A Dublin man has been jailed for 4 1/2 years for his part in an assault which left another man with an ear cut off and his face requiring 60 stitches after knife slashes.
Herman White (22), of Corduff Park, Blanchardstown, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to Mr Derek McGuinness on October 20th, 1999.
Det Sgt Liam Kelly told Mr Hugo Hynes, prosecuting, that the victim was a drug addict at the time and owed money to a local drug-dealer. The witness said White and an accomplice approached Mr McGuinness in Corduff Park on the day in question and White, who was unlawfully at large at the time, hit him across the head with an iron bar.
He forced him to the ground, where he continued hitting him. The other man kicked him in the head and took out a mobile phone on which he called the local criminal to whom Mr McGuinness owed the money.
Det Sgt Kelly said that when it transpired that the dealer could not come to Corduff Park the man said to him "listen to this" and put the phone on the ground. Both men then proceeded to beat Mr McGuinness for the benefit of the criminal.
The sergeant said that another man arrived at the scene wielding a Stanley knife and cut off Mr McGuinness's ear and slashed his face.
Judge Elizabeth Dunne adjourned sentencing of a second man until November 27th.
A third man still has charges pending against him.