A heroin addict who bit off part of a man's ear has been jailed for two years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Michael Ward (20), a father of one from Cushlawn Park, Tallaght, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Mr David McCormack on Exchequer Street on March 3rd, 1999.
He had been out of prison at the time having failed to return to Wheatfield Prison from temporary release.
Mr McCormack told the court he wanted to see the case come to a close and would not accept the £1,200 Ward had brought to court as compensation.
Garda John O'Connor told the court that Ward had come to the attention of the Garda nationwide and had three previous convictions.
Judge Elizabeth Dunne said Ward had committed an act of "particular savagery".
She did not back-date his sentence to the time of his arrest as he had been at large when he committed the crime. She directed the sum he brought to court to be paid to charity.
Ward gave a false name and date of birth after he was caught by the Garda on March 21st, 1999. Ward said he was taking heroin at the time of the assault.
Defence counsel Mr Luigi Rea, BL, said Ward was now clean of drugs and that his wife was expecting a child. He had used his time in custody to learn a trade and was remorseful for what he done to Mr McCormack.