Two young children whose father died after being stabbed in the chest with a kitchen knife by his housemate have told the Central Criminal Court that his death has made them “learn and accept this terrible side of society.”
After a trial in July of this year, David Bolger (45), of Irish Street, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, was found not guilty of murder but guilty of the manslaughter of Przemyslaw Klimczuk (43), in the house they were sharing off Greenville Lane in Enniscorthy on May 1st 2020. He had denied the murder charge.
The court heard that Bolger had been drinking since 4pm that day, and he stabbed Mr Klimczuk with a kitchen knife after becoming aggressive.
Memories
At the Central Criminal Court, the victim impact statement of Mr Kilmczuk’s children, Natan and Martyna, was read out by James B. Dwyer SC, on behalf of the State, in which the children said that all the good memories they have of their father are starting to fade.
Detective Garda Tom O’Leary gave evidence to Mr Dwyer that Bolger and the deceased along with two others shared a rental property. On May 1st 2020, a 999 call was made concerning a stabbing at the house and the gardaí were dispatched.
Det Gda O’Leary said that the gardaí noticed Bolger sitting on a footpath opposite the residence, and on the second-floor bedroom of the house paramedics were tending to a male with a single puncture wound to his chest area.
There were blood splatters in the downstairs living room and a knife was located.
A post-mortem revealed that Mr Klimczuk died from the single puncture wound.
Outlining the facts of the case, Det Gda O’Leary said that on April 30th 2020, the deceased and Bolger were consuming alcohol at home with another man, while a fourth man remained in his bedroom not drinking.
The three men who were drinking were joined by two acquaintances who did not live there, and a large amount of alcohol was consumed, with several bottles of Jägermeister purchased.
The two guests left the house as Bolger was acting in an aggressive manner, and Bolger continued to engage in aggressive behaviour towards the two men who remained.
Assault
The detective said there was an exchange of punches and Bolger sustained injuries. He said that there was blood on Bolger’s face and blood on the floor and chair.
Det Gda O’Leary said Mr Klimczuk went to the bedroom of another housemate and asked him if he could stay in his room as he was scared.
The door was locked with both men inside, before Bolger came to the door and asked to speak to Mr Klimczuk. Bolger was allowed entry, and the other housemate saw Mr Klimczuk fall backwards onto the bed and saw the knife in Bolger’s hand. Det Gda O’Leary said that the housemate also saw Bolger thrust the knife into Mr Klimczuk.
Det Gda O’Leary said that when the gardaí arrived at the scene, Bolger told them that a fight broke out, and he went upstairs and stabbed Mr Klimczuk with a small kitchen knife.
He told gardaí that he had been drinking since 4pm and claimed that the other men had been shouting at him and saying he was “being an asshole”. Det Gda O’Leary said that Bolger had a swollen left eye, a cut over his left eye, and dried blood around his mouth.
Bolger had three previous public order convictions dating back to 2019.
Mr Dwyer said that a probation report on the defendant showed that Bolger had a limited memory of the killing, but he accepted that he had committed manslaughter.
Mr Dwyer said that Bolger told the probation services that he was devastated for causing Mr Klimczuk’s children grief and was remorseful. The probation services assessed Bolger at a moderate risk of reoffending.
Mr Dwyer read out the victim impact statement of the victim’s children, Martyna and Natan Klimczuk, who were aged ten and 13 when they lost their father.
“All the good memories we have of him are starting to fade. He did not deserve this fate, we can barely remember his voice,” they said, adding: “We have grown to learn and accept this terrible side of society.”
Mr Dwyer said that the Director of Public Prosecutions had placed this case of manslaughter in the highest range.
Apology
Defence counsel Colman Cody SC read out a letter of apology on behalf of Bolger, in which the defendant said he had “struggled to find the right words to say, knowing that no apologies can ever take away the pain” felt by the victim’s family.
“I have taken the life of a man I considered a friend, a good friend,” said Bolger, going on to say that Mr Klimczuk did not deserve to die the way he did, nor did his family and friends deserve this. He said he had met the victim’s children and found them to be bright and well adjusted.
“I pray that the loss of their father will not prevent them from living happy lives,” he said.
Mr Cody said that Bolger had acknowledged that his behaviour had become volatile on the night of the killing, and he had allowed himself to be placed in this situation. He said that his client had previous convictions of a minor nature, which reflected his difficulties with alcohol.
Counsel said that Bolger had experienced mental health issues at a young age, which seemed to have deteriorated over the years.
He said that Bolger had told the probation services that he plans to remain sober, and he was remorseful for his actions and had expressed regret.
Mr Justice Tony Hunt said that Bolger did not set out to do this.
“His previous record doesn’t give any indication that this is something that could happen, but this is the kind of thing that does happen when people get themselves into such a state,” he said.
The matter was put back to October 31 next for sentencing.
