Stab victim feared he would die like his murdered parents

A 33-year-old man, whose parents were murdered, feared he was going to die in the same way after he was stabbed in an unprovoked attack in a Galway City pub, court has heard.

Frank Doyle was with his wife at a 60th birthday party when he was stabbed by Cathal Sharkey (25) in the toilet area of Monroe's Tavern on November 12, 2023.

Sharkey, with an address at 11 Greenfields Road, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to a single charge of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Mr Doyle at Monroe's Tavern, Dominick Street, on November 12, 2023.

Mr Doyle, who is from Dublin, told Galway Circuit Court he had just left a bathroom stall when Sharkey pushed him twice and Mr Doyle pushed him back and asked if he was okay.

Sharkey told Mr Doyle to look at the mirror and when he did, he saw the accused take out a Swiss Army knife and stab him in the shoulder.

Mr Doyle said he managed to disarm Sharkey, get back to the pub and shout "I've been stabbed" before collapsing on the floor.

He told the court that during the attack he thought, "Am I going to die the same way my parents were killed?"

Catherine and Carl Doyle were knifed to death by Mark Nash at their home in Roscommon in August 1997.

Frank Doyle and his siblings were among six children in the house when the brutal attack occurred.

Nash, one of Ireland's most notorious killers, was convicted of the couple's murder and of a serious assault on his then girlfriend Sarah Jane Doyle.

He was later convicted of the double murder of two women in Grangegorman, Dublin, in March 1997.

In his victim impact statement, Frank Doyle said the attack on him in Galway three years ago brought back to he and his sister, traumatic memories of their parents' murder.

The court heard Frank Doyle was brought to University Hospital Galway and had a number of puncture wounds in his left shoulder.

The court heard the assault had had a severe impact on him and his family.

He said he still woke up in panic at night, had no sensation in his neck and might require surgery in the future.

Mr Doyle recalled a doctor telling him that if the had been stabbed a few inches lower or higher, the blade might have penetrated his neck or his heart.

He told the court he was off work for six months and the ordeal had a major impact on his wife and children.

"This man took a piece of me and my wife and we will never get it back," he added.

He told the court he did not know how he would get over this and "how close I was to death".

As he was about to leave the witness box, Mr Doyle said he had received a letter of apology from Cathal Sharkey, who, the court heard, was diagnosed with autism when he was 15.

Mr Doyle said he was glad to hear the accused is taking the necessary steps to get help.

"I do forgive him," he said.

Garda Susanna McGrath told the court that after the attack, Sharkey locked himself into a cubicle and lunged at security staff after they forced open the door and Gardaí had to deploy pepper spray.

He has no previous convictions and Garda McGarth agreed with defence barrister, Bernard Madden SC, that Sharkey could not be processed on the night of the incident due to his level of intoxication and was only deemed fit for interview on the following day.

In court, Sharkey apologised a number of times and said he was ashamed his actions had such an impact on Mr Doyle and his family.

He said that on the night he was drinking excessively and "lost control completely".

Mr Sharkey said he had moved to Galway from Dublin for work, found it difficult to cope and started to drink heavily.

The court heard he attended AA meetings and counselling and had a cheque in court for €10,500.

Mr Madden said the court would be aware from medical and other reports prepared in advance of the hearing, that there were a number of factors to consider before imposing sentence.

He said these included his client's good record, "heartfelt remorse", admissions and efforts to address his drinking.

Mr Madden said he required time to prepare a final submission and Judge Brian O'Callaghan remanded Sharkey on continuing bail to appear again on July 21.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.