Claimed man he had stabbed had fallen from a tree onto a stick

By Eimear Dodd

A man who stabbed his sister’s partner told paramedics that the injured man had fallen from a tree onto a stick.

Kris Coyne (36) called emergency services after he stabbed Arkadieuz Ujma in the stomach on December 19, 2020.

He told paramedics that Mr Ujma, who was in the sitting room holding a towel to his abdomen, had fallen from a tree onto a stick which he removed.

Coyne of Castlefarms Woods, Shankill, Co Dublin pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Mr Ujma at an address in St Anne’s Park, Shankill.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that there had been a family event on the day in question, and drink had been consumed by all parties.

After leaving a restaurant, they initially went to Coyne’s residence, before continuing to the home shared by Mr Ujma and his partner.

All parties continued to drink. When he got home, Mr Ujma went for a nap before joining Coyne and his sister in the sitting room. The parties were chatting and drinking.

Garda Sergeant Bernard Dunne told Mark Lynam SC, prosecuting, that the injured party next recalled Coyne stabbing him in the stomach in the hall with a medium-sized knife.

He recalled Coyne also cut his ear and tried to cut his face.

He told gardaí Coyne said “I’m going to kill you,” during the attack.

Mr Ujma recalled pushing Coyne back, and the defendant was later found to have scratches on his arms. He said his partner was screaming and cut her finger while attempting to take the knife from her brother.

Sgt Dunne said the injured party told garda he didn’t know why it happened and believed he had a good relationship with Coyne.

Coyne contacted emergency services and when the paramedics arrived, he said Mr Ujma had fallen from a tree and landed on a stick. They were taken to the injured man who has in the sitting room holding a towel to his abdomen. The court heard the injured man was agitated and wanted his partner to be treated first.

Asked where the branch was, Coyne told paramedics he had pulled it out. A mop and bucket were found in the hall, containing a lot of blood, which suggested a clean-up had been attempted. A knife was also found.

Mr Ujma was taken to hospital and required surgery for the serious wound to his abdomen. A medical report was submitted to the court.

When interviewed by gardaí, Coyne denied saying he would kill the injured party and insisted he wouldn’t hurt anyone.

He has seven minor previous convictions for road traffic offences.

Sgt Dunne agreed with Vincent Heneghan SC, defending, that a lot of alcohol was consumed by all parties.

It was further accepted that his client was not a frequent visitor to Mr Ujma’s home and it appeared there were “some difficulties” in the relationship between the injured man and his partner.

Sgt Dunne also agreed with defence counsel that Coyne came up with a “ridiculous” story when paramedics arrived.

The witness also accepted that the guilty plea was of assistance to the prosecution and Coyne was has not come to garda attention since this incident.

When asked by Mr Heneghan, Sgt Dunne accepted that Coyne’s actions seemed out of character and that he is unlikely to come before the courts again.

Reading his victim impact evidence, Mr Ujma said the incident had “profoundly changed” his life and that he considers himself “fortunate” to be alive.

He outlined that he has suffered further health issues following the assault, which required undergoing further surgery.

He said he lives in “constant fear” and has faced mental health struggles in the wake of the assault.

Mr Heneghan said while his client had committed a “very serious offence”, he also immediately sought help for the victim.

He asked the court to consider this a “one-off” incident, though “very serious” in character.

He said his client has suffered with anxiety since he was a teenager.

Counsel said it is accepted that alcohol played a role in this incident, but his client has no addiction issues.

Coyne is a father of four young children and his wife was in court to support him.

A number of letters, including from his sister, were handed to the court along with a medical report.

Defence counsel said his client works as a delivery driver, but this is not full-time due to his anxiety.

After hearing the facts, Judge Elma Sheahan adjourned the case to December 16 for finalisation and to allow the defence to submit additional medical reports.