Man jailed for samurai attack

A nine-year jail sentence has been imposed on a man who chopped off a former Athlone Town player"s left-hand with a samurai sword in a crowded Dublin pub. Peter Rogers, who lists Athlone, Monaghan Utd and Kildare County among his former League of Ireland clubs, was the victim of a horrifying attack in a Dublin pub in January 2008, when a 28-year-old man violently attacked him with a samurai sword. Charles Russell, of Whitechapel Road, Dublin, pleaded guilty to intentionally or recklessly causing Peter Rogers serious harm at the Deputy Mayor Pub, Meekstown. Late last week, Russell was jailed for eight years at Dublin"s Circuit Criminal Court, with a further year suspended. The court heard Russell severed Mr Rogers hand at the wrist with his first swing of the sword and Rogers" hand fell to the ground. Mr Rogers will never have full use of his left hand again, and since the attack has suffered from depression, his relationship has broken down and he will never work as a carpenter again, the court heard. In sentencing, Judge Katherine Delahunt said the assault was pre-meditated and was at a very high level. Rogers played in midfield for Athlone for a brief spell in 2005 and also spent three years at Tranmere Rovers in England as a youngster.