A violent attacker left his victim’s jaw exposed after attacking her with a knife in front of the police station

A violent attacker repeatedly stabbed and slashed an acquaintance in the face with a “homemade knife”, causing a cut so deep the victim’s jaw was exposed, as he shouted “I’m going to kill you” outside a city centre police station, a court has heard.

Graham McGuinness (32), who has 53 previous convictions, was initially charged with the attempted murder of Martin Reilly. However, in June, the 32-year-old pleaded guilty to the offence of causing serious harm and the State accepted his plea.

Mr Reilly was left scarred for life by the incident, the Central Criminal Court was told on Friday.

As the attack took place, she feared for her life and believed she “was going to die that night,” the court heard.

Police Constable James Seymour told Grainne O’Neill BL, prosecuting, that McGuinness and Mr Reilly were in the vicinity of Busáras in the early hours of 11 June 2020 waiting for a bus when an altercation occurred. He confirmed that the two men knew each other prior to this event.

Judge Karen O’Connor was provided with a copy of CCTV footage of the incident after being told the court system was not functioning.

The court heard on June 10 that Mr Reilly had been “on the prowl” around various places and, by his own admission, had been seeking drugs to feed his own addiction.

Officer Seymour said later that night, at around 12:30 a.m., both men were waiting for a bus on Store Street near Busáras when an altercation broke out and McGuinness attempted to slash Reilly’s throat before stabbing and cutting the victim numerous times. While this was happening, McGuinness was heard repeatedly shouting “I’m going to kill you,” Officer Seymour said.

He said the attack continued as Reilly tried to escape and the pair headed from the entrance to Busaras towards Store Street police station. Constable Seymour said Reilly stood in front of a Luas line in an attempt to get help.

The guard said he was heading back to Store Street, where the incident occurred, and immediately intervened.

He confirmed to Ms O’Neill that while the attack was taking place, Mr Reilly believed the Stanley blade McGuinness was brandishing was a knife and feared for his life. He said Reilly believed he was “going to die that night”.

The court heard the blade was wrapped in tissue paper at the bottom to create a makeshift handle. Gda Seymour said the victim also told police there was no reason for the attack to happen at that time.

McGuinness, of Riverview, Blackcastle Avenue, Flower Hill, Navan, Co Meath, had previously been charged with the attempted murder of Mr Reilly on June 11, 2020, in Store Street in Dublin 1.

He was further charged that on the same date and time he made a “homemade cut” in a manner likely to intimidate another person and caused serious harm to Mr Reilly, contrary to section 4 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997.

Gda Seymour said he saw Reilly “bleeding profusely” from numerous wounds. He saw McGuinness board a bus and observed him ditch the knife and head towards the back of the bus in an attempt to “evade capture”.

Mr Reilly suffered multiple stab wounds to his arms, torso and face, including a cut to his face that left his jaw exposed. The multiple lacerations to his arms and back were of varying depth and length, police said.

The court heard the main impact of the assault was the permanent scarring Mr Reilly was left with. He was offered the opportunity to prepare a Victim Impact Statement but decided not to, Gda Seymour confirmed.

McGuinness has 53 previous convictions, including for violent disorder, threatening to kill or cause serious harm, criminal damage, robbery and drug possession.

During cross-examination, Gda Seymour told Eanna Molloy SC, representing McGuinness, that there was nothing on the CCTV to indicate a particular “trigger” for the incident, as the footage had no sound. He confirmed there had been “some issues” between the two individuals in the past.

Ms O’Neill told the court the director’s view was that the offence was “at the cusp” of the middle and upper levels, with the middle level carrying a sentence of between four and ten years and the upper level between ten and 15 years.

McGuinness read a brief statement to the court in which he offered his sincere apologies to Martin Reilly for what he said had been “the most regrettable moment of my life”. He said he was no longer the same person he used to be and had done everything he could to turn his life around.

Mr Molloy told the court that McGuinness came from a “very complicated family background” and said the defendant’s mother had been in custody at the time of his birth.

The defendant has experienced a “cornucopia of problems” over the years with “various levels of addiction,” the attorney said, adding that his two sisters were with the defendant in court to support him.

McGuinness is an enhanced prisoner, is on a drug-free ward and is working toward his educational goals, the attorney said.

“He believes he has put those periods of his life that led him into chaos and disarray behind him, and he is doing everything he can to make sure he doesn’t fall back into them,” Molloy said.

Judge Karen O’Connor ordered a probation report and an updated Governor’s report to be prepared and adjourned the matter until October 9 for completion.