A man and woman wounded in an “horrific” attack when a man went “ballistic” with a machete, were lucky not to have been killed, a judge has said.
Judge Phillip Babington was speaking while sentencing Stephen Patrick O’Kane to 18 months in jail for the attack which occurred on 16 August, 2012.
O’Kane (25), of Rinmore Drive in Creggan, pleaded guilty to maliciously wounding his then girlfriend and his brother.
He also admitted having an offensive weapon, namely a machete, with intent to commit grievous bodily harm.
The court heard the three had been out “socialising” and went back to the accused mother’s house where he eventually fell asleep.
After awakening at around 7.15am, the court was told O’Kane went “ballistic” and attacked his brother who, despite trying to protect h during the horrific attack.
The court heard O’Kane then turned on his then girlfriend who put her arm up in attempt to to protect herself resulting in her sustaining a serious slash wound to her hand which required treatment at Dundonald Hospital for nerve damage.
The court was told O’Kane had consumed alcohol and methadrone and could not remember the incident.
Passing sentence, Judge Babington said the incident was “horrific” and one in which “someone could have been killed.”
O’Kane was given two three-and-a-half years jail terms for the malicious wounding charges and a further three years for the offensive weapon charge.
Ordering all three sentences to run concurrently, Judge Babington told O’Kane he would spend 18 months in custody without remission and a further two years on supervised licence.
Judge Babington also ordered O’Kane to attend addiction programmes.
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