Man jailed for neighbour’s death after party

A Belfast man has been jailed for five years after stabbing his neighbour at a Boxing night party in 2000.

Kenneth Shields, 51, from Mayo Park in the Shankill area of Belfast, was jailed for five years after he admitting stabbing Edward Robinson, 34, during a row outside their neighbouring houses in Mayo Park.

He was also ordered to spend three years on probation after his release.

Mr Robinson, the father of two young children, was fatally stabbed during a row between the men in the early hours of the morning following a party in Robinson' s house, attended by Shields.

Mr Shields had left around 1am but he returned later to complain about the noise.

There was a scuffle between the two men, resulting in a stab wound to Mr Robinson's heart and a similar wound through Shields’ arm.

When questioned, Shields could not remember what had happened beyond there being a fight but accepted he must have been responsible for the victim's death.

Although originally charged with murder, this was dropped by the prosecution when Shields pleaded guilty to a manslaughter charge.

(AMcE)