Man dubbed ‘Freddie Krueger’ sliced friend’s liver while awaiting sentence for assault on ex An Athlone man described as having “Jekyll and Hyde” characteristics stabbed a former friend multiple times in a violent attack while on bail for a separate assault on his ex-partner, court proceedings revealed. Mark Conway (39), a father of two, pleaded guilty to causing serious harm in connection with a knife attack on March 1, 2025, that left his victim requiring emergency surgery and the removal of his gallbladder. The injured man sustained seven stab wounds from head to waist, with Conway specifically “slicing” his liver during the assault. Gardaí responding to the scene found separate blood trails leading from the victim’s home in Marine View, Athlone, to each man’s residence. A garda applied pressure to an abdominal wound while waiting for emergency services, noting significant blood loss in the hallway and on the couch inside the victim’s home. The attack occurred while Conway was awaiting sentencing for a previous violent incident in which he used a golf club to assault his ex-girlfriend. That January 2025 conviction resulted in a five-year and three-month prison sentence, after which his former partner fled the country. Judge Keenan Johnson of the Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court characterized Conway as having dual personalities—passive when sober but becoming “a menace, violent and a thug” when intoxicated. The judge described the stabbing as a “horrendous experience” and acknowledged it was fortunate no fatal injury resulted. Local residents reportedly began referring to Conway as “Freddie Krueger” following the attack, referencing the fictional horror character from the A Nightmare on Elm Street series. The victim’s family allegedly endured taunts that Conway was “coming for you” in their neighborhood. The Director of Public Prosecutions urged the court to impose a 10 to 15-year sentence for the stabbing offense. Judge Johnson indicated he would consider the DPP’s recommendation alongside defense submissions before adjourning the case until a later date in October for final sentencing.
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