by Wilma Riley 

A KNIFE thug who stabbed a stranger seven times in a frenzied and brutal assault was today jailed for eight and a half years.

Michael McGeever, 28, was convicted of attempting to murder a 41-year-old man at Drumy Railway Station, at 5am on New Year's day 2016.

McGeever was there along with a woman and two other men and they were arguing with her.

As the victim passed the group he remarked: “You shouldn't treat her like that.”

McGeever and others unknown responded by attacking him by repeatedly stabbing him and punching and kicking him on the head and body.

At the High Court in Glasgow Lord Clark told McGeever: “While acting with others you assaulted [this man]. You stabbed him seven times to the front and back of his body. He suffered a collapsed lung and bleeding to an artery in his abdomen.

“This was a sustained, ferocious and savage attack."

The High Court in Glasgow heard that a surgeon was of the opinion that the man would not have survived without emergency surgery.

McGeever was convicted after a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh.

The court heard that a knife with McGeever's DNA on it was found a few streets away.

McGeever denied having anything to do with the murder bid. He claimed he was not there, but said he happened to find the knife, pick it up and then throw it away.

Defence counsel Derick Nelson said: “Mr McGeever continues to deny his involvement.”

He has a previous conviction for assault to severe injury.

McGeever showed no emotion as he was led away from court.