A teenager who stabbed a love rival with a four-inch knife in a fit of jealousy over a girl was yesterday (Tuesday) put behind bars for nine months.

Peter O’Donnell admitted the assault on Shaun O’Donnell (no relation) and also pleaded guilty to a string of other crimes including arson, a number of hit-and-runs, burglary, criminal damage, dangerous driving and other motoring offences.

Judge Desmond A. Zaidan heard that 19-year-old Peter O’Donnell, described as a member of a respectable family from Knockfola, Brinaleck, Bunbeg, committed the crimes after collecting E30,000 when he reached 18.

The money was compensation kept in trust for him after an accident six years earlier.

Dungloe District Court was told that O’Donnell, with the help of a third party, “blew” the money in four months; that he was addicted to alcohol and cocaine.

O’Donnell, who admitted all offences, was ordered to serve nine months detention and was banned from driving for five years. The judge ordered that he re-take his driving test when the ban expires.

Sgt Mick Carroll told the court that the knife assault happened when the defendant and Shaun O’Donnell exchanged words over a girl friend at Sean Og’s pub, Derrybeg, last 9 September.

The knife was never recovered.

Shaun O’Donnell was stabbed in the abdomen just below the ribs. He received a number of internal and external stitches for the wound.

Sgt Carroll said: “He was very lucky the knife did not hit any organs.

It was an argument about a girl.

“It was a matter of jealousy. She was Peter O’Donnell’s girl and he suspected Shaun had been speaking to her. She is long gone from the scene.”

“Smart girl,” Judge Zaidan remarked.

Shaun O’Donnell lifted his shirt in the witness box to show the judge his scar. He said it took him two weeks to recover from the attack and he had not spoken with the defendant since.

The judge told the defendant: “You were well advised legally. If this case had gone to a jury you would be facing 20 years in prison. You are a very lucky man.”