnson told Sligo Circuit Criminal Court that it was clear that the injuries sustained by the couple were “extremely serious and life changing.”
He said both victims had sustained not only serious physical injuries but also significant psychological adverse consequences and both had to undergo counselling to help them deal with the post-traumatic stress which each of them is enduring as a result of the attack.
He commended Patrice McMorrow for recognising that “life is short” and not allowing her life be defined by the attack.
Likewise, he praised Michael Harte for displaying “great fortitude and strength of character” in the way he has coped with his injuries and family bereavement.
“Michael and Patrice are an inspiration for the way they have dealt with matters and the way that they have prioritised the interests and well-being of their children.
The judge said that he hoped, with the passage of time they would make “as good a recovery as is possible” and wished them both well.
“I hope that today’s sentencing will draw a line in the sand for each of the victims and give them closure so that they can move on and live the fulfilled and happy lives that each of them so richly deserve,” he said.
In sentencing McMorrow Judge Johnson said an extremely aggravating factor in the case was the level of violence used in the attack which was “unprovoked and perpetrated where both parties were unarmed and leaving the scene.”
“It is clear that the accused was out of control and he has to accept responsibility for this,” he said.
Other extremely aggravating factors included the use of a hunting knife, the nature of the injuries inflicted, the profoundly negative impact on the victims, the failure of McMorrow to answer questions in Garda interviews and the fact that a Probation report said he was at a “moderate risk” of re-offending, giving his mental health issues, misuse of alcohol and lack of daily structure.
The mitigating factors included McMorrow’s early guilty plea, saving the State the time cost and expense of a criminal trial, the early guilty plea saving the victims the trauma of testifying in court.
Judge Johnson also gave credit to McMorrow for not making any excuses for his behaviour and for not trying to blame the victims for his actions.
The Probation report also said McMorrow accepted how serious the offences were and “how fortunate he is not to be facing more serious charges.”
“He accepts that it was only by luck somebody was not killed.
“The probation officer is satisfied that the accused is genuinely remorseful,” he said.
McMorrow also gave testimony earlier that he “deeply regretted” what he had done and explained that the assault was the result of “a stupid argument which resulted in people losing their tempers.”
Taking the above mitigating factors into account, Judge Johnson sentenced McMorrow to ten years in prison on each of the assault charges to run concurrently.
In order to foster and encourage the rehabilitation of McMorrow, he suspended the final two years for a period of five years on condition that he keep the peace and be of good behaviour for a period of five years post-release.
He must also submit to supervision by the Probation Services for a year post-release, remain drug and alcohol free for the entirety of the suspended sentence (two years) and provide urine analysis to either the Gardaí or the Probation Service.
McMorrow must also have no contact with either victim unless they consent to such contact. The prison sentence was backdated to 30 May.