'I'll never feel safe again' - man stabbed 5 times at party
Gardaí arrived at High Street.
A man was stabbed five times during a fight at a house party in Waterford City. The man had gotten into an altercation with other men and was himself charged with assault.
Helton Martins Cardoso (42), of Maritana Gate, sustained injuries to his back, arm and shoulder.
Carlos De Oliveira (32), of Duleek Court, Duleek, Co Meath, was charged with assault and production of an article.
On the morning of Sunday December 17, 2023, Gardaí were alerted to a report of stabbing at an apartment on High Street. Cardoso was brought to University Hospital Waterford (UHW) by ambulance.
Both men had been attending a house party after a night out in the city. An argument broke out, followed by a scuffle. An ex-partner of Cardoso was in attendance at the party. In Court, it was heard that Cardoso and the woman were speaking in a bathroom, and when he came out of the bathroom he was attacked by three men.
In the early hours of the morning, tensions escalated and a kitchen knife was acquired. De Oliveira stated that he picked up the knife before Cardoso could and was acting in self defence.
Cardoso said in his victim impact statement :"I don't leave my home, when I do go out I'm afraid in case he's there to do something against me. I'll never feel safe again, I'll never trust again."
Gareth Hayden BL, representing Cardoso, told the Court that 'everyone was intoxicated' at the time of the incident. Michelle Smith De Bruin BL said that, before the fight, Cardoso had to be removed from the party twice for being drunk. She explained that her client grabbed the knife, put his head down and made slashing movements to protect himself.
Judge Eugene O'Kelly imposed an 18 month suspended sentence for Cardoso and ordered him to follow probation guidelines. De Oliveira was given a six year sentence, reduced by two years for mitigation, then fully suspended. He was ordered to leave the jurisdiction.
