A Longford man has been jailed 7 and a half years for what a Judge has called a 'vicious and savage attack.'
Patrick Stokes of Corboy, Edgeworthstown was sentenced yesterday for the assault causing harm to Martin McDonagh, and the assault of local businessman Peter Vocella at Luigis Takeaway in April 2022. Patrick Stokes pleaded guilty to the assault of Martin McDonagh in January, with the 28 year old entering a further plea of guilty for the assault of the Take Away owner in court this week.
On the 5th of April, 2022, Mr Stokes entered Luigi's Takeway on Main Street in Longford Town and attacked Martin McDonagh with a stanley knife, resulting in the victim receiving life threatening injuries and Mr Vocella receiving minor injuries to his hand. It was highlighted that the placing of a make shift tourniquet on Mr McDonagh's upper arm by Luigi's owner Perter Vocella and a member of the public likely saved his life.
According to a medical report, he received four extensive scalp wounds, 30cm gash to his back and multiple wounds to his shoulders and arms. In a victim impact statement read to the court today, Mr McDonagh says that he had been 'butchered in broad daylight' and had been left as a shadow of himself.
Addressing the court before sentencing, Patrick Stokes read out an apology to the victim, the staff of Luigis and the general public for his actions, highlighting that he feels nothing but shame, guilt and regret, while also apologising that his actions caused further bad publicity for a town that has 'given him so much'. Patrick Stoke's father Martin Stokes also took the stand and denounced the violence that broken out between the two families over the last 2 decades, stating that 'younger generations are paying for something their fathers and grandfathers did.'
In considering mitigating factors, Judge Connolly highlighted that Mr Stokes had presented himself to Gardaí in the aftermath of the attacks, had co-operated fully with the investigation and had plead guilty at the earliest available opportunity.
