A teenager who stabbed his mother's ex-boyfriend to death in a domestic row has been sentenced to two years in jail, in what the judge described as an "exceptional" case and a "devastating tragedy".
Alexander Whelan, 19, stabbed 56-year-old Bruno Rolandi to death at a house in Edenderry, Co Offaly, on 19 November 2017.
The court previously heard he was 17 years old at the time and was trying to protect his mother.
Defence lawyers told the Central Criminal Court that Mr Rolandi had been in a relationship with Alexander's mother, Mary. He was a violent heroin user and had also been described as an alcoholic.
The relationship had ended, but Mr Rolandi had continued to live in the house in Edenderry. He did not work.
On the night of 19 November 2017, there was an incident between Mr Rolandi and Ms Whelan.
Alexander called his brother, Victor, and the two boys spoke to their mother about telling Mr Rolandi he should no longer live with them.
Mr Rolandi came into the kitchen, a row broke out and the court heard, Mr Rolandi "laid hands" on Victor. Their mother got in between the two men.
Alexander took a knife from a cupboard and stabbed Mr Rolandi three times.
The family immediately called emergency services, who arrived to find Alexander trying to stop the bleeding.
Detective Sergeant Caroline Lyng told the court Whelan was in a state of shock and at one point was on his hands and knees, sobbing uncontrollably.
She agreed with defence lawyers that he was "the last person you would expect to find in this situation".
Another witness at the scene said he overheard the boy's mother apologising to him for "putting him through this".
The witness heard Alexander telling her it was not her fault and asking her to promise him that she would not blame herself.
The court heard the boys' father had died when they were very young and both brothers had previously witnessed violent assaults on their mother by Mr Rolandi.
Whelan pleaded guilty to manslaughter at the earliest opportunity and has no previous convictions. The court heard the dead man was more than 180cm (6') tall and weighed more than 100kg.
Alexander was described as being 170cm in height at the time, of slight build and physically immature for a boy of his age.
His senior counsel, Michael Bowman, told the court Alexander, who had no history of violence, overreacted and "sprang to the defence of the most important person in his life: his mother".
Imposing sentence, Mr Justice Michael White said he was satisfied that all three members of the family in the house had given truthful and accurate accounts of what happened.
He said he had received a written apology to the court from Alexander Whelan, apologising profusely for the hurt he had caused to the Rolandi family. There had been a good relationship between Mr Rolandi's two young sons and the Whelan brothers, the court heard.
The court was previously told the Rolandi family strongly disagreed with the portrayal of Mr Rolandi, describing him as a kind man and a good father.
The judge said he took into account two aggravating factors, the introduction by Alexander Whelan of a knife into the dispute and the violence of the three blows he inflicted on Mr Rolandi.
He said while not wishing to criticise Mr Rolandi or cause any upset to his family, it was clear from the evidence that there was a particularly dysfunctional relationship between him and Ms Whelan.
They were living separate lives and Mr Rolandi had been an unwelcome guest in the home for some time.
Mr Rolandi had difficulties with alcohol and drugs and there was a tense and difficult situation in the home. The judge said there was evidence this had preyed on Alexander for some time.
He said he took into account these difficult circumstances, Whelan's instant reaction to what he had done, his previous excellent character, his perfect record at school, the fact that he had no history of violence and was not in any way aggressive and his plea of guilt.
Nevertheless, the judge said, Bruno Rolandi received an entirely unnecessary death sentence. He said what happened was a devastating tragedy for everyone.
Mr Justice White set a headline sentence of six years, but he said he would substantially discount it because of the very extenuating circumstances of the case which he said, made it exceptional in many ways. He imposed a two-year sentence.
Whelan's mother and brother were in court. Both were emotional after the sentence was handed down.
