A 48-year-old man who stabbed his wife through the heart has been jailed for five years.

Belfast Crown Court today heard how Desmond Hugh Peter McAteer was high on a cocktail of drink and drugs when he stabbed his wife at their home in the Norglen Parade last March.

Crown Court Judge, Mr Justice Hart initially charged the defendant with the attempted murder of his wife, however dropped the charge when he admitted causing her grievous bodily harm.

The Judge also added that the prosecution were aware that they would have found it difficult to prove that Mr McAteer intended in murdering his wife, however during a previous court hearing, prosecuting QC said that the defendant threatened to kill his wife Philomena, before stabbing her in the chest.

When police arrived at the scene, they found Mr McAteer sitting calmly in his living room with a drink in his hand and said: "I stabbed her, I should have used the hammer."

Defence SC Philip Magee said his client had displayed "great remorse for a disgraceful incident."

(EF)