HEARING evidence of the near fatal injuries suffered by a man who confronted gate crashers to an 18th birthday party, Judge Carroll Moran ordered that a 22-year-old man is to pay over €5,000 in compensation after he pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, in June 2009. Michael Daly, Kenyon Avenue, Kileely, pleaded guilty to the charge after he and another man attempted to gain entry to an 18th birthday party in Caherdavin on June 13, 2009.
Limerick Circuit Court heard that Daly made attempts to get into the house, and that 21-year-old Noel Ryan, came to the aid of his girlfriend to prevent the two accessing the girl’s house and party.
Noel Ryan, the court heard, received a blow in the neck from a bottle used by the accused.
Evidence was given that Daly struck Mr Ryan with the bottle in the neck and his subsequent injuries were treated in the Mid Western Regional Hospital where he received 18 stitches to a laceration.
A medical report said that the deep wound narrowly missed vital vessels in the injured man’s neck.
The accused, the court heard, was arrested on June 22 and made admissions to the incident and told gardai that he had consumed 10 bottles of Bavaria beer and some vodka on the night the men became involved in the tussle outside the house.
In mitigation, defence counsel, Lawrence Goucher, told the court that his client was extremely remorseful, had not been in trouble or come to the attention of the Gardai since the incident, and has tackled his alcohol issues.
The court also heard that the accused had saved €5,000 as an effort to recompense the injured man, but Judge Carroll Moran said that Daly was lucky not to be before the court facing a homicide charge.
After considering the sentence overnight, Judge Carroll Moran adjourned the matter until later this week and ordered that Michael Daly pay over the money in compensation, and he will further review and finalise the matter.
