Man survived knife attack by partner after garda used belt to stem severed artery

Tom Tuite

A Dublin man survived a domestic knife attack and a severed artery only for the actions of a garda who used his belt to stop him from bleeding to death, a court has heard.

His long-term partner, a woman in her 50s, was charged with assault causing harm to him at their home in Dublin's north side on Thursday.

She instructed her barrister that she was acting in self-defence when she appeared before Judge Catherine Ghent at Dublin District Court on Saturday.

North Dublin-based Garda Sean Clyde opposed bail, citing concerns that the accused would return to their home to coerce the man into withdrawing his complaint.

He said the man suffered three stab wounds, two to his leg, one to his upper chest.

He remains in high support care in the Mater Hospital, having suffered a severed artery and was awaiting surgery at the time of the court hearing.

A contested bail hearing was told that the injured man used the woman's phone to make a 999 call and told the emergency operator that the attack was still in progress.

Clyde told the court he had listened to the audio recording of the call and said the accused could be heard telling her partner, "don't mention my name".

Gardaí arrived at the property and met the woman, who allegedly told them a man named "Deano" had entered their home and stabbed her partner.

A partially washed knife was found placed back in a knife block in their property, the garda said. He also told the court the accused, who is on disability benefits, had admitted chronic alcohol use.

The accused is not being named because the proceedings were held in camera as a domestic violence case.

Clyde agreed with defence counsel Paddy Flynn that the woman's account is that she acted in self-defence.

However, he contended that it was clear from the 999 call recording that she was trying to coerce the man, and she tried to mould a narrative when gardaí arrived with her account about "Deano".

The garda believed the man would have bled to death and "only for the actions of several of his colleagues who used one of their belts to wrap around his leg, he would have bled out".

"He is lucky to be alive," the garda added.

Flynn stressed that being unable to provide an address was not a barrier to bail. In evidence, the woman said she would try to reside with a friend in Dublin or with relatives outside the city.

Flynn submitted that denying bail could see his client spend a lengthy period in custody until her trial, which may not get underway until late 2027. He suggested that she be released under stringent conditions, including no contact with the alleged victim.

However, Judge Catherine Ghent held that the garda's objections to bail were legitimate. She remanded the accused in custody with a request that she receive medical and psychiatric attention. Legal aid was granted.