Man pleads guilty to stab murder

A man who pleaded guilty to killing a father-of-four has been told he must serve at least 12 years in prison.

Michael Jason Smith, 20, of Main Avenue in Newry, stabbed Stiofan Loughran in the chest and back on 8 February, 2007.

The attack took place outside the victim's mother's home on the Derrybeg estate in Newry.

Newry Crown Court heard that Smith had "deliberately equipped" himself with a kitchen knife after a previous fight between the two had ended.

Mr Justice Hart, sitting in Belfast, had earlier heard that 41-year-old Mr Loughran had gone to confront Smith over an allegation he had punched his nine-year-old son.

"In the present case I am satisfied that the defendant's arming himself with the knife from the kitchen, and then emerging from the house when the first altercation was finished in order to confront the deceased, are both aggravating factors in this case," he said.

During police questioning, Smith claimed he could not remember stabbing Mr Loughran but had been "swinging the knife" around with his head down.

The judge also said that Smith had been abusing drink and drugs, particularly cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy for around three years.

Speaking outside court Mr Loughran's father said Smith had got "very very little for the crime he committed against my son".

"Something has to be done to stop the knife culture," he said.