Man stabs long-lost Friends Reunited mate 7 times

Great to see you - now drop dead

By Lester Haines • Get more from this author

Posted in Music and Media, 7th January 2005 15:29 GMT

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A UK man who traced his long-lost best mate via Friends Reuinted, then stabbed him seven times in a drunken rage because he thought he had attacked his sister, was jailed for three years today at the Old Bailey, Reuters reports.

Noel Duff was lucky to survive the assault by Brendan Walsh during which he received a stab wound to the heart. The catalyst for the fracas was Duff's relationship with Walsh's sister subsequent to the two pals' doubtless tearful reunion.

Immediately after the attack, Walsh suffered a fit of remorse and called an ambulance which rushed Duff to hospital. Doctors described his survival as a "miracle".

Walsh pleaded guilty to to wounding with intent, and was cleared of attempted murder. The judge told him: "The victim is no longer angry at you and the remarkable fact is that [he] even gave evidence on your behalf and said he would like to be friends with you again."

Duff has indeed expressed the wish to be re-reunited with his old mucker after the latter finishes his spell in one of Her Majesty's penal institutions, noting: "I can't believe a stupid fight came to this." ®