Courts

Man avoids jail after biting student’s ear off in Limerick

Man claims he had no recollection of 2am attack he carried out in fast-food outlet

A man who bit 40 per cent of a student’s ear off in an unprovoked attack at a fast food outlet, has avoided going to jail Photograph: Graham Hughes/Photocall Ireland
A man who bit 40 per cent of a student’s ear off in an unprovoked attack at a fast food outlet, has avoided going to jail Photograph: Graham Hughes/Photocall Ireland
Kathryn Hayes
Wed Apr 15 2015 - 22:06

A man who bit 40 per cent of a student’s ear off in an unprovoked attack at a fast food outlet, has avoided going to jail.

David Fitzgerald, (25) Lynwood Park, Ballysimon, Limerick, claimed he had no recollection of the vicious attack he carried out on Christopher Hartigan until he was shown CCTV footage.

The 22-year-old victim – a final year student at the University of Limerick – was left seriously disfigured after he was attacked in Supermac's, O'Connell Street, Limerick, on April 12th, 2013.

Limerick Circuit Court heard the injured party had been out socialising with friends and was queuing for food in Supermac’s at about 2am when the incident happened.

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Taking into account Fitzgerald’s previous good character, early guilty plea, and the offer of compensation, and the fact he was considered at low risk of re-offending, Judge O’Donnell imposed a three-year prison sentence which he suspended for three years.