Man jailed over neighbour's death

The man was jailed at Belfast Crown Court

Relatives of a Northern Ireland stabbing victim screamed and swore as his killer was sentenced at Belfast Crown Court.

Kenneth Shields, 51, from Mayo Park in the Shankill area of Belfast, was jailed for five years after admitting stabbing a neighbour after a Boxing night party in 2000.

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

Shields admitted stabbing Edward Robinson, 34, during a row outside their neighbouring houses in Mayo Park.

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.

Scuffle

Witnesses said there was no trouble at the party and Shields had left at about 0100 GMT after playing his guitar for a sing-song.

But he returned more than two hours 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.

The court heard no-one was seen to have a knife and the weapon was never found.

When questioned, Shields could not remember what had happened beyond there being a fight.

He did not remember having a knife, but accepted he must have been responsible for the victim's death.

Both men were very intoxicated at the time.

Passing sentence, Lord Justice McCollum said this was a "tragic case which showed the potentially devastating influence of drink and drugs when taken in excess".

He accepted Shields did not intend to cause really serious harm to Mr Robinson when the fatal blow was inflicted.

Shields was originally charged with murder, but this was dropped by the prosecution when he pleaded guilty to manslaughter.