An American writer who suffered severe head injuries when he was assaulted in his Sligo flat last January will be confined to a wheelchair for several years and his speech is "garbled and crude", Sligo Circuit Court was told yesterday.
Two local men, Glen Mahon (22) of Banks Drive, Cranmore, and Ian Monaghan (21), of Ashbrook, Pearse Road, who were found guilty last October of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Mr Robert Drake (36) were before the court yesterday for sentencing. However, the judge deferred a decision until today. Mr Drake, a published author from Philadelphia, had been living in Sligo for some months before the assault. He was found with severe head injuries on January 31st, 1999, and was later transferred by helicopter to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin. His injuries were regarded as "life-threatening" and he was still very seriously ill when he went back to the US at the end of March.
Det. Sgt Thomas Farragher told the court yesterday he had spoken to Mr Drake's US physician by telephone on Monday. "He is confined to a wheelchair and will be for several years to come, if not for life. He has slight movements in his hands and arms, and he can feed himself but only with the use of specialised feeding utensils. He can speak short sentences, but his speech is garbled and crude," Det. Sgt Farragher said.
Both Mahon and Monaghan apologised to the court and said they regretted the injuries to Mr Drake. Monaghan, a barman who has no previous convictions, said "not a night goes by that I don't think about it".
Mr Colm Smith SC, for Monaghan, pleaded for leniency, asking that it be taken into account that the two had gone voluntarily to the Garda and made statements within days of the incident.
Mr Ken Fogarty SC, for Mahon, who is currently unemployed and has a previous conviction for causing an affray, said his client would undertake to make "some sort of financial advancement" towards Mr Drake once he got a job.
A former member of Sligo Corporation, Mr Vincent Murray, said he had on occasion employed Glen Mahon in his public house. He said Mahon was "trustworthy and honest".
Judge Anthony Kennedy adjourned sentencing until this morning.