Waterford man assaulted woman at a house party before swinging a knife at her

A Waterford man who “came at a woman” with a knife has been remanded in custody until the court can hear a victim impact statement.

Sean Byrne (24), of 11 Larchville, Waterford, pleaded guilty to four charges over two incidents at Waterford District Court.

Those were assault causing harm, production of a knife in the course of a dispute, being intoxicated to the point of being a danger to himself or someone else and possession of a knife.

The court heard that gardaí responded to an incident at a house party at an apartment on Railway Square on January 25, 2025.

The defendant had fallen over and broken a coffee table.

The injured party told him to be more careful and respectful of other people’s property.

The defendant then grabbed the injured party by the hair, pulling some out before producing a knife and swinging it at her, but cutting himself.

Mr Byrne had left before the gardaí arrived and was arrested a short distance away.

In a separate incident on October 10, 2024, the court was told that gardaí responded to a domestic incident.

They were told that the defendant had been asked to leave the residence because he was intoxicated, which he did.

Gardaí found him the Paddy Browne’s Road, where he became “combative”, telling gardaí, “I’ll kill you, you know I could.” 

When gardaí arrested Mr Byrne, they found he had a knife.

The court was told that Mr Byrne had nine previous convictions and the injured party did not wish to make a victim impact statement. 

Acting for the defendant, solicitor Hilary Delahunty told the court that his client wished to apologise to the “young lady for putting up with his bad manners” and to the gardaí.

He said his client is “decent” but can be “led astray” when he drinks.

“All we can do is apologise,” said Mr Delahunty.

Mr Delahunty said his client is currently serving a sentence, but once that finishes, he hopes to return to his young family in Cork.

Judge John Cheatle sentenced the defendant to six months in prison for possession of a knife in a public place but backdated the sentence to January 2025 when he went into custody.

For the assault on Railway Square, the judge further sentenced the defendant to eight months in prison, suspended for 24 months, to run consecutive to the first term.

All other charges were taken into consideration.