One of Detective Jerry McCabe’s killers will have to spend an extra two years in prison for a vicious two and a half hour attack on his wife.

The Court of Appeal set aside Pearse McAuley’s original sentence after agreeing with the DPP that the suspended portion was “excessive”.

Just before Pearse McAuley was sentenced last December, Judge John Aylmer commended his estranged wife Pauline Tully for the courage and dignity with which she had delivered her Victim Impact Statement.

She described being punched, kicked and stabbed during a two and a half hour attack on the morning of Christmas Eve 2014. She said he arrived drunk to see their boys. He was armed with a steak knife.

She said their eldest son, who was just 7, still has nightmares.

After taking his guilty pleas and remorse into account, Judge Aylmer handed down a 12 year sentence with the final four years suspended.

That was today ruled to be unduly lenient by the Court of Appeal – the suspension deemed excessive.

A sentence of 12 years with just the final two suspended was handed down in its place.

Pearse McAuley has previously served ten years for his part in the killing of Detective Jerry McCabe in Limerick in 1996.