Judge tells man 'it is by the grace of God' he wasn't facing a more serious court following stabbing

A decent, honest and affable man – when sober – picked up a knife after drinking and stabbed another man several times in the stomach causing life-threatening injuries and now he has been jailed for two and a half years.

Judge John Martin imposed a sentence of three years with the last six months suspended in the case against Martin Lindeman at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Detective Garda Peter Nolan gave evidence of the assault causing serious harm to one man and threats to kill two women on May 11 2023 at Regal Estate, Skibbereen, County Cork, where the German national has been living for some years.

Judge Martin said after reading the victim impact statements: 

“It is fair to say each victim was stunned and upset but none of them bears ill-will towards you.” 

Det Garda Nolan said when gardaí arrived at the reported stabbing, the victim was unconscious and unresponsive. A number blood transfusions were later required during eleven days in hospital. He sustained very significant stab wounds to his stomach.

Addressing the accused directly about the life-threatening injuries, during the sentencing hearing, Judge Martin said: “It is by the grace of God, sir, that you are not facing trial in a more serious court.

“In all the circumstances I regard this offending as being at the upper end.” 

The 52-year-old German national has been in Ireland since the 1990s and had a history of working but lost his job and suffered a breakdown in his relationship with his partner.

The judge said that aggravating factors included the use of a knife and infliction of serious injuries and making threats to kill.

The judge said that four previous assault convictions demonstrated a volatile and aggressive nature.

“To allow yourself become so intoxicated that you use it to stab one and threaten others is one I cannot overlook.

“Everyone living there was entitled to peace of their home and not to be threatened or indeed stabbed by a person wielding a knife,” Judge Martin said. 

The judge noted that the accused had spared everyone a trial by pleading guilty and he noted from the various parties that multiple languages and translators would have come into play had this gone to trial. The judge also acknowledged that he cooperated with gardaí and dropped he knife when told.

Referring to comments made by Det Garda Nolan, Judge Martin said: “Your conduct was out of character. When sober, you are decent, honest and affable. And (probation report indicates) you demonstrate victim empathy.”