A martial arts expert who kicked a man in the head several times and left him with permanent brain damage has been jailed for seven years by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
However, the judge suspended the last five years of the man's sentence taking into consideration his exemplary prison record and early plea of guilty.
Jason Flynn (25), of Shanganagh Cliffs, Shankill, a martial arts expert with training in karate and boxing, pleaded guilty to assault causing serious harm to a 20-year-old man outside Nemo's nightclub in Dún Laoghaire on February 20th, 2004.
Garda Sgt Peter Woods told prosecution counsel, Mr Anthony Hunt, that Flynn had attacked the accused for no apparent reason and with no provocation. They might have bumped into each other on the stairs in the nightclub before the incident.
Gardaí in Dún Laoghaire Garda station - located near Nemo's - observed the scene live on CCTV as Flynn kicked his victim in the head at least three times as he lay on the ground.
Sgt Woods said gardaí were at the scene within 30 seconds and the victim appeared to be choking on his own blood. He was rushed to hospital and had to spend four weeks at St Vincent's Hospital and another two months at the National Recovery Hospital.
Judge Michael White noted that although the victim's physical injuries have healed from the outside, he has been left with brain damage that will leave him with lifelong cognitive defects.
He is no longer able to concentrate, has reduced mental abilities when it comes to coping with life's everyday situations and might not be able to work again.
Judge White also noted that the defendant's previous record showed that he had a propensity towards violence, having already been convicted of one serious assault and of arson.