A 69-year-old former hospital porter has avoided jail after attacking his neighbour with a Stanley knife in a "foolish" row.
Gary Healy had slashed his neighbour during a confrontation over trespassing dogs, leaving the man with cuts to his neck and arms.
The 2023 assault unfolded when the victim went to his neighbour's home following an earlier argument between Healy and the victim's wife.
Garda Shay Leonard told a court that the neighbours, of Palmerstown Woods, Clondalkin, Dublin, had been in disagreement about dogs trespassing in gardens.
The neighbours, of Palmerstown Woods, Clondalkin, Dublin (pictured) had been in disagreement about dogs trespassing in gardens
When the victim arrived at Healy's front doorstep to discuss the earlier dispute, Healy produced a Stanley knife and slashed at him.
The attack left the victim with what were described as minor injuries, including a 7cm cut to his neck, two 5cm cuts to his forearms and a 2cm cut to his hand.
Healy had pleaded guilty in the District Court to assault causing harm contrary to section 3 of Ireland's Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997.
Defence counsel David Staunton argued that his client was reacting to the victim's presence at his doorstep and "felt threatened when he heard someone come to the house".
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Ex-hospital porter Healy slashed at his victim with a Stanley knife (file photo)
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He described Healy as having lived a "blameless existence" until the incident, when he had the "momentary thought process" to pick up the blade.
Staunton told the court that Healy, who worked for 40 years as a porter at Dublin's Temple Street Hospital, made an "incredibly foolish and stupid decision" to arm himself in a panic.
The defence presented letters and testimonials from community members supporting Healy, who has sought to avoid the victim since the attack.
Judge Jonathan Dunphy acknowledged that "something more serious could have happened" and said the victim had "every right to be aggrieved and upset by the attack".
However, he accepted that Healy's actions were an overreaction, saying "he let himself, his family and his neighbours down on this occasion".
After winning an appeal against his four-month jail sentence, the judge decided to replace Healy's time behind bars with a 12-month peace bond - a fine to guarantee that he will not commit a breach of the peace.
He also ordered Healy pay £3,000 in compensation to the victim, or to a charity of the victim's choice if he declines to accept it directly.
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