Garda killer Pearse McAuley has been sentenced to 12 years in prison, with four suspended, for stabbing his wife in front of their two young sons last Christmas Eve.

In June, the 50-year-old admitted falsely imprisoning Pauline Tully and assault causing her serious harm at the family home in Cavan.

He also pleaded guilty to the production of a knife, which he used to stab her 13 times, and threatening to kill her brother when he came to her rescue.

Courts Correspondent Frank Greaney reports:

McAuley, who is originally from Strabane in Co Tyrone, has previously spent time in jail for his part in the 1996 killing of Garda Jerry McCabe in Limerick.

Tully took to the stand last Friday to outline how she has been effected by what happened to her when the father of her children burst into their family home at 11.00am last Christmas Eve.

They were separated at the time but had arranged that he would call over.

The court heard Pearse McAuley was drunk when he arrived two hours early. She said he accused her of having another man in front of their two boys before beating and stabbing her.

The former couple’s two young boys were in the house at the time of the attack, but Tully says they’ve been getting counselling and are doing well:

Pauline Tully McAuley on her wedding day. Picture by: Paul Faith / PA Archive/PA Images

McAuley’s previous criminal record is well known. He spent ten years in jail for the manslaughter of Garda Jerry McCabe, who was shot dead in Limerick in 1996.

He and former Sinn Féin councillor Pauline Tully married in 2003 while he was serving time for that crime. The wedding took place while he was on weekend release from prison.

His previous conviction will be taken into account when he is sentenced later today.

Newstalk.com's courts correspondent Frank Greaney told Breakfast the attack on Pauline Tully-McAuley lasted for more than two hours.