A south county Dublin teenager is out on bail after receiving a thee year jail sentence for attempting to murder Josh Leahy (17) in a city centre brawl.
Tadhg Costello (19) from Richmond Hill in Monkstown stabbed his victim six times in a fight that broke out between two groups of young men after they left a nightclub on South William Street in the early hours of May 31st 2012.
Mr. Justice Paul Butler called the case 'exceptional' and deferred activating the prison term for 3 weeks to allow the teenager an opportunity to apply for bail ahead of an appeal.
It follows a Supreme Court ruling from earlier this month quashing an attempted rape conviction on grounds that suspects who request a lawyer cannot be questioned by gardaí until they obtain legal advice.
Mr. Costello pleaded guilty to the attempted murder of Josh Leahy during his trial at the Central Criminal Court last November but only after the judge ruled that his garda statements could be put before the jury.
The admissibility of that evidence may now be in doubt as a result of the recent Supreme Court ruling. The court heard today that the prosecution's case against Costello relied on the teenager's confessions.
While in custody he admitted that he had carried a knife on the night in question, that he had sharpened the knife himself, and that he had stabbed his victim with the intention of killing him.
Mr. Justice Butler noted that Tadhg Costello showed 'no immediate remorse' for the attack which left Josh Leahy with a collapsed lung. The judge said the victim was 'fortunate that while his injuries are serious they were not as serious as they might have been'.
He took into consideration Costello's youth, his lack of previous convictions and his guilty plea. Defence lawyers argued that he had 'lost control of himself' on the night.
Damien Colgan SC said his client had been going through a 'dysfunctional period in his life' and that 'part and parcel of his anger' was the breakdown of his parents' relationship.
A probation report has assessed Tadhg Costello as being at a moderate risk of re-offending.
Today in court he shook his head and put his hands to his face as Mr. Justice Butler imposed a sentence of six years with the final three years suspended.
However minutes later Tadhg Costello walked out of court surrounded by his family and a large group of friends having received a three week reprieve from jail.
