Belfast: Man jailed for 13 years over city centre stabbings

Defence submissions made on behalf of McOwen highlighted instability in his life which stemmed from the deaths of two relatives.

Also detailed was his poor mental health and paranoia – with McOwen telling a Probation Officer that he carried a knife for protection and that on the night in question he heard voices in his head telling him people were going to attack him.

The judge said accepted that he had “significant mental health concerns”.

However he added that he had “not taken up numerous opportunities to have help and when given treatment, he is largely non-compliant.”

Citing several aggravating factors such as the use of a weapon to carry out two separate attacks, both of which were in a public place, the judge said he had “no hesitation” in agreeing with Probation’s assessment that McOwen “poses a significant risk of harm to the public.”

As he sentenced McOwen to 10.5 years at Belfast Crown Court, the judge said the 29-year-old – who has 85 previous convictions – has been deemed as a dangerous offender by the Probation Service.

Due to this assessment, the judge imposed an additional extended period of three years on licence which will be served when McOwen is released from jail.