Swinford man jailed for attack on Dublin GAA star

A MAYO man who stabbed Dublin GAA star Jonny Cooper hours after attacking a taxi driver has been given a seven-year sentence with the final two years suspended.

The court heard 32-year-old Mark Lavelle was on the drug crystal meth when he carried out the frenzied and unprovoked attack.

 Lavelle, originally from Bollingbrook, Swinford, but with an address at Basin Street, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to the Dublin and Na Fianna footballer at around 5 a.m. on September 20 last year at Dorset Street Upper in Dublin.

He also admitted to assault causing harm to Thomas Smith at Kennelsfort Road Upper in Palmerstown at around 2 a.m. on the Saturday morning and to hijacking Mr. Smith’s car.

Mr. Cooper received nine stab wounds to his forehead, eyelid and neck area and spent one night in hospital.

 He had no recollection of the assault and gardaí were called to the scene after a passing taxi driver noticed the footballer stumbling along Dorset Street with his back covered in blood.

Officers later followed a trail of blood from where they met Mr. Cooper to a nearby takeaway and secured CCTV footage from the restaurant.

Lawyers for Lavelle said he suffered from a mental disorder and had been with the State’s psychiatric services since his mid-teens.

 His 62 previous convictions include assaults, criminal damage, possession of knives, possession of drugs, burglary, robbery, violent behaviour in a garda station, trespass, public order and altering a prescription.

Judge Martin Nolan imposed two three-and-a-half year sentences which he ordered to run consecutively.

 He suspended the final two years on strict conditions.