A Comber man who armed himself with a knife then stabbed a man who called at his flat was jailed today (Friday).
Gary Colin Carberry - who has been deemed as a ‘dangerous offender’ by Probation - was handed an Extended Custodial Sentence consisting of four years and eight months followed by an additional two years on licence.
The 31-year old was sentenced on a charge of wounding with intent at Downpatrick Crown Court, sitting in Belfast, by Judge Geoffrey Miller KC.
The violent incident occurred in Comber on Sunday July 10 last year. On that date, the 33-year old injured party had a discussion with others about an alleged drug dealer in the area. At 7.42pm, he received a message from Carberry regarding the drug dealing allegations.
Carberry’s message refuted the injured party’s allegations with Carberry saying “he’s kept his head down down here”.
The injured party replied to the message then called to Carberry’s flat at Upper Crescent. After taking some time to answer, Carberry opened his door and asked the injured party “what’s the craic?”.
The injured party re-iterated what he had heard about the alleged drug dealer’s conduct - and at this point Carberry thrust his arm towards the other man’s neck area.
He put his arm up to protect his neck, immediately felt a burning sensation and realised he was bleeding. The injured party fled the scene and staff at a local garage offered assistance until an ambulance arrived.
He was rushed to hospital where he was treated for a wound to his arm which required surgery. At 9.48pm that evening, Carberry sent the injured party a message which said “one hit, you’ll not intimidate me”.
Police launched an investigation and after arriving at Carberry’s flat they found a knife with a five-inch blade bearing the injured party’s blood.
Judge Miller said that after a Victim Impact Statement, the injured party has been left with “large significant scarring to his left arm”.
“He continues to experience pain and a deterioration in his own mental state, and described being fearful that the defendant might attack him again,” the court heard.
Following his arrest, Carberry was interviewed and gave a largely ‘no comment’ response to police.
He subsequently admitted the wounding charge and accepts he answered his door on the evening in question armed with a knife and that his judgement was impaired due to intoxication.
Judge Miller revealed that Carberry has 34 previous convictions including involvement in a robbery at a shop where a hammer was produced.
Branding him a “vulnerable individual” with a “complex mental health history”, the Judge said he has considered submissions made on behalf of Carberry which outlined his “dysfunctional” childhood, his poly-substance and alcohol misuse and his “sporadic” employment history.
Also noted was the remorse and victim empathy Carberry has expressed for the July 2022 incident. Judge Miller said he agreed with Probation’s assessment that Carberry is a ‘dangerous offender’ and imposed the Extended Custodial Sentence.
Addressing the defendant as he stood in the dock, Judge Miller told him: “After you have served at least one half of the custodial element of four years and eight months, the date of your release will be determined by the Parole Commissioners.
“After you have completed the custodial element of your sentence, you will be subject to the remaining period of your licence - together with the extended period of licence. I consider that this period is necessary for protecting members of the public from serious harm.”
After issuing an order for the destruction of the knife, Judge Miller told prison staff “take him down please” and Carberry was led from the dock in handcuffs.
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
