24/10/2008

Witnesses Too Afraid To Testify Against Dublin Stabber

A 36-year-old Dublin man has been jailed for 10 years despite witness and even the victim being too scared to testify against him.

Darren Duff of Doon Court in Poppintree, Ballymun, was convicted last July after an 11-day trial in which 10 witnesses and even the victim refused to give evidence over the stabbing which left the victim with his intestines protruding from his body.

According to reports of Firday. Judge Frank O'Donnell said he had no doubt the reason for their refusal to give evidence was fear.

Duff was convicted in July after a jury heard how he stabbed a man who had intervened in a fight he was having with a woman outside a house in Lucan.

After the altercation Duff took a knife from the house and followed the man before stabbing him, leaving his intestines protruding.

However, during the trial the victim and the other witnesses who made statements to the gardaí at the time of the offence said they did not want to give evidence. Instead their statements were read to the jury.

During Friday's sentencing, Judge O'Donnell said he was not surprised there was no victim impact statement, and said he watched the victim and other witnesses all give testimony with fear written all over their face.

(DW)

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