Louth woman (22) who stabbed man in the back at train station carpark avoids jail

By Francis Carroll, The Drogheda Independent

A 22-year-old woman who stabbed a man multiple times in the back has avoided a prison sentence when her case was finalised.

Megan Mackin, Patrick Tierney Crescent, Cox’s Demesne, Dundalk, pleading guilty to assault causing harm arising out of an incident outside Drogheda train station.

Evidence was given previously that on July 2, 2022, the single mother was intending to return to Dundalk when by coincidence she met her then partner and one of his friends when they got off a train having been drinking in Dublin.

The two men started fighting in the carpark and the defendant ended up stabbing the friend in the back with an unknown sharp object she picked up, causing four deep wounds and some superficial lacerations.

At the hospital the victim was told they were clean cuts, and he received 52 stitches.

Ms Mackin, who has no previous convictions, was aged 19 at the time. She had not come to adverse attention since.

Judge Dara Hayes said a probation report noted that she was remorseful and accepted responsibility.

The defendant attended an anger management course and counselling.

She had previously struggled with addiction and was now free of all stimulants. There were five recent clean urinalysis reports.

The death of her father when she was aged 15 had a profound affect on her.

The injured man, who did not make a Victim Impact Statement, had accepted €1,000 restitution.

Judge Hayes imposed a two-and-a-half year sentence, suspended in its entirety for two-and-a-half years, on condition that Ms Mackin keeps the peace and abstains from possession and consumption of illicit substances.