A 27-year-old man who blinded his brother during a drunken family row a year ago later allegedly told police he did not regret it. Belfast Crown Court heard yesterday that Mr Jim Bassett claimed he had been acting in self-defence when he gouged out the eyes of his brother, Ron. Mr Bassett, from Glenbrook Avenue in east Belfast, denies inflicting grievous bodily harm on his brother last December 18th.
The prosecution lawyer said while Mr Bassett claimed he had been acting in self-defence, his actions had gone far beyond that. Mr Bassett claimed the fight with his brother only lasted a matter of minutes, during which he "never touched" him. The trial continues today.