Co Antrim man sentenced to over nine years for brutal stabbing of two brothers

Sentenced: Paul Hamilton, from Dervock, County Antrim

A 34-year-old man has been sentenced at Antrim Crown Court for a brutal stabbing attack on two brothers outside a pub in Dervock, County Antrim.

Paul Hamilton, from Dervock, pleaded guilty to charges of attempted murder and grievous bodily harm with intent. On Thursday, 27 June, the court handed down a sentence of nine and a half years, with five and a half years to be served on licence.

The violent incident took place on the evening of Sunday, 30 July 2023, near licensed premises on Carncullagh Road in the village.

According to police, Hamilton had previously threatened to stab one of the victims, David McConaghie, and to burn down his home.

Detective Inspector Gareth Lavery of the Police Service of Northern Ireland said:

“On the night of Sunday 30 July in 2023, police were tasked to a report of a stabbing. This happened just outside licensed premises in the Carncullagh Road area of Dervock.”

He added:

“Paul Hamilton had previously made threats to stab one of the victims, David McConaghie, and to burn his house down. That night, just outside the pub, an altercation ensued. David tried to run but fell to the ground, and it’s here that Hamilton stabbed him in the back in a frenzied attack. The victim sustained a fractured arm and stab wounds to the lower back.”

David’s brother, Samuel McConaghie, attempted to intervene and was also seriously injured in the attack.

“David’s brother, Samuel McConaghie, who tried to intervene was also stabbed repeatedly. He sustained life-changing injuries, including a laceration to the side of his face and a cut tendon in his forearm,” said Detective Inspector Lavery.

Both victims required hospitalisation for several days as a result of their injuries.

Witnesses and CCTV footage confirmed the nature and escalation of the incident.

“Witness accounts, backed by CCTV, indicate that a verbal altercation escalated, resulting in a shockingly vicious attack. These were actions that shook those present, and indeed an entire community; while the lives of the two brothers could easily have been lost,” Lavery continued.

Following the incident, Hamilton fled Northern Ireland and attempted to avoid capture.

“Hamilton fled the scene and left Northern Ireland in an attempt to evade police, but was arrested in England two weeks later,” said Lavery.

Hamilton was eventually located and apprehended in England through cooperation between the PSNI, Lincolnshire Police, and the Public Prosecution Service.

“Working with the Public Prosecution Service and Lincolnshire Police, and thanks to the support of witnesses, Hamilton has today been held to account. I can only hope this sends a clear message to those who would seek to harm others: we will work tirelessly to bring you before the courts.”

Detective Inspector Lavery concluded with a message to the victims:

“While I hope the victims and their loved ones will take some sense of closure from today, I am deeply mindful that both physical and emotional scars will remain.”