A Dublin father who stabbed two women over his partner’s €50 debt has been sentenced to three years in prison with the final 18 months suspended.
Anthony Hannon (39) claimed he acted in self-defence when he stabbed Joanne Teeling and her friend, Leanne Gleeson, a few doors up from his former home.
Garda Ciara O’Brien said that Ms Gleeson lost her spleen because of the stab wound to her stomach and Ms Teeling has no feeling in her left small finger from a slash to her arm. The garda said because of the numbness Ms Teeling finds tasks like putting socks on her children difficult.
Hannon, of Scholar’s Walk, Lusk, pleaded guilty on his trial date at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Ms Teeling and Ms Gleeson causing them harm at Wellview Avenue, Ladyswell on February 2, 2011. He has no previous convictions.
Ms Teeling had called to Hannon’s home earlier that day to see his partner about the debt owed to her. She later received text messages from Hannon and went back to the premises, where she said he tried to throw “a dig” at her.
Ms Teeling said she had again returned to her own home when she saw Hannon running up the road, shouting “you’re dead.”
Gda O’Brien told Caroline Cummings BL, prosecuting, that Hannon and his victim ended up in a “tussle” on the grass outside her house when Ms Gleeson arrived to separate them.
Ms Gleeson later told gardai she felt a “pinch” to the left side of her belly and saw blood coming out of a wound when she pulled up her top.
She suffered a punctured lung and lost her spleen in an operation after the attack.
Ms Teeling suffered a stab wound in her left arm and stomach and had surgery to check her bowels.
Gda O’Brien told Ms Cummings that Hannon admitted fighting the two ladies. He claimed Ms Teeling had attacked him with a glass bottle at his house.
He further claimed Ms Teeling had pulled him into her garden.
The garda agreed with James Dwyer BL, defending, that Hannon said he was “very protective” of his family, which includes two of his own children and nine he cares for with his partner.
His partner, Esther Faye, told Mr Dwyer that Hannon is a “kind, loving person” and that their children miss him since he went voluntarily into custody.
Mr Dwyer submitted to Judge Mary Ellen Ring that Hannon had abused heroin in the past but is now drug free.
He said his client volunteered working with children at his local GAA club.
Judge Ring had remanded Hannon in continuing custody and ordered a probation report having heard evidence earlier in the year.
She accepted that he had no previous convictions but said she couldn’t ignore the seriousness of the assault and the possession of a knife which led to the injuries.
Judge Ring imposed a three-year prison sentence which she backdated to February this year. She suspended the final 18 months on strict conditions including that he remain under the supervision of the Probation Service for 12 months upon his release.
