A banker, held to have broken the nose of a late-night caller to his home, has been ordered by Dublin Circuit Civil Court to pay him damages for assault.
Judge Frank O'Donnell was told Mr Eamonn O'Neill was entertaining dinner guests at 1 a.m. at his former home at Parc na Silla Close, Loughlinstown, Co Dublin, when the door bell rang. A fashion designer, Mr Morris Speedie and his family were calling for a party they had been invited to, at the same house number but around the corner in Parc na Silla Rise.
Mr Speedie, of Trafalgar Lane, Monkstown, Co Dublin, said Mr O'Neill hit him in the face. Another witness said he saw Mr O'Neill head-butt Mr Speedie. Mr O'Neill said Mr Speedie refused to believe there was no party and tried to push past him. In attempting to stop him he hit him with his cheek. Judge O'Donnell said it was an unfortunate case of two decent families meeting because of two mistakes - Mr Speedie going to the wrong house and Mr O'Neill misreading the situation and over-reacting. Awarding Mr Speedie £12,000 and costs, he said it was "a bruising and unjustified assault".