The family of a young man stabbed to death in front of his pregnant partner have strongly criticised the seven-year sentence imposed today on his killer.
Daniel McCormack, 23, of Kenure Park, Rush, was found guilty of the manslaughter of James Joyce, 21, near his home at St Cronan's Close, Swords in Dublin, on 22 July 2010.
Mr Joyce's parents Pat and Rose said McCormack had over 50 previous convictions, three of which were for knife attacks.
They said it was a "disgrace that he would be free in five years" and have called on the Director of Public Prosecutions to appeal the leniency of the sentence.
Mr Joyce was the innocent victim of a row between McCormack and another man.
McCormack said he had armed himself with two knives to protect himself from another man, but stabbed Mr Joyce three times instead.
He was acquitted of murder but found guilty of manslaughter. Mr Justice Carney sentenced him to ten years in prison with the final three years suspended.
The judge said he viewed the crime in a category of the most grave knife crimes.
However, the Joyce family were extremely distressed afterwards at what they felt was a very short sentence.
Mr Joyce's partner Aisling, who was seven months pregnant at the time of the attack, said he never saw his child and that she finds this particularly difficult.
