A court has heard that a man stabbed Dublin GAA star Jonny Cooper nine times just hours after attacking a taxi driver and stealing his car.
The All-Ireland winning footballer was on his way home from a night out in September 2014.
Cooper was stabbed several times in what was described as an “unprovoked and frenzied attack” on Dorset Street in the early hours of September 20th 2014.
The 26 year old had been socialising with friends the night before.
His attacker, Mark Lavelle, was arrested in relation to a violent carjacking of a taxi in Palmerstown a few hours beforehand.
The 32 year old, who’s from Swinford in Co. Mayo but also has an address at Basin Street, Dublin 8 grabbed the driver around the neck and stabbed him before demanding cash and stealing his taxi.
Gardai became suspicious when Mr. Lavelle began asking how the Dublin footballer was.
A knife and his jacket were sent away for tests and Mr. Cooper’s blood was found on both.
The Na Fianna defender was out of work for two weeks and still has scars on his face, although he hopes they’ll fade over time.
Mr. Lavelle will be sentenced for both attacks today.
