Brother stabs boyfriend of upset sister

Published on 29/06/2012 12:00

A MAN repeatedly stabbed his sister’s boyfriend after earlier finding her distressed.

Cairin McGarry, 24, inflicted seven wounds on Patrick Galt during the disturbance at a flat in Armadale, West Lothian, on November 18 last year.

Advocate depute Stephen O’Rourke said that McGarry, of no fixed abode, was hit on the back of the head with a bottle in the kitchen and retaliated by throwing a bottle at Mr Galt which broke a window.

Mr Galt later challenged him to a “square go” and McGarry was again hit with a bottle.

McGarry returned to the kitchen of the house and felt a blow to the back of his head.

Mr O’Rourke said: “When he turned around he was faced by Galt, who was now holding a kitchen knife.

“The two men got into a struggle and the knife fell to the floor. McGarry picked up the weapon and stabbed Mr Galt seven times during the struggle that followed in the early hours of the morning.”

Yesterday, the Crown accepted a guilty plea to a reduced charge of assault to severe injury.

The judge, Lord Pentland, deferred sentence on McGarry, who is in custody, for the preparation of a background report.