Knife crime thankfully remains at a lower level in Irish cities, north and south, than in urban centres in Britain, but there is still a level of threat which needs to be taken very seriously by the authorities.
Two cases which came before Belfast Crown Court on the same day last week were particularly alarming, and could easily have resulted in the deaths of at least three entirely innocent citizens on our streets.
Evidence was given that Derek Paul McOwen (29), said by the Probation Service to be a “dangerous offender”, was wandering through the centre of Belfast in the early hours of the morning in July 2022, plainly determined to confront anyone he encountered.
The court heard that a couple were standing outside a bar close to the City Hall when McOwen walked past, made a comment to the woman and smirked at her before, when her partner walked towards him and said he should apologise, producing a knife and stabbing the man up to 15 times
Minutes later, McOwen, who had 85 previous convictions and gave his address as HMP Maghaberry, attacked another complete stranger as he stood outside a takeaway outlet and left him with a chest wound.
The judge imposed an entirely justified sentence of 10 and a half years in custody, with an extended period of three years on licence after his release, conveying the gravity of the crimes which McOwen had committed.
Also appearing at Belfast Crown Court last week was Patrick Deeney (27), with an address in the south of the city, who was given an eight-year sentence for a stabbing, half of which he must serve in custody.
The court heard that he launched an unprovoked attack on a man he spotted at a bus stop on a busy road in north Belfast in April of last year, getting off a bike to stab him at least four times in the back and once in the head with a screwdriver.
Two cases which came before Belfast Crown Court on the same day last week were particularly alarming, and could easily have resulted in the deaths of at least three entirely innocent citizens on our streets
Deeney had 68 previous convictions and his victim said he was traumatised, and fearful of leaving his home after the assault, which he believed was sectarian as he had been wearing a Glasgow Rangers jersey and his attacker had called him an Orange b*****d.
Judge Gordon Kerr deserves full credit for imposing realistic sentences on both defendants, sending out a strong message that anyone using a knife during an assault can expect to go to jail for a significant period.
It is still disturbing that people in built-up areas are carrying concealed weapons of any kind, and it is essential that the police and everyone else concerned remains aware of the risk which exists.
