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One retiree has recounted how his life changed forever after his son-in-law came to his home and tried to stab him and his son before shooting him and his brother down while driving them in his car.
Michael O’Keeffe (76) told Cork Circuit Criminal Court that he had never encountered evil in his life until November 9, 2019 when his son-in-law, Warren Cross (48) arrived at his home in Maldron, Ringmahon Cross. , Blackrock. in Cork and proceeded to attack him and his son.
“That night I was exposed to pure evil – my life was turned upside down when my son-in-law, Warren Cross tried to stab my son – luckily he escaped unharmed but then he tried to stab me in the stomach – I moved but they stabbed me in the hand” , said.
“As a parent, I wanted to protect my family, but I was unable to do so due to my injury. I thank God every day that he was unable to make it to our home, where he could have caused further injury to my family,” he said. additional.
His wife had collapsed a few days after the attack and he feared losing her as a result of the events that night that “started hell in my life,” O’Keeffe said. He paid tribute to Det Garda Sean Stack and Garda Paul Lynch for their help and support.
O’Keeffe was reading his Victim Impact Statement after his son-in-law, Warren Cross, of Gleann Aras View, Grenagh, Co Cork pleaded guilty to an assault that caused him harm, causing criminal damage to his home and possession of a dagger capable of inflicting serious injury.
Cross also pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly driving his car when Mr. O’Keeffe collided with him, he also drove his brother’s car, Donal O’Keeffe knocked him over and drove him towards two women and collided with them, which caused a risk. death or serious injury to all of them.
Garda Paul Lynch recounted how Gardaí was called to Mr. O’Keeffe’s home after Cross had arrived there in an agitated state that he wanted to see his wife, Mr. O’Keeffe’s daughter and an argument broke out outside the house and led him to shove Mr. O’Keeffe Snr and his son, Michael O’Keeffe Jnr.
Cross then pulled out a dagger-type knife and tried to stab Mr. O’Keeffe Snr, injuring him in the hand before he picked up a concrete flowerpot which he threw at the front door of the house twice, breaking the glass and causing some damage. . 900 damages worth.
Cross then returned to his car and drove toward Mr O’Keeffe Snr, first colliding with a passing woman and then colliding with the pensioner and knocking him to the ground before driving toward Mr. O’Keeffe’s brother, Donal, who lived next door. side and throwing it to the ground.
Cross had also collided with another woman who was in the area before Gardaí reached the place where they found Cross in his car, trapped in a grassy embankment. He started yelling at Gardaí to shoot him and was arrested under the Mental Health Law and taken to hospital.
Garda Lynch agreed with defense attorney, Emmet Boyle BL, that Cross had a history of mental illness and had been discharged from St John of God Psychiatric Hospital in Dublin two days earlier and had arrived at Blackrock in Cork after receiving a phone call from his wife.
Garda Lynch said Cross was very cooperative when he was later interviewed by Gardaí and confirmed that Cross had no prior convictions, but said that Mr. O’Keeffe’s family was anxious not to have further contact with him.
Mr. Boyle BL asked for leniency and said: “He expressed remorse immediately. He is an inpatient at the San Juan de Dios Hospital. He has been there since November 11, 2019. Unfortunately, all he can do is express his remorse and continue to act correctly. “
Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin noted that a medical report from a St John of God psychiatrist had found that Cross was not delusional or psychotic at the time of his discharge and the court heard that he had returned there on November 11, 2019 and had been there. since receiving treatment.
Judge Ó Donnabháin said: “That a man of Mr. O’Keeffe’s age is exposed to violence like this is shocking: the assault with the knife before throwing a concrete pot at the door, his behavior towards innocent bystanders , the injured party was hit by the vehicle and I was very lucky to avoid serious injury. “
Judge Ó Donnabháin acknowledged that Cross had a history of psychiatric problems and accepted that he had pleaded guilty, had no prior convictions and had expressed remorse for his actions, but believed that he should mark the seriousness of the crimes with a custodial sentence.
He sentenced Cross to three years in jail, but suspended the last 12 months and ordered him not to get within 3 miles of Blackrock and his in-laws, while also disqualifying him from driving for a period of 10 years given that he used the car. in commission. of one of the crimes.
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